Dying Covenant: The Complete Series

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Hello, Zoe.”

  I pursed my lips as I regarded the older man to my right. He had long white hair – kind of like an aging rocker who refuses to give up the eighties – and a bright smile on his face as he looked me up and down.

  “I think I’m at a disadvantage,” I said after a beat. “I don’t know you.”

  “I’m Lincoln Standish. My friends call me Lincoln. You can call me Mr. Standish.”

  For some reason – and I had no idea why – the lame joke made me smile. “Well, Mr. Standish, it’s nice to meet you.”

  “And you,” Standish said. “You’re famous around these parts.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  Standish’s look was appraising. “Does that bother you?”

  “It doesn’t bother me for myself,” I replied. “It does bother me for my husband. I don’t want him being … upset … by any of this. He’s too good of a man to let stuff like this get him down.”

  “I’ve known Aric since he was a pup. He doesn’t let very much get him down.”

  That was true to some extent. “My husband doesn’t care what others think about him. He doesn’t like it when people cast aspersions on me, though. He really hates it when they go after Sami.”

  “Something tells me you have that in common.”

  I had no idea why I was opening up to a stranger, but there was something about Lincoln Standish I liked. “Our daughter has enough going on in her life that she doesn’t need some bullshit wolf politics to drag her down,” I said. “I know this is your way of life – and that’s great for those who buy into it and everything – but we have other things on our plate.”

  “Because you’re a mage?”

  I shrugged. People tossed that word around constantly but very few of them knew what it truly means. Mage? I had my doubts he fully grasped the word. “I’m more than one thing,” I replied. “I’m also a wife and mother. I’m a friend. Being a mage doesn’t define me.”

  “You were born to great power, though,” Standish said. “That makes you … special.”

  “My mouth makes me special,” I countered. “The facts of my birth are … uncontrollable and ultimately unimportant.”

  “That’s not how the others feel,” Standish said, his eyes traveling to the bonfire. Aric stood next to Tate, both of them nursing beers, and threw his head back and laughed. “Aric fits in here. He belongs here.”

  My heart rolled at the words. “No matter what anyone thinks, I have not kept him from the pack.”

  “No, his love for you kept him from the pack,” Standish said. “He didn’t want you to be upset, so he protected you the only way he could. He knew the pack would never accept you.”

  “I don’t care if they accept me. I can put up with almost anything. But what about Sami? Will they accept her? I mean, if something happens to me and Aric needs help, will these … people … help her, too?”

  “Aric was a valued member of this pack for a very long time,” Standish said, avoiding the question. “He excelled at everything when he was young. He was the best at the games. He was the strongest at the strength trials. He could handle every weapon and win every fight.

  “He was restless, though,” he continued. “He was always searching for something. The women in the pack ignored his wanderlust. They thought he would grow into his station and accept one of the daughters as a wife. I knew that wasn’t true.”

  “That’s not really what I asked.”

  Standish chuckled. “I’m getting there. Has anyone ever told you that patience is a virtue?”

  “No one who is still alive.”

  “I guess your reputation really does precede you.” Standish’s eyes twinkled. “As for Aric, when he met you the wanderlust faded. He didn’t want to keep searching for his place in this world. He found it in your eyes.”

  “Oh, that’s poetic and sweet,” I said. “It still wasn’t an answer to my question.”

  “It’s a roundabout way of answering your question,” Standish countered. “For years, the men and women of the pack believed Aric would return. They thought you were a passing fancy – even after your exploits at Covenant College became legend and everyone realized how powerful you really were – and they thought Aric would eventually leave you and return to the fold.

  “Even when he proposed, there was still hope,” he continued. “Then you married and had a child right away. People still clung to the idea that he would return and be a leader. We don’t like relinquishing our own to humans, you see. Ceding Aric to another magical being – even one more powerful than us – isn’t something we’re capable of doing.”

  He talked in a circular fashion, and as much as I found him amusing, he was starting to grate. “I’m guessing that’s your long way of saying that the pack won’t help if I die and Aric needs you to protect Sami. You could’ve just said that.”

  “I’m not done,” Standish said, shaking his head. “You’re extremely impatient.”

  “You should see me on the first Friday of the month when they unveil a new ice cream flavor at the shop close to our house,” I said. “I’m a total wreck when that happens.”

  Standish smirked. “Most of the pack has come to the realization that you and Aric are in this for the long haul,” he said. “There are a few holdouts. The stares and looks you’re getting from these people aren’t due to hate, Zoe. It’s due to curiosity.”

  “You can call me Mrs. Lake-Winters,” I said dryly, earning a chuckle from Standish. “As for the rest, I don’t feel curiosity from these people. I mean … I do … but I also feel outright hatred. If I were to die in the woods tomorrow, no one would shed a tear for me.”

  “Your husband would.”

  “He’s … different.”

  “He’s a well-loved man who adores you,” Standish said. “Others note how he dotes on you and they know he wouldn’t if he wasn’t earnest. You need to be patient. You also need to stop being so standoffish.”

  What was that supposed to mean? “I’m not being standoffish.”

  “You’re hiding in the shadows while your husband carouses with his friend, and even your daughter talks to others,” Standish pointed out.

  I tilted my head and gazed at Sami, a small smile playing at the corner of my lips as she talked to a boy who looked to be about her age. I couldn’t hear what they said to one another, but the boy looked to be telling some sort of story as he stroked Trouble’s head.

  “See,” Standish prodded. “The child can fit in. She’s trying.”

  Finally I understood what he was getting at. “You came over here to tell me to try to get along with the other women because some of this … strain … is because of me, didn’t you?”

  Standish shrugged. “That would be rude. It’s not my place to tell you how to act.”

  I snorted. “Yes, that’s exactly what I was thinking,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll try to be better.”

  “You can only do what you can do.”

  “Don’t play games with me,” I chided, wagging a finger. “I’m not going to magically fix this just because you challenged my conversational abilities. I have magic. I’m not prone to delivering miracles.”

  Standish chuckled, delighted. “I like you. I see why you stole Aric’s heart.”

  Did he? I still often wondered how that happened. “I’ll try to be better,” I said after a beat. “I don’t do things to hurt Aric. I would never do that.”

  “I know. Most of the people here know that.”

  “Claudette?”

  Standish snorted. “Claudette is unhappy, but does the best she can. She does not mean to be difficult. She feels something was stolen from her and she was forced to settle. That is not your fault.”

  “She seems to want to make it my fault.”

  “You could take the high road,” Standish suggested.

  “Yeah, that really sounds nothing like me.”

  This time his laugh was so loud a couple of heads snapped in our direction. “You
are very funny,” Standish said. “Most men don’t realize the value of a funny woman. I’m glad Aric is not most men.”

  “That makes two of us,” I said. “As for everything else you’ve said, I promise to give it some thought. I don’t want to hurt Aric. I want to make this trip easy for him if I can. If my attitude is infringing on that … well … I’ll figure something out.”

  “That would probably be wise,” Standish said, patting my arm. “Do your best, Mrs. Lake-Winters. I’m not expecting miracles, but a little magic would make everyone happy.”

  “HERE YOU are.”

  Aric found me twenty minutes later and swooped in to plant a kiss on the back of my neck as he wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me from behind.

  “Here I am,” I echoed, tipping my head up to study his profile. “Have you been drinking?”

  “One beer,” Aric protested.

  I arched an eyebrow.

  “Okay, it was more like four,” Aric conceded. “I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t have to apologize,” I said. “Drink away. You’re on vacation.”

  “It’s not really a vacation when people are out to get us,” he reminded me.

  He had a point. Still … . “People are always out to get us. You haven’t been able to hang out with your friends in years. You deserve to cut loose. Have fun.”

  Aric rested his chin on my shoulder. “I want to have fun with you.”

  I fought the urge to smile … and lost. “Have fun with your friends,” I instructed. “You can have fun with me later. Maybe we’ll convince your parents to take Sami to their cabin for the night.”

  “Sounds like an interesting plan,” Aric said, swaying slightly as he rocked me. “Where is the kid?”

  “I’m so glad you’ve been keeping an eye on her,” I deadpanned, rolling my eyes as I pointed. “She’s over there flirting with that boy.”

  I felt Aric stiffen behind me. “She’s twelve.”

  “So?”

  “So, she’s not flirting.”

  “Oh, Aric, you need to wrap your head around this,” I said, patting his hand as it rested on my abdomen. “She’s not quite a teenager, but she has noticed boys. She likes the one she’s talking to now, in fact.”

  Aric made a face as he narrowed his eyes. “No. They’re talking about the dog.”

  “Watch them,” I instructed. “They’re talking about the dog, but Sami keeps lowering her chin and staring at that kid through her eyelashes. That’s flirting. And, as for the boy, he keeps puffing out his chest and trying to get her to look at his arms when he shifts. He’s preening … like a peacock. He’s clearly discovered the practice of lifting weights and wants her to notice.”

  Aric was hearing none of it. “No. That kid is like … twenty.”

  “I’m pretty sure that’s your buddy Tate’s kid, and he’s fourteen.”

  “No … .” Aric shook his head. “She’s twelve.”

  I couldn’t stop myself from laughing at his outrage. “I had my first so-called boyfriend at that age. Don’t worry. When you’re twelve you only pretend to be in a relationship and occasionally smile at one another. The other stuff doesn’t happen until you’re at least fourteen or fifteen.”

  “You just said that kid was fourteen,” Aric argued.

  “Yes, but he’s a fourteen-year-old boy. Boys mature slower than girls.”

  “That doesn’t really make me feel better,” Aric grumbled, jerking his hand through his hair. He seemed to have sobered up quickly. “I don’t like this, Zoe. She’s … a baby.”

  “She’s not a baby. She’s not an adult, but she’s not a baby. She has her own opinions … and feelings … and dreams.”

  Aric’s expression was thoughtful. “What are her dreams? The last time she volunteered information like that she wanted to marry that guy we met at the circus because she thought he was cute.”

  I smiled at the memory. That circus trip was one of my favorite memories, too. “She wants to be powerful … and make you proud.”

  “I am proud,” Aric said, his eyes flashing. “I love her. I’m always proud of her. Well, I’m always proud of her within reason. She’s not exactly my favorite person when she screeches ‘omigod’ because we kiss. That’s a little annoying.”

  I pursed my lips as I ran my finger down his cheek. He was cute when he was worked up. “She’s been hearing a lot about disappointments since we got her,” I said. “I talked to her … and what you said a few hours ago made her feel a lot better. She can’t seem to stop herself from dwelling on it, though. I see it in her eyes when she thinks no one is looking.”

  Aric cupped my hand and pressed the palm to his face as he studied Sami. “Then we should go. We can pack up right now.”

  “You’re too drunk to drive.”

  “You can drive. I’ll probably pass out and not complain about what a horrible driver you are and everything.”

  I tilted my head to the side, considering. Leaving the campground would solve a lot of problems … for me. I felt uncomfortable around these people, and fitting in wasn’t easy. Standish’s words echoed throughout my head, though, and I made up my mind on the spot.

  “We’re not going anywhere,” I said. “You need this. Besides that, we haven’t talked about the possessed kids to these council elders yet. If we expect to find answers, we need to stay close, like your dad suggested.”

  “I saw you talking to one of the elders a few minutes ago,” Aric said. “I thought about interrupting, but you seemed okay.”

  “That dude is an elder?” I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. “I guess that makes sense. He told me to suck it up and be a better wife.”

  “Meaning what?”

  “Meaning that you belong here and I need to find a way to belong, too,” I said, forgetting for a moment that I was speaking out loud. I shook myself out of my reverie when I saw the dark look on Aric’s face. “Don’t worry about it. He was much more respectful than that. I was just putting my patented spin on it.”

  “I figured that out myself,” Aric said. “Although … maybe we should go, Zoe. I knew this was a mistake. I don’t see this getting better. If you’re uncomfortable … .”

  “I’m only uncomfortable around Claudette and her friends,” I clarified, cutting him off. “I don’t plan to hang out with them again if I can help it. There’s no need to worry.”

  “What if they ask you to play games again?”

  I shrugged. “Then we’ll see what happens.”

  “Is that code for you’re going to cheat again?”

  “Possibly.”

  “Good.” Aric pulled me in for a warm hug and rested his cheek against my forehead. “For the record, I don’t consider it cheating. You used the tricks you had at your disposal. My father might not like it, but I get it.”

  “That’s good, because if we’re forced into more games I’m going to cheat like a poker player in a room full of blind dealers.”

  Aric snorted. “And that’s why I love you so much. Right there.” He pressed a firm kiss to my mouth. “Let’s ditch the kid on her grandparents and go to bed.”

  It was an interesting suggestion. “I’m up for that,” I said. “We should probably tell her goodnight, too. She might not want to stay with her grandparents … although, I don’t think anything is going to tear her away from that boy.”

  Aric scowled as he jerked his head back in Sami’s direction. “This is so … wrong. She’s twelve!”

  He was not going to let it go. “If it’s any consolation, I can’t even remember the guy I had a crush on when I was twelve.”

  “Jason Mulder,” Aric snapped, taking me by surprise. “You mention his name all of the time when you’re teasing me about your first love.”

  Whoops. There goes my mouth getting me in trouble again. “Well, if it’s any consolation, I love you much more than I loved him.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel better,” Aric whined. “Maybe we should lock her in her room or some
thing.”

  “That’s going to cut down on your plans for the night,” I pointed out. “That cabin has thin walls, and we can’t do anything with her under the same roof. It will be too traumatizing if she knows what’s going on.”

  “For her or you?”

  “Both.”

  “Fine.” Aric blew out a sigh. “I guess she’s okay with her grandparents. I’m going to have a long talk with her about boys and wandering hands tomorrow. She needs to learn a few important self-defense lessons if these young pups are going to keep sniffing around.”

  “Oh, well, I’m looking forward to that.”

  “Me, too. Maybe I should get her a switchblade. Do you want to go to the store with me tomorrow?”

  “Come on, Romeo,” I said, grabbing his hand. “I’m going to let you sleep on the switchblade suggestion. Something tells me you’ll change your mind.”

  “No, I think it’s a great idea.”

  “Yes, me, too. I think we should give a switchblade to the kid who runs into doors because she’s so focused on her phone screen. Nothing could possibly go wrong in that scenario.”

  “I’m glad you see things my way.”

  Fourteen

  “Hey, Winters! Do you want to go fishing or do an old-fashioned weapons competition?”

  Tate approached our picnic table early the next morning. I wasn’t hungover, but I was grumpy – as I always am in the morning – and I wanted to silence him with a package of sausage down his throat, but wisely remained seated.

  Aric returned his friend’s smile. He seemed none the worse for wear after the previous night. He also seemed to have forgotten the fact that Tate’s son was flirting with Sami – and I was mostly thankful for that.

  “I haven’t decided yet,” Aric answered, shoving a mug of coffee in front of me. “Let me get breakfast in my wife and figure out where my daughter is, and we’ll go from there.”

  “I’m pretty sure Sami is with your parents,” Tate said. “She was playing around with Joshua until really late until finally your father dragged her away. I think they might like each other.”