“And what about you?”
“I believe them even though I’ve never seen them,” Lincoln answered. “I think you’re probably stronger than our entire pack combined. I think that makes Aric stronger than the other men, too, and not because you’ll fight his battles.
“Aric is stronger because he can accept your power and doesn’t try to hold you back,” he continued. “Aric wants nothing but to love and bolster you. That makes him the strongest man here.”
Well, I couldn’t argue with that. “If you see all of that, why didn’t you stand up for us in the meeting this morning?”
“Because they’re not ready to listen,” Lincoln replied matter-of-factly. “Those are old men with old ideals. I told them before you entered that their plans for you were folly and you would never agree. They didn’t believe me, and they were angered when you stormed out.”
“Well, they should be afraid because I’m not in a good mood,” I said. “I have the power to force answers out of them. You know that, right?”
“And yet you didn’t use that power. Why?”
“Because I don’t get off on forcing others to do my bidding, no matter what Aric might whisper when he’s making fun of me,” I said. “If you don’t want to help, that’s fine. We need help, but we can go to other people. We’ll make our pact with them.”
“And who will help you?”
“Surprisingly enough, we’ve formed alliances with witches, vampires, ghosts and even fairies throughout the years. There are many different types of family. Ours doesn’t come with strings attached.”
Lincoln tilted his head to the side, considering. “Do you really think you’ll get the answers you seek from others?”
I shrugged. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see,” I replied. “It doesn’t matter in the end. I’ll fight and kill anyone who comes after my kid. Aric will, too. If we can’t go after our enemies, we’ll bring the enemies to us and smite them there.”
“You talk bold for a woman who came to us seeking help.”
“I never needed your help. I came here because Aric seemed to want it. Even if he didn’t want it, he hoped it would make his father happy. I certainly don’t care about making James happy right now. He didn’t care about my happiness, so his isn’t a concern for me.”
“So you’ll go? Just like that?”
“We’ll go and regroup,” I answered. “That’s what we always do.”
“You could go in front of the council again,” Lincoln suggested. “Now that they know you won’t capitulate they might be willing to compromise.”
“Yes, but I’m not willing to compromise any longer.” I forced a smile when I saw Aric staring in my direction. He didn’t look happy when he realized who I was talking to. “One thing you’ll learn about me is that I always win. I don’t need to compromise.”
“I guess not,” Lincoln said, chuckling. “Well, I wish you luck, Mrs. Lake-Winters.”
“Thank you. I wish you … an enlightened future.”
“Perhaps we shall both get what we want.”
“Perhaps.”
Twenty-Three
“What did he say to you?”
Aric was at my side the second Lincoln slinked off, the whipped cream can clutched in his hand. I wasn’t surprised, although he moved so fast he was almost a blur.
“He said a lot of stupid crap that I’m sure was aimed at changing our minds about leaving tomorrow.”
“Like?”
“Like he wanted to know if I ever considered negotiating with them.”
Aric furrowed his brow. “That’s what you suggested earlier. Do you want to go back and do that?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s what they want us to do,” I replied. “He wouldn’t have suggested it unless it was playing into their hands. I have no intention of playing into their hands. That’s not the way I roll.”
Aric’s lips twitched as he stared at me. “I love how cocksure you are. It’s almost as if I’m married to a dude.”
“You realize that kind of makes it seem as if you’re attracted to men, right?”
Aric shrugged. “You have a mouth like a drunken sailor, so I can live with that.” He smacked a kiss against my lips. “How did you leave things with him?”
“I told him that we’ll do what we’ve always done and find our answers with family,” I replied. “We have a real family that doesn’t happen to be blood. We can have Paris do some research. We can track down Rafael.”
Years before, the mention of the tanned vampire’s name would cause Aric to growl. He was calm when I suggested it now. “We could do that. I didn’t even consider it before, but he might have some answers.”
“They might be good answers, too. I have no idea where he is, though. He used to email me occasionally. It’s been more than a year since he’s done that.”
“I can text him.”
I stilled. “You have his phone number?”
“Yes.”
That was news to me. “Do you guys text each other?”
“We check in about once a month just to see how things are going,” Aric replied, his expression thoughtful. “Don’t make a big deal about it.”
Would I do that? Of course I would. “Are you guys, like, chicks now?” I asked, smirking. “Do you wait for me to fall asleep and then sneak into the bathroom so you can text back and forth about your hopes and dreams? Oh! Does he have a girlfriend? Does he send you photographs?”
“I was feeling romantic about you until just now,” Aric complained, his mouth tipping down. “Now I can barely look at you after that diatribe.”
I snorted. “That was hardly a diatribe.”
“That’s how it sounded to me,” he said. “As for the rest, no. He usually texts and asks how it’s going. I text back that we’re fine and tell him a story about some stupid thing you’ve done. He texts back and says that he’s glad I ended up with you. That’s the extent of it.”
That didn’t sound nearly as entertaining as I imagined. “I hope he’s happy.” I meant it. “I’m a little bummed that he texts you instead of me.” I meant that, too. “I’m the one who gave him the gift of walking in the sun, after all. He should be texting me.”
“I think he realizes that I would track him down and rip his head off if he tried.”
“Because you’re jealous?”
Aric’s smile was back. “Because you’re mine and I still remember the days when I thought there was a chance you were going to run off with him and break my heart.”
Ugh, he’s so schmaltzy sometimes. “That was never going to happen. I’m pretty sure you know that, though.”
“I look back at that time and know it was never going to happen,” Aric confirmed. “When it was happening, though, I wasn’t so sure. You looked … tortured … every time I saw you.”
“That’s because I missed you.”
“I’m pretty sure I missed you more.” Aric leaned forward and I was sure he was going to kiss me. Instead he lifted the whipped cream container. “Open your mouth.”
“That’s not nearly as sexy as you think it is,” I said, although I did as asked.
Aric sprayed some of the concoction into my mouth and then slammed his lips to mine, sharing the treat. We were both laughing when we parted, which is why it took me a moment to register Claudette’s presence.
“Hey,” I said, wiping the corners of my mouth. “Are you here to fight? If so, we need to make it fast. Aric has plans for me and it involves whipped cream.”
“Nice,” Aric intoned, refusing to be embarrassed. “Your mouth never ceases to amaze me.”
“Yes, well, you’ll live.”
Claudette made a face as she regarded us. “You guys are always on, aren’t you?”
“I’m not sure what that means.”
“I mean that you’re always all over one another and you seem genuinely happy to spend time together,” Claudette said. “I thought it was an act at fir
st, but now I’m pretty sure it’s real. That makes me hate you even more than I did when you first showed up.”
“Just give it another few hours,” I said, reaching for the whipped cream. Aric jerked it away and shook his head. “You’ll probably learn to hate me even more if you spend a few more minutes with me. Give me the whipped cream.”
“No way.” Aric’s smile was playful. “I’m saving this for later.”
“I have a secret,” I said, leaning forward. “We bought two cans at the store. I put the other can in our refrigerator in the cabin.”
Aric’s eyes lit up. “Seriously?”
“I’m just as sick as you.”
“I’m so glad I married you,” Aric teased, relinquishing the can as he slung an arm around my shoulders and regarded Claudette. “If you’re here to cause trouble, you can save it. We’re out of here first thing in the morning.”
Claudette appeared surprised. “Before we play Capture the Flag? But … that was always your favorite game.”
I narrowed my eyes as I squeezed the cream into my mouth. “What’s Capture the Flag? Is that like that game where each team has a flag and you have to hide it and steal everyone else’s flags?”
“Pretty much,” Aric replied. “You grew up in Barker Creek around a bunch of wolves. I’m sure you played it when you were younger.”
“Believe it or not, I wasn’t popular in Barker Creek.”
“I can believe it,” Claudette said dryly. “You can’t leave before you play Capture the Flag. That was your absolute favorite game when we were kids. If you leave now, well, it might be your last time to play it with us. I get the feeling you guys aren’t coming back.”
“You’ve got that right,” I said, rolling my neck as I studied Aric’s profile. “We can stay if you want.”
“No, we’re going.” Aric’s voice was firm. “We need to get Sami home. She’s going through a lot, and it’s a full moon. We need to leave early so she’s settled.”
“But you’ll miss out on the big wolf run,” Claudette whined, petulance practically dripping off her tongue. “You can’t leave tomorrow. You have to stay one more night.”
“We’re going,” Aric said. “Zoe doesn’t want to stay here any more than I do.”
That was mostly true, but when Claudette shifted her accusatory eyes to me I almost wanted to deny it and force Aric’s hand. If this really was his last chance to hang with his friends, I didn’t want to cut it short.
“Can’t you talk to him?” Claudette asked.
“I’ll do my best,” I said. “I have an entire second canister of whipped cream in our cabin. You never know where the night will take us.”
“Don’t press your luck,” Aric warned, shaking his head. “Did you come over here for another reason, Claudette?”
“Actually I did,” Claudette replied. “We’re having a knitting circle on the far side of the clearing. “I know Zoe isn’t keen on the other games, but who doesn’t like knitting?”
“Knitting?” I made a face. “Is that code for some horrible game where we stab each other with needles?”
“Not, it’s code for sitting in a circle and gossiping while knitting.” Claudette’s expression was blank. “Wolves love to knit.”
She had to be messing with me. I glanced at Aric, but his grin was sloppy. “Seriously?”
Claudette nodded.
“Well, thanks for the invitation, but I don’t knit,” I said. “Maybe next time.”
“Bu there won’t be a next time.”
“And yet I still don’t want to knit.”
Claudette shrugged and took a step back. “You can’t say I didn’t at least try to be nice. If I don’t see you before you go, well, have a good life.”
“You, too.”
I waited until she was gone to ask the obvious question. “Knitting?”
“Wolves are strange and wondrous creatures, baby,” Aric said. “Of course, you already knew that.”
“I think I need a drink.”
“I’m right there with you.”
I TOOK my beer and whipped cream to the picnic table by Aric’s Explorer. It was empty because everyone else insisted on sitting closer to the fire so they could hear all of the wolf boasts I knew were exaggerated.
Something occurred to me when I was talking to Lincoln, and I wanted to check it out on my own. I opened the rear hatch and rummaged through the items left in the back until I came up with the Ouija board. I had thrown it in there before we left the house, earning an odd look from Aric.
I carried it to the table and flipped on my flashlight so I could study it. I stared at it a long time before I realized I wasn’t alone.
James, his smile timid, shuffled in my direction. He held up his hands in a placating manner as he approached. “I come in peace.”
I kept my face stony as I regarded him. “I’m not really in the mood to talk.”
“I know that,” James said, sitting across from me. “It’s just … I want to talk to you, and I’m afraid I won’t get a chance after tonight.”
“We’re going home. We’re not dying.”
“Aric is making noise about us not coming around for a bit,” James said, his expression pained. “I know you’re angry with me – and I don’t blame you – but please don’t let him cut us out of Sami’s life.”
My heart rolled at the terrified expression on James’ face. “You don’t have to worry about that,” I said, keeping my voice low. “We’d never do that.”
James let loose with a shaky breath. “Thank you.”
“I’m not doing it for you,” I clarified. “I’m doing it for Sami. She may be angry with you now, but she loves you. I love her. I don’t want to take her away from you.”
“That means a lot to me,” James said, running his finger over the edge of the board. “Do you think you could talk to Aric? I know you’re angry, but he always listens to you.”
“I am not Aric’s keeper,” I countered. “If he doesn’t want to deal with you, then you have to respect that and give him some space. I’m just as angry as he is.”
“Zoe, you must understand … .”
I cut him off with a wave of my hand. “I understand everything. I know exactly what you were doing. Believe it or not, I get that you think you’re doing the best thing for Aric. You want what’s best for him.
“The real problem is that you’re approaching that task in the absolute worst manner possible,” I continued. “Aric isn’t you. He doesn’t want the same things you do. He’s not lying when he says he’s happy with our family.”
“Oh, Zoe, I know that.” James sounded distraught. “I’ve known he’s been happy with you since you were in college. I saw the way he looked at you back then and knew he was a goner. It was the same way I looked at his mother.”
“And yet you didn’t want us to be together. Don’t bother denying it. I know you spent a lot of time trying to talk Aric out of being with me.”
“Aric told you that?” James was horrified.
“No. I just know.”
“Oh.” James licked his lips as he stared at me. “I wanted him to have a normal life. I knew a life with you would be entertaining and full of love, but it was also destined to be full of danger and emotional turmoil.
“At a certain point, I knew you two were going to be together forever and I accepted it,” he continued. “I’ve always loved you, Zoe. I simply wanted my son to have an easier life. When I realized he wanted something different, I got on board. I’ve done my absolute best to help him whenever possible.
“I love my son. I love my granddaughter. I love you,” he said. “I’m terrified of what’s going to happen, though. Sami’s powers seem to be accelerating. I’ve been waiting for her to shift, yet now … .”
“It’s the worst possible time for it to happen,” I finished. “I feel exactly the same. But we can’t change it. It’s going to happen.”
“It should happen here tomorrow night.” James sounded as if he was plea
ding, begging almost. “This might be her only chance to run with a pack. I know you don’t understand our ways, Zoe, but it will be magical for her.”
I believed him. I believed all of it. He was sorry. He never meant to hurt Sami. He really did want what was best for Aric. I didn’t know if I had the power to fix the situation, though. “I’ll talk to Aric when we’re alone later.”
“Thank you.”
“I can’t promise anything,” I warned, turning my attention back to the Ouija board, “but I will talk to him.”
“That’s all I ask,” James said, following my gaze. “This is the board you stole from the kids at the summer camp, right?”
“Borrowed. I borrowed it.”
“Are you going to give it back?”
“No. I’m pretty sure it’s evil.”
“That’s called theft, my dear,” James said, taking the flashlight from my hand so he could study the symbols. “All of this seems to go back to that symbol. It’s the one that was at the house. It was on that dead wolf’s tattoo.”
“Have you identified him?”
“We’re still looking,” James replied. “He has to be from another pack, but I have no idea which one. We need to find out what this symbol means.”
“Your elders seem to know, but they want to play games for us to get the answer,” I pointed out. “Can’t you get the information from them?”
“I’ve tried, but … they’re insistent you join the pack,” James said, chewing on his bottom lip. “After your display in the woods, they’re keen to make you a member. They don’t allow outsiders to become full pack members. They thought making an exception for you would be enough to draw you in.”
“They clearly don’t know me very well.”
“Clearly not,” James agreed. “Still, there has to be something we’re missing.”
“I agree,” I said. “I … .” I broke off, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end as my ears muffled and I felt the same absence of sound that almost overwhelmed me the day Sami was attacked at camp.
Dying Covenant: The Complete Series Page 47
