“There was no reason to,” Aric replied. “I couldn’t leave to search because I didn’t want to be separated from the two of you. I knew nothing could get in here. It was a standoff. I decided to let you sleep through the standoff.”
“Did you see anything?” Paris asked, adding a series of small branches to the embers. “Do you know what it was?”
“I scented at least one wolf,” Aric said. “I’m pretty sure there was more than one of them out there. I’m going to do a quick sweep before we leave this place to see if I can get a better … sense … of the situation.”
“Does that mean you’re going to shift?” I asked, wrinkling my nose.
“Would that bug you?”
“I just don’t want Paris to see you naked.”
Aric grinned. “I think my modesty will remain intact,” he said. “I can scent the area without shifting. Thank you for being jealous, though.”
“Hey, after she’s been stuck with that old dude for so long, you’ll look like prime rib compared to the frozen hamburger she’s been feasting on.”
“Thanks,” Paris snapped, making a face. “Stop fixating on his age. Fifty is not that old.”
It was from where I stood. Aric stretched next to me and I took the opportunity to admire his strong frame. Paris caught me looking and I lifted a challenging eyebrow. “This is prime rib,” I said. “I’m going to grill your hamburger until it’s burned to a crisp.”
“You say the sweetest things, baby,” Aric said, dropping a kiss on my forehead. “Let’s get breakfast going and then pack. I want everything together before you drop the shield.”
“OKAY, stay close.”
Aric nodded at me to drop our security. I closed my eyes, readying myself for the deed, when I heard him smack into it and swear.
“Zoe!”
“Dude, wait until I’m done, for crying out loud!” I snapped my eyes open and the first thing I saw was his furious face. “I’ll tell you when it’s down. I’m not some television witch who can snap her fingers and make things happen. I have to concentrate.”
Aric crossed his arms over his chest and watched as I closed my eyes again. Because I was new to the protective shield game, I tied the magic down with three light threads only I could see. I untied them and opened my eyes again.
“There.”
“Thanks, dude,” Aric said, making a face as he flicked my ear.
“I’m sorry. I thought you understood I needed a few seconds.”
“I’m sorry for yelling at you,” Aric said, contrite. “Don’t call me ‘dude,’ though.”
“Why not?”
“Because we’re going to be married and I don’t want a wife who introduces me as ‘dude’.” Aric continued to hold up his end of the conversation as he scanned the area outside of the perimeter. He held out his arms to keep Paris and me behind him. He didn’t want us to mess up his scenting game if he could help it.
“We’re never going to get married if I don’t get that ring,” I threatened.
“If you don’t stop bringing up that ring I’ll sell it and get you one with a really tiny diamond,” Aric shot back. “How do you like that?”
“That sounds great, dude!”
“It’s too bad you’re not into that Fifty Shades of Grey book because there are a few things I’d like to do to you right now.” Aric tilted his head to the side and lifted his nose, doing his impression of a bloodhound. All he lacked was the big, floppy ears.
The visual made me smirk.
“Do you two always get along like this, or is this merely how you’ve chosen to work out the stress of this particular situation?” Paris asked.
“We’re pretty much always like this,” I replied.
“I might be able to point you in the direction of a good couples counselor.”
“I’ll look forward to meeting with her,” I said. “Right after you go to therapy for your attraction to old dudes.”
“There were at least three of them here last night,” Aric said, kneeling next to a patch of dirt at the base of a tree. “The thing is, I don’t think they hung around. I think they were tracking us, but there are no imprints here deep enough to suggest they were watching us.”
I moved to his side. “Where are you seeing that?”
Aric pointed to what looked like regular dirt.
“Okay,” I said, exchanging an amused look with Paris over my shoulder. “Good job, honey. There. Do you like that endearment better?”
“No.” Aric straightened and glanced at me. “You are to refer to me as ‘king’ or ‘my lord’ and then fetch me my slippers every night once that ring is on your finger.”
He was joking, right? I can usually tell. His face was serious and he wasn’t smiling. I licked my lips. “Very funny.”
“That’s not a joke,” Aric said. “I’m second in line in our pack. You have to call me that – well, I guess ‘sir’ will be allowed, but that’s really formal and humans might take it the wrong way if you slip in front of them – or my whole family will get kicked out of the pack. You don’t want that, do you?”
Holy crap! He’s either telling the world’s best lie or I need to run now. “I am not calling you any of those things. I will lovingly call you ‘butthead’ before I call you ‘my lord.’”
“I don’t make the rules of the pack, Zoe,” Aric said. “You know that. I have to follow tradition, though.”
My hands landed on my hips. “Oh, really? And what are you going to call me?”
“Well, we are wolves,” Aric said. “You’re expected to breed with me and give me a bunch of kids. I think we’ll be able to skate by on one – as long as it’s a boy – so I was thinking I would call you my bi … .”
“Don’t even think about finishing that sentence,” I warned, wagging a finger in his face. “If you think I’m doing any of that … I … I don’t care how much I want that ring. I will smother you in your sleep – after I get my ring, of course.”
Aric’s face split into a wide grin. “It’s not so funny when the shoe is on the other foot, is it?”
I scowled. “That was a joke?”
“All those stories I tell you about the pack are for a reason,” Aric said. “You are going to have to make some appearances at events. You are never allowed to call me ‘dude’ at any of them. I don’t like it.”
I sighed, relieved. “Fine. You may have a point about me tuning out all that crap about the pack dinners and stories. That doesn’t mean you can scare me like that again. I’m much too fragile right now.”
Aric pursed his lips.
“My parents are missing,” I reminded him. “You can’t be mean to me when my parents are missing.”
“Then let’s get going,” Aric said, pointing toward a hill. “We need to get your parents as soon as possible because one of my favorite things in the world is telling you things and watching your head spin around like that kid in The Exorcist.”
“Yes, sir, dude!”
“Don’t call me that!”
“Dude, dude, dude.”
“Wow, guys,” Paris said, falling into step behind us. “That was like being back in college again. Seriously, though, I’m willing to pay for the therapy. Think of it as a wedding gift.”
21
Twenty-One
“Okay, let’s break here for lunch,” Aric said a few hours later, removing his pack and dropping it on the ground next to the slow-moving creek.
“Do you want me to put up a shield?” I asked, plopping down on one of the large rocks next to the water and groaning as I lifted my aching foot.
“No. I don’t think we’re being followed.”
“Maybe the wind isn’t … you know … shifting in the right direction for you to smell that,” I suggested. “It’s barely blowing. Your nose may be on the fritz.”
“Thanks for the wind update,” Aric said dryly. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without it.”
“Don’t take your crappy mood out on me, my lord,” I
muttered.
When Aric didn’t immediately respond I risked a glance in his direction.
“I like that,” he said, smirking. “Next time, can you get on your hands and knees when you say it?”
I lobbed a death glare in his direction. “Ha, ha.”
“Zoe, I know you’re tired,” Aric said, sobering. “We’re all tired. I need you to try to chill out, though. We can only take so much. If one of us breaks, we’re all going to break. I’m on the edge, too.”
“I’m having a great time,” Paris announced.
Aric and I shot her twin looks of disgust. “There’s no need to make fun of us,” he said. “We know we’re acting immaturely. We can’t seem to help ourselves. We’re out of our comfort zone here, and you’re partially to blame. Give it a rest.”
“I blame him,” I said. “He was just telling me two nights ago that I was more mature, and in an effort to prove him wrong I’ve sunk to the lowest level yet.”
“I think you’re perfectly mature,” Paris said. “Quite frankly, I’d rather have you two deal with the tension this way than scream at each other. I’m enjoying the sniping. It’s better than watching you two fawn all over each other.”
“Wow, thanks for the pep talk,” I deadpanned.
Aric pointed at me in warning. “Zip your lips, Zoe. Do me a favor and gather some wood for a fire.”
That didn’t sound like fun at all. “Why do we need a fire?”
“Because there are fish in that creek,” Aric said, moving his finger until it pointed at the water in front of me. “Would you rather have canned food or fish?”
I wrinkled my nose. “I’ll take the canned food.” I don’t like fish. I love seafood, don’t get me wrong, but unless my fish is dipped in batter, deep fried and put on a bun I’m pretty “meh” about the whole situation.
“Well, I want fish,” Aric said. “I need the protein. It won’t kill you to collect a some wood.”
“It might,” I grumbled, getting to my feet. “How much do you need?”
“As much as you can carry,” Aric replied, shaking his head as he watched me go. “Don’t wander too far away, Zoe. I should be able to scent anyone approaching, and you can protect yourself, but just in case … .”
“I promise to remain close to your kingdom, my king.”
“You keep throwing those out thinking I’ll feel stupid, but they’re really a turn on,” Aric warned.
“Then I’ll stop doing it.”
“There’s my girl.”
I PURPOSELY took a long time gathering the firewood. I was terrified Aric would try to make me catch fish if I returned too soon, and no one wanted that. I made a mental note to insist on picking our honeymoon location – mostly because I was sure Aric would pick a spot like Alaska when I was dreaming about places like Hawaii – and then turned back.
While I was relatively certain I would sense if someone was watching me, I decided to experiment and reached out with my powers. I managed to brush past a few squirrels and birds before I barreled into a wall of anger. It took me a moment to realize it was emanating from Aric. Once I did, though, I increased my pace and hurried back to our resting spot.
I caught sight of Aric first. He stood in front of the water, wildly gesturing as Paris stood in front of him with downcast eyes. I approached slowly, hoping I could hear a few conversational tidbits before Aric discovered me. We were in the wild, though, and he was on alert. He snapped his head in my direction the second he sensed me.
He tried to blank his face, forcing a smile for my benefit. His cheeks were red, though, and Paris looked as if she was about to cry. “Did you get the wood?” he asked.
I nodded and trudged forward, my gaze bouncing between the two of them. I dropped the armful of limbs in a pile on the ground and glanced around. “Where is the fish?”
“I’m going to catch it right now,” Aric said. “Paris and I were just talking about the best way to cook it.”
He was a terrible liar. “Is that why you were waving your hands around like a maniac and Paris has been crying?”
“I’m not crying,” Paris protested.
I ignored her and focused on Aric. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s nothing, Zoe,” Aric said. “I’m crabby from walking … and I’m worried … and I just snapped at Paris a little bit. It’s no big deal.”
“If you don’t tell me what you were fighting about I’m going to assume you’re having an affair,” I announced.
“That’s not funny,” Aric said.
“It wasn’t meant to be funny,” I said. “We’re in the middle of nowhere and you guys are fighting after sending me on a task so you could have some time alone. I’m not stupid. You’re either having an affair or something else is going on. Either way, I want to know.”
Aric ran his hand over his stubbled chin, the extra hair making him even hotter than normal – if that’s possible. “We’re not having an affair,” he said. “You know darned well it’s not that. Can’t you just leave this alone?”
“Did you just meet me?”
“This is going to send you off the rails, but I’m not going to lie to you,” Aric cautioned.
“You can’t,” Paris protested. “You said … .”
“I know what I said,” Aric shot back, his chest heaving. “The problem is, I think I knew Zoe would find out. I didn’t want to keep it from her in the first place. This is a convenient out for me.”
Oh, I couldn’t wait to hear this. “So, what’s the big secret?”
“Paris didn’t originally come to us because she was running from Quinn,” Aric said. “She was working with him and hoped you could make the book work. She didn’t change her mind about where her loyalties were until after the wolves attacked. There. Are you happy?”
I was pretty far from happy. “I don’t understand.”
“I didn’t figure it out until I talked to my father while you were getting ice cream,” Aric said, running his hand through his hair as he leaned against a tree. “My father said witnesses saw Sierra with a pale woman with high cheekbones. The last sighting of Sierra was four days before Paris showed up at our house. The woman with the high cheekbones was with her that day.”
“And Paris claimed she was running from her coven friends for two weeks before she decided to run to us for help,” I finished, my mind busy.
“Yes,” Aric confirmed.
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“Because I hoped I was wrong,” Aric said. “Even if I was right, though, we couldn’t afford a blow up. We need Paris to use as leverage when we get to wherever Quinn is holding your parents. I knew you couldn’t keep it to yourself if I told you. It turns out … I couldn’t keep it to myself either.
“I’ve been snapping at you because I’m frustrated about the situation,” he continued. “I really wanted to snap at Paris. I sent you for the wood so I could see if I was right. I hoped knowing would make me feel better. It didn’t.
“I’m sorry if you’re ticked off,” Aric said. “I didn’t mean for it to come out like this. Your thinking that I would have an affair with someone like her pisses me off, though. I … what are you thinking? Don’t set the forest on fire until we know where we’re going.”
I turned on Paris, my hands clutched at my sides. “You set out to betray us from the beginning.”
“That’s not true,” Paris protested. “I only wanted you to activate the book. I figured once you did I could sneak out and leave you and Aric to your lives. We only wanted to use the book. I never meant for any of this to happen.”
“Did you arrange for those wolves to attack?”
“No! That’s when I realized Quinn was working against me, too,” Paris replied, sucking in a deep breath to calm herself. “I believed what he told me. I’m sorry. I thought … I thought we were in love.”
“Even though he was old and evil,” I muttered.
“I didn’t know about his past, Zoe,” Paris said, her gaze
bouncing between Aric and me. “You have to believe that. I would never put you at risk. I told Quinn that I knew someone who might be able to help. I never told him your name.
“I was legitimately angry with you,” Paris continued. “I felt abandoned. I see now why you did it, but … you were my best friend and you cut me out of your life.”
“Oh, well, so I guess this is how you planned your payback.”
“No,” Paris said, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I never told Quinn about you specifically. I said I might know someone who could activate the book. He was obsessed with that book. He kept swearing up and down that it possessed huge power and he wanted to use it for good purposes.”
I snorted. “Did he tell you he was going to end world hunger and stop all the wars?”
Paris bit her lip instead of answering.
“Oh, come on! You’re smarter than that,” I spat. “Anyone looking for power wants to use it to crush others. You know that as well as anyone.”
“I wanted someone to believe in,” Paris said. “I used to believe in you. I never forgot what that was like. He seemed so easy … and likable … and believable. I wanted him to be another you.”
“Well, he’s not,” Aric said. “Why would he send the wolves to the house before you got a chance to approach Zoe with the book?”
“I have no idea,” Paris answered. “I never told him where you lived. Heck, I never told anyone I was contacting your parents. I called them just like I said I did, and they told me where to find you. Your mother seemed happy we were going to reconnect.”
“The fact that you’re the last one I know of to speak to my mother makes me sick.”
“Zoe, take a breath,” Aric warned.
I ignored him. “I’m guessing that Quinn thinks you brought the book to me and had me activate it so you could use the power,” I said. “He thinks you double-crossed him.”
“Or he was always planning to double-cross her,” Aric suggested. “He must have thought Paris was so eager to get that book revved up that she would show it to you right away.”
Rising Covenant (Living Covenant Trilogy Book 1) Page 16
