“We need rest to think this through,” he continued. “So we’re going to eat and go to bed. Then tomorrow we’re going to handle this problem, because the day after that we’re getting married. There’s nothing that will ever keep me from that, so we have to end this tomorrow.”
The wedding. I’d almost forgotten about it. Well, that wasn’t quite true. I could never forget about it. It’s fair to say that I’d forgotten how close it was. “Do you realize that in forty-eight hours you’re going to be Mr. Zoe Lake?”
Aric chuckled while James scowled.
“I did realize that,” Aric said. “Why do you think I’m trying to fill you full of protein? You’re going to need your energy for what I have planned for our honeymoon.”
“Okay, open the dome,” Dad intoned. “I would rather die than listen to this.”
“Join the club,” Rafael said. “If I ate food, this is where I would puke.”
“Don’t listen to them,” Aric whispered, nuzzling his face close to my neck. “You saved us today. We’ve got forever in front of us, and I’ll never forget the gift you’ve given us. It’s going to be okay, Zoe. We’ll figure this out.”
“I know,” I said, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek before turning to Mom and Helen. “Where are my lobster tails? I’m starving.”
“Yes, dear,” Mom said, shaking her head. “I’m glad nothing can keep you down for long – even a coven.”
“I’m glad, too,” I said. What I didn’t tell everyone, and wisely so given the mood, was there was no way I would destroy the coven from afar. I needed to see my enemies up close and personal before I burned them from existence. I wouldn’t drop that bomb until we had more information, though. We would have to take this one step at a time. “Doesn’t someone want to get me some juice? I almost died. I need someone to wait on me.”
“How long are you going to milk this?” Paris asked, narrowing her eyes as she moved to the refrigerator. “This is going to get old quick.”
“Then I’ll milk it until then,” I said, resting my head against Aric’s shoulder. He was safe and alive. That’s all I truly needed now, although the lobster tails would be a nice bonus.
22
Twenty-Two
Aric’s steady heartbeat woke me the next morning. I kept my face pressed against his chest and took a moment to revel in his warmth. When I finally shifted my head I found him staring at me.
“What?”
“You’re cute when you sleep,” Aric said, pulling me tighter. “You drool.”
“I don’t drool,” I protested, shooting him a dirty look.
“There’s a pool of drool on my chest,” Aric said, chuckling. “It’s okay. I like it.”
“Have you ever considered you sweat?”
Aric cocked a dubious eyebrow. “Only in one spot by your mouth?”
“You suck,” I muttered, moving to get out of bed. Aric refused to let me go and instead rolled on top of me. I was pinned between him and the mattress. “Let me up!”
“I will in a minute,” Aric said, his eyes serious. “What you did yesterday … .”
“Was nothing,” I said, cutting him off. “I wasn’t going to let you die. You can let it go now.”
“I’m pretty sure I did die,” Aric said, keeping his voice low. “I know you don’t want to hear it, and in your place I’m not sure I would feel differently. I think I died, though.”
The words hurt. “I would’ve felt it if you died,” I said finally. “My heart would’ve broken. You didn’t die.”
“Your heart would’ve broken when you let me go,” Aric countered. “You didn’t let me go.”
I had no idea what to say. “Did you see anything?”
“No. I saw you leave the apartment and then … I woke up to you yelling at me,” Aric said, his smile rueful. “I think it might’ve been the best moment of my life. I didn’t think I’d see you again. Not for a really long time, at least.”
I wasn’t sure what I believed about souls and forever, but the idea of living life without Aric was something I couldn’t fathom. “You didn’t die,” I said, shaking my head. “You’re here. I don’t want to keep talking about this.”
“Okay,” Aric said, giving in. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“What?”
“If I did die, that means I was reborn when you brought me back,” Aric said, causing me to huff and roll my eyes. “That means I’m a virgin. I can’t have that, baby.”
I tried to stop myself from laughing, and failed miserably. “I take it you want me to resolve that particular issue.”
“You’re the only one who can.”
“Okay,” I said, the need to make him laugh – and give up the maudlin ruminations – overwhelming me. “We should probably get Rafael in here.”
“Oh, that was low,” Aric said, making fake chomping noises against my neck as he tickled me until I squealed. “Now you must pay.”
He was in a pretty good mood for someone who thought he died twelve hours earlier. I couldn’t deny him, not that I wanted to. “Okay, but I’m going to need a really big breakfast after this. Those lobster tails were great, but I’ll need another energy boost if you plan to give me a workout.”
“Oh, baby, I’ll make you the breakfast of your dreams … if you just stop talking,” Aric said. “I need to concentrate. I’m doing this for the first time, after all. I might need some pointers.”
“How long are you going to milk this?”
“Until we’ve done all of the firsts again.”
“Fine,” I said. “This feels dirty and wrong the way you’re phrasing it, though. It kind of makes me sound like a dirty old woman.”
“I can live with that.”
As long as he lived, I didn’t care how he chose to spend his days. I think that was fair to say for both of us.
“IT’S nice that you finally managed to join us,” Mom said dryly when we padded into the kitchen.
I brushed my hair, still damp from the shower, behind my ear. “Thank you for the lovely invitation.”
Aric snorted and moved toward the refrigerator. “What do you want for breakfast?”
“Eggs, corned beef hash and toast.”
“Done,” Aric said.
It was only when I sat at the dining room table that I realized everyone was staring at me. “What? Do I have something on my face?”
“Drool,” Aric offered, laughing when I shot him a dirty look.
“You two are awfully jovial considering we’re trapped beneath a dome and you almost died yesterday,” Helen said, grabbing the carton of eggs from her son. “I’ll make breakfast. You almost died yesterday, for crying out loud.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Aric said, mock saluting. He really was in a good mood. I couldn’t help but wonder whether it was because he thought he died or this morning’s escapades – or both. “Zoe likes her eggs over medium. Make sure the whites are cooked completely through, but don’t break the yolks. She likes to mash everything together.”
“You really are Mr. Zoe Lake,” James said, making a disgusted sound in his throat as Aric joined us at the table.
“I don’t care how down you are, you’re not going to ruin my mood,” Aric said. “I’m alive. We’re happy. You can’t ruin it.”
“You also have a vampire sleeping in the basement and I’m stuck in a tracksuit,” Pemberley said, gesturing toward his outfit. “How does that equate a good day?”
Aric snagged my hand and kissed the palm. He didn’t answer, shrugging instead, and then turned his attention out the back window. “Have we seen any movement?”
Dad shook his head. “We’ve been up since dawn and kept a close eye on everything,” he said. “We thought we might’ve seen something an hour ago, like someone was trying to move past the dome, but it was quick and we haven’t seen anything since.”
“What about the research?” I asked. “Did you come up with anything?”
“No,” Paris said, dark circles under her eyes as
she nursed a mug of coffee. “I don’t know who is out there. I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said, realizing after the fact that I sounded abnormally chipper given our circumstances. “Things will work out fine.”
“Since when are you an optimist?” Mom asked, narrowing her eyes.
“I’ve always been an optimist. I like to look on the bright side of things. Zoe Lake is a happy person.”
Aric snorted. “I knew you were going to start saying that again when you showed me the memory,” he said. “How long did that phase last?”
“I think it was two days.”
“How long will this phase last?”
“Well, we’re supposed to be getting married tomorrow, so I guess it’s going to be two days,” I answered. “Don’t worry about it. Everything will be okay.”
Now it was Aric’s turn to narrow his eyes. “You have a plan,” he announced. “Whatever it is, the answer is no. We’re not doing it.”
“How do you know I have a plan?” I challenged.
“You have your ‘I’m going to be a pain’ face on,” Aric replied. “I can always tell when you’re gearing up to do something stupid. It’s not happening today. I don’t care what you think. I don’t care what you think you know. It’s not happening today. I’m putting my foot down.”
“I CAN’T believe I let you talk me into this,” Aric groused, following me down the slight incline that led to the woods. “This is the worst idea in the history of the world. I will … .” He broke off and mimed strangling an invisible person.
“I guess that means you’re over me saving your life, huh?” I asked, extending my fingertips until they brushed up against the invisible barrier I created. “We have to draw the enemy out – especially since we have no idea who the enemy is.”
“Zoe, you almost died last night,” Aric said. “How do you know they won’t attack you right away as soon as that wall drops?”
I shrugged. “I’m hoping they’ll try,” I replied. “I’m also hoping they show themselves in the process. I’m ready for them now. I know what to expect.”
“A barrage of magic so powerful it can cripple you and kill me?”
I stilled. He was right. “You should go back to the house.”
“Are you crazy? I am not leaving you out here to deal with this yourself. In fact, I don’t think we should deal with it at all until after dark.”
“You want Rafael to go with us,” I surmised, fighting the urge to smirk. “That’s a new one. You usually want me to cut him out of our plans. Now you want to wait for him. I never thought I’d see the day.”
“He’s strong,” Aric argued. “If something happens to me … .”
“Nothing is going to happen to you. I won’t let it.”
“I know you won’t, but you can’t be everywhere at once,” Aric said. “If something happens to me, I want to know he’s with you. I want to know you’ll have backup.”
“Oh, honey, I don’t need backup,” I said, patting his cheek. “I’m too angry for backup. I want to know who we’re up against, and I want to take them out. This is our last night of freedom. Tomorrow I’m attaching a ball and chain to your leg. Don’t you want a bachelor party?”
Aric made a face. “No.”
“Lies.”
“It’s not a lie,” Aric said. “I don’t need a bachelor party. I’m not giving up anything. I’m gaining you.”
“You already have me,” I pointed out. “This is your last night to see another woman naked. Ever. You’re supposed to have a bachelor party. I don’t make the rules, but you’re supposed to follow them.”
“Why do I think this is all some elaborate hoax so you can see naked men?”
“I think it’s probably because you’re unnaturally suspicious,” I replied, unruffled. “If I want to see naked men, all I have to do is ask. I’m hot enough for men to drop their drawers on request.”
“You drive me crazy,” Aric muttered, turning his attention back to the barrier. “Run me through this plan again.”
“I’m going to drop the dome and walk into the woods,” I said. “I’m going to call out to our enemies and draw them to us. When they close in I’m going to burn them to ash and call it a day. Then we can go to our respective parties.”
“I don’t know.”
“Aren’t your groomsmen arriving tonight?” I prodded. “What are their names again?”
“Buck and Norton.”
“That’s right,” I said, chuckling. “Who names their kids that?”
“They’re family names,” Aric said. “Wolf families have names that run through generations. I’m named after my grandfather.”
“Your name isn’t bad,” I said. “It would be better if it was spelled correctly. That’s neither here nor there, though. You’re going to have a bachelor party. I don’t care if I have to throw it for you and act as a stripper.”
“Now we’re talking,” Aric said, smiling. He reached over and grabbed my hand. “If this starts to go bad … .”
“I’ll burn first and ask questions later,” I promised. “We can’t play defense here. We have to play offense. You know that. I know you do.”
“I do know that,” Aric confirmed. “Are you sure the protection spell on the house will hold?”
“Paris said it will, and I trust her,” I said. “She’s taking care of that end and we’re taking care of this end. It’s going to be okay.”
“It had better be,” Aric said. “I don’t have the power to bring you back from the dead, and now that I’m a semi-virgin there are a lot of things I want to do. I can’t do them if you’re dead.”
“That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Drop the barrier, Zoe,” Aric ordered. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Yes, sir.”
It took only a second. I reached out with my mind and dropped the dome, waiting a moment before stepping over the former barrier and into the woods. “Hey! Yo, witches! I’m here and I want to talk. Don’t make me come looking for you.”
“Yes, that’s exactly the way you should approach this,” Aric muttered, moving in behind me and putting his hand on my hip. “Let’s taunt the magical sociopaths.”
“I think they shot their magical wad last night,” I supplied. “I think they saved up for one assault and the magic they have left is weak.”
“I think that’s probably wishful thinking,” Aric said, although he nudged me forward. “Let’s go. They’re not going to approach us in the open. They’ll want to surprise us … or at least think they surprised us.”
I moved into the trees, sliding my hand into Aric’s and walking forward. I opened my mind as far as I could and searched for a hint of something, a trace of anything. Everything was too muddled to focus on a single source.
“There’s definitely more than one person out here,” I whispered.
“How many do you sense?”
“I’m not sure. At least three – possibly more. There are definitely three strong personalities. Of course, my personality is stronger so I’m going to swallow them whole.”
“I don’t think that’s as terrifying a threat as you think it is,” Aric said. “In fact, it’s kind of turning me on.”
“That’s because you’re a pervert.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Aric said.
We spent the next twenty minutes searching the woods. We didn’t want to go too far from the house, but each time I thought I got a sense of something – or someone – I lost it. I was ready to topple over the edge and embrace my frustration when Aric suggested returning to the house.
“They’re playing with us, Zoe,” Aric offered. “We should regroup there and let them come after us in a place where we’re strong.”
“They did that last night and almost killed us.”
“I know,” Aric said. “I don’t like that they haven’t approached us, though. The longer we’re out here the more uncomfortable I a
m leaving people at the house without us. You’re the threat they want to avoid unless they have the upper hand. What if they want something at the house?”
“Like what?”
“I have no idea,” Aric answered. “Maybe they think The Archimage is there. They might not know what happened to it.”
That thought hadn’t even occurred to me. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh,” Aric echoed. “Rafael is there, but he can’t do anything unless they go into the basement. I don’t like this. Something here is … wrong.”
Now that he said it, I felt it. “Let’s go.”
We set a brisk pace back to the house, breaking into a run when we heard Paris yelling for us from the back deck. I hurried up the lawn, frowning when Paris finally registered our presence.
“What’s going on?” Aric asked, fighting to catch his breath.
“They made it past the wards,” Paris said, practically choking on her words. “I don’t know how they did it. They must be more powerful than we realized.”
“Did they take anything?” I asked, reaching for the stair railing that led to the deck.
“They took Kelsey.”
“Sonovabitch!”
23
Twenty-Three
“How in the hell did this happen?”
I lashed out with my magic, scattering the deck furniture until it crashed into the guard railings. Paris shrank in the face of my fury.
“I … .”
“Calm down, Zoe,” Aric ordered, seemingly unperturbed by my fit. “Go inside. We can’t talk about this out here.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!”
“Don’t make me carry you inside,” Aric shot back, his eyes darkening. He really wasn’t afraid of me. That made me feel a little better, though I had no idea why.
I kicked the potted plant by the back door as I entered, sending it rolling into Aric’s path. He stepped over it as if it was supposed to be there and shut the door behind him.
“Is anyone hurt?” Aric asked, scanning the room.
“It happened too fast for anyone to get hurt,” James answered. “It was over within sixty seconds. We didn’t even see it coming.”
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