“So, what did you do?”
“I picked a huge fight and bitched about everything that had been bothering me for the past few months,” I admitted.
“That’s my girl,” Aric sighed, slinging his arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer. “And how did that go?”
“Well, it was interesting.”
“Interesting?”
“That’s the best word to describe it. Although, the word ugly kind of fits, too.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Well, she started by saying that you were a werewolf.”
Aric didn’t look surprised – or concerned. “Did you pretend you were surprised? I thought she already knew that.”
“No. Then she told me there were other werewolves and vampires on campus, too.
When that didn’t move me, she referred to me as a mage and said that everyone on campus may be busy bowing down to me and my precious boyfriend – that’s what she called you, by the way – but she was done giving me any respect or special treatment.”
“So Jessica has been feeding her a line of crap,” Aric mused. “That’s not really surprising.”
“No,” I agreed. “The problem is, I think she’s been telling Laura and Matilda the truth, but wrapping it in a bunch of lies to fuel her agenda.”
“And what’s her agenda?”
“That is the question, isn’t it? I was kind of hoping you knew.”
“That would be too easy,” Aric sighed, “I’ve had people trying to ferret out information from that damn sorority for months. All I’ve heard is that they’re dabbling in witchcraft and keep saying they have something big planned.”
“And that worries you?”
“Since I think that whatever they have planned revolves around you, I’m more terrified than anything else.”
My heart welled in for him. I may doubt his methods, but I couldn’t help but believe that his heart was truly in a good place – at least where I was concerned.
“Laura admitted that Jessica asked them about me before she invited them to pledge the sorority.”
“That’s not exactly news,” Aric said. “Still, at least we have confirmation now.”
“We have confirmation of intent,” I agreed. “We still don’t know what they’re up to.”
Aric’s face remained impassive, but I swear I saw his teeth clench inside of his jaw.
“We don’t know. Right?”
“No, we don’t know,” Aric replied succinctly. “We have to find out, though. We have to find out before they do whatever it is they’re going to do.”
We sat in silence for a few seconds but curiosity finally got the better of me. “What was Will doing here?”
“He was asking why he’s out of the loop on frat stuff,” Aric replied disinterestedly.
“That’s probably my fault,” I explained. “I might have let it slip that you got called away on frat business.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Aric said. “Will is at the bottom of the frat hierarchy. He knows he has no basis for complaint.”
“Then why was he really here?”
“He wanted to make amends,” Aric barked out a hollow laugh. “He said he wanted to put all of the animosity behind us and try to forge a real and lasting friendship.”
“He did not.” That seemed pretty implausible.
“That’s what he said.”
“You don’t believe him, though?”
“I think that the only thing Will wants from me is to stab me in the back when I’m not looking so he can reclaim you,” Aric answered pointedly.
“That’s a little insulting.”
“What is?”
“That you’re talking about me like a piece of meat that’s up for grabs at a barbecue,” I responded airily.
“You’re not a piece of meat,” Aric smiled, the first real smile I saw since I entered the apartment. “You’re more like a kabob.”
“You’re a funny guy,” I smiled back.
“Come here,” Aric murmured, reaching for me and pulling me onto his lap. “I can’t take much more of this.”
My heart froze in my chest. “What? My drama?”
“No,” Aric chuckled into my hair. “Everything else. I’m used to your drama.”
“You’re tired of the frat?”
“You have no idea.”
“You’re tired of Will?”
“Most definitely.”
“I’m the only good thing in your life?”
Aric laughed throatily, flipping me over onto the couch and pinning me there with a wolfish smile and his impressive body weight. “Now you’re fishing for a compliment.”
“I am not,” I replied disdainfully. “I have people all over campus paying me compliments.”
“Oh, yeah?” Aric grinned. “Like what?”
“Well, the most common one is that I have a really hot boyfriend.”
Aric swiveled his hips against me and flattened his body along the length of mine. “I’m not going to argue with that.”
“That would be a nice change of pace.” I smiled at him, lifting my head off the couch far enough to plant a sultry kiss on his lips.
Aric sighed, letting go of my arms and resting his forehead against mine when we pulled apart. “Let’s go to bed, trouble. I want to put this day in my rearview mirror and get you naked in my bed.”
I could live with that. For now.
Twenty-Seven
“I’m hungry.”
“Go back to sleep,” Aric whispered, shifting me so I was more comfortably cuddled into his side, my head on his shoulder.
“I’m hungry,” I repeated.
“It’s still dark out,” Aric tried to silence me again.
“It’s ten in the morning.”
“We had a late night.”
“That’s why I’m hungry.”
Aric blew out a frustrated sigh. “You’re not going to let me go back to sleep, are you?”
“No.”
“Fine,” said Aric, throwing the covers off the two of us and exposing my skin to the cold morning air of Michigan’s winter.
“Why is it so cold in here?” I grumbled, burrowing into his side for warmth.
“Oh, no, none of that, “Aric laughed, shifting away from me and climbing out of bed.
“When I wanted to snuggle, you were hungry. Now I’m up and you’re getting up, too.”
“You’re a masochist,” I complained, pulling the pillow over my head.
Aric grabbed my bare ankle and pulled me down the bed. “If you get in the shower right now, I’ll buy you breakfast before I take you back to the dorms.”
The shower and breakfast sounded good. Returning to the dorms sounded like a really bad idea. “I’m not going back to the dorms,” I announced.
“Ever?” Aric raised an eyebrow. I couldn’t help but let my gaze wander over his naked body appreciatively. Maybe I could use a little appetizer before breakfast?
Aric must have read my mind. “If you don’t stop looking at me like that, you’re not going to get any breakfast.”
I sighed, forcing my eyes up to his handsome face. “I’m really hungry.”
“Then get up.”
“Fine,” I grumbled, crawling out of the bed. “I’m doing this under duress, though. I just want you to know that.”
“Duly noted. Now get your lazy ass in the shower.”
“You’re such a bully.”
“I’ll show you a bully.” Aric chased me into the shower and didn’t let my faux squeals
of protest stop him from giving me a little appetizer after all.
“I CAN’T BELIEVE how much you just ate.”
“I told you I was hungry.”
“Yeah, but you ate more than I did.”
“You had two sides of bacon,” I reminded him. “You definitely ate more than me.”
We were sitting in a booth at one of the local diners enjoying a rather robust breakfast.
“I’m twice your size.”
>
“Are you calling me fat?” I narrowed my eyes in Aric’s direction suspiciously.
“I’m pretty sure that’s not what I said.” Aric looked alarmed by the tone of my voice.
“Then what are you saying?”
“That I make you hungry,” Aric replied smugly, lifting his coffee cup to his lips and taking a sip.
“So, this was basically a roundabout way for you to compliment yourself?”
“Pretty much.”
“You’re nothing if not predictable.”
Aric smiled. The weariness from last night had almost completely evaporated. He looked invigorated. I loved these moments, when he could be happy and playful and I could respond in kind. They were pretty far removed from each other these days.
“Whatever you’re thinking, keep thinking it,” Aric instructed. “I have to go to the bathroom, but when I get back, I was thinking we could go back to my place and go to bed for the entire day.”
“Don’t you have class?”
“Nothing I can’t skip.”
“I’m pretty sure I have classes.”
“Is there anything you can’t skip?”
I considered the question and then shook my head. “Actually, no. I don’t have to go to class today.”
Aric smiled widely and got to his feet. “Don’t you even think about moving.”
“Yes, sir,” I saluted saucily.
Once Aric was gone, I jumped when I felt a figure move past me from my left and slip into the booth across from me. I was stunned to find Mark looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and worry.
“Hey,” I greeted him. “What are you doing here?”
“The same thing you are, I would guess. Although,” Mark broke off, raising his eyebrows speculatively, “you look like you’re having a lot more fun than I am.”
“Is Paris here with you?” I asked, ignoring his pointed comment.
“No. I’m alone.”
“Are you going to class today?”
“Yeah, but my first one doesn’t start until noon. Are you?”
“It doesn’t look like it.” I smiled to myself.
Mark frowned, glancing toward the bathrooms to make sure Aric wasn’t on his way back to the booth. Or at least that was my guess. “You two seem close.”
“We’re doing pretty good,” I agreed.
“Well, then, what I’m about to tell you is probably going to tick you off.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t tell me then?” I suggested.
“We’re friends,” Mark said. “At least I like to think we are.”
“Of course we’re friends.”
“Then I want you to know something.”
“Go ahead and tell me,” I sighed resignedly.
“The academy has heard some rumblings,” Mark started nervously.
“Let me guess,” I said. “They’re about Delta Omicron and their sorority full of witches planning some big thing that’s supposed to endanger the student populace?”
“How did ... right, Matilda and Laura are members of the sorority now.”
“They are.”
“And that doesn’t worry you?”
“I’ve thought about nothing else for months,” I said, although that was kind of an overstatement. I’d worried about a couple of other things, too. Ironically, none of those things had anything even remotely to do with academics.
“And you don’t know what’s going on either?”
“No. I don’t think it’s good, though.”
“Does Aric know?”
“He says he doesn’t.”
“But you don’t believe him?” Mark asked.
“I believe him,” I countered irritably. “I just don’t trust his stupid fraternity.”
“You think they’re in on this?” Mark looked intrigued by the prospect.
“I don’t think that,” I said hurriedly, pointing my finger in Mark’s direction for emphasis. “Don’t you go telling Sam Blake I think that.”
“Okay,” Mark replied. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cast aspersions on your boyfriend.”
“Then don’t do it,” I warned him. “Aric is a good man.”
“Do you think you’re blinded by love?”
“I think I know him better than you,” I countered. “And I think you’d better be careful where he’s concerned. If anything happens to him ... if your little group of monster hunters touches one hair on his head ... I swear, I’ll make you all wish I’d never been born.”
It was a big boast, but I meant it. The mere thought of harm coming to Aric was enough to wrack my body with indelible terror.
“I won’t say anything.” Mark held his hands up as a sign of voluntary retreat. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t upset me,” I replied. “I just wanted to make sure that you realize Aric isn’t the enemy here.”
“Are Matilda and Laura? The enemy, I mean?”
I frowned at the question. “I don’t know.”
“What will you do if you find out they are?”
“I don’t know.” My voice was barely a whisper.
“What if they go after your boyfriend?”
“They wouldn’t be that stupid.”
“From what I hear, they’re nothing but stupid these days.”
I couldn’t help but wonder what he information he was privy to. “You heard about the fire incident?”
“Brittany told Paris.”
“I’m sure by the time Brittany was done with the story the fire department had to come to save the day,” I grumbled.
“Pretty close,” Mark replied, forcing a weak chuckle. “It still doesn’t bode well for you. They could be going down a really dark path.”
“They could. So could you,” I pointed out.
“So could you,” Mark charged back bleakly.
“I guess we all have something in common.”
“I guess.”
Mark got up and started to move away from the booth but I stopped him. “Mark.”
“Yeah?”
“Be careful.”
“You, too.”
“If you hear something ... .”
“I’ll tell you,” Mark promised. “Paris would never forgive me if I didn’t.”
Once he was gone, Aric returned to the booth and slipped into his empty seat. He fixed me with a curious stare. “What did Mark want?”
“He wanted to warn me about Delta Omicron.”
“So Blake and his commandos are aware of the situation, too?” Aric mused. “I wasn’t sure.”
“I don’t know how much they know,” I replied. “I would guess it’s less than we do, though. They’re always about five steps behind.”
“Except when they’re five steps ahead,” Aric said. “It’s rare, but it has been known to happen.”
That was a disturbing thought.
“Come on,” Aric stood, extending his hand out to me. “I’m not letting this ruin our plans.”
“A whole day? Just the two of us? No frat. No roommates. Do you think you can handle it?”
“I’ve been dreaming of it for more than a year,” Aric sheepishly admitted. “I guess I had better.”
I took his hand and followed him out of the restaurant. Worry could wait until tomorrow.
Twenty-Eight
I had a lot to think about. Sure, spending the entire day in bed with Aric was a nice distraction, but that didn’t mean everything that had been eating at me – my whole world really – had suddenly ceased to be a problem.
I spent the next week running through a bevy of scenarios in my head, each one more ludicrous than the previous. I even wondered if they planned on cutting me up to make a potion to give them long life and special powers. I didn’t say they were realistic scenarios. Or maybe I just hoped that?
The situation in the dorm room was frosty – and that’s putting it mildly. Laura hadn’t said a word to me since the fight and Matilda was playing both sides against the middle. She was cordial, but not quite
friendly, when Laura wasn’t there. But when Laura was present, she pretended that Kelsey and I weren’t even in the room.
I didn’t blame her; she was protecting herself from what was sure to be an ugly reckoning.
Finally, I came up with my own plan: I was going to pretend everything was fine. I know what you’re thinking, and that is so a plan. It might not be a good one, but it’s all I could come up with. Basically, I figured if I lied and said I was over things then maybe Matilda and Laura would relax enough to start talking to me again. And, if they started talking, maybe they’d let something slip.
But Laura and Matilda weren’t my only problem. They were my biggest – to be sure – but I also had Aric’s increased sneakiness to focus on. It’s not as though he was overtly underhanded and diabolical. He was attending more and more secret fraternity meetings, though, and his demeanor was constantly shifting. When we were together, he was relaxed and attentive – but there was always something coiling just beneath the surface. I caught him watching me sometimes – mostly when he thought I wouldn’t notice – as though he was waiting for something to happen. Whatever that something was, it terrified him.
Paris pumped Mark for information every chance she got, but either he didn’t know anything or he was hiding what he did know very well. I was leaning toward the former. Mark was many things, but ambivalent and evil were not on that list. If he knew anything that could help, he would tell us.
I didn’t have a lot of options, so I decided to go to the only one who could possibly offer me any help. I finally called Rafael.
If he was surprised to hear that I wanted to meet with him, he didn’t let on. He told me to sit tight and he would meet me in the lobby after dark. It was only then that I realized it was still sunny out.
“Are you sleeping in a coffin?”
“Why would you ask me that?” Rafael sounded bemused.
“It’s the middle of the day. I didn’t think about that when I called you. Don’t you have to sleep in a coffin?”
“I don’t think I’d get very good cell reception in a coffin. Do you?”
“I don’t know,” I replied honestly. “I’m not up on how cell phones work when they’re buried in concrete. Or wood. Is your coffin made of wood? And do you have one of those little satin pillows in there when you sleep?”
“I’ll see you in a couple of hours.” I heard Rafael’s distinct sigh just before he disconnected. Oh, right, like those were unreasonable questions.
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