Dark Covenant (Living Covenant Trilogy Book 2) Read Free Page B

“We’re going to be out late tonight, though, and we’re going to be drunk when we get back. I want to be safe when I know we won’t be at our best. I promise it will come down tomorrow morning.”
    “Okay.”
    “I don’t have to put it up if you don’t want it up,” Aric offered.
    “Put it up,” I said. “We’re definitely getting drunk tonight. That’s the only way I’m going to be able to put up with both of our mothers.”
    Aric snickered as he dropped a kiss on top of my head. “Have fun catching up. I hired a car to drive us to the restaurant and back, so we can drink as much as we want.”
    “I see you were thinking ahead,” Paris teased.
    “Politicians and out-of-control mothers are enough to make anyone want to drink,” Aric said. “Get all of your heavy gossip out of the way now. There will be no talking about Zoe’s magic in public tonight. I don’t want anyone overhearing something they shouldn’t.”
    “Yes, sir,” Kelsey said, mock saluting.
    “I forgot how funny you are,” Aric muttered. “That’s probably because you’re funny in a very irritating way.”
    “You’ll get used to me again,” Kelsey said.
    “I’m looking forward to it,” Aric said, grinning as he left the room.
    Once it was just the three of us, Kelsey turned to me excitedly. “So, how powerful are you?”
    I forced a smile for her benefit. Talking about my power boost wasn’t high on my favorite things list. “I can hold my own.”
    Paris snorted. “She’s being modest,” she said. “She took out dozens of wolves on her own, and she scared the bejeezus out of a bunch of witches at the same time and sent them scurrying into the woods. They’re probably still hiding out there.”
    “I accomplished all of that by setting people on fire,” I reminded her. “I don’t really want to talk about that.”
    “I’m sorry,” Paris said, shifting uncomfortably. “I didn’t mean to bring that up tonight. This is supposed to be your night.”
    “Unfortunately I think it’s going to be my mother’s night,” I said. “That is if she can wrest control from Aric’s mother. She’s the one who set up this entire shindig. She’s using it as a coming out party. I’m not sure I want to come out, though.”
    “Aric seems less militant about keeping you hidden,” Paris pointed out. “That’s a good thing.”
    “It is a good thing,” I agreed. “It’s also freaky. Now that we don’t have invisible walls hiding us, what’s to stop someone from coming after me?”
    “I think that display you put on at Quinn’s compound is enough to frighten anyone away,” Paris said, referring to her ex-boyfriend with something akin to scorn and derision. “No one would dare go after you when they know you can … do that.”
    “I hope you’re right,” I said. “I don’t think Aric can take more drama right now. He’s still getting used to the fact that my eyes turned black and I almost blew up everyone within a three-mile radius.”
    “I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration,” Paris chided. “You calmed yourself down.”
    “Actually, he calmed me down,” I said. “If he hadn’t been there … .” We both knew what might have happened if Aric hadn’t been able to reach through the haze and snap me out of my rage trance.
    “It’s over now,” Paris said. “This is the happiest time of your life. You should enjoy it.”
    “Tell that to my mother.”
    “I’m not telling your mother anything,” Paris said. “She’s scarier than you are.”
    I couldn’t help but laugh. It felt good to be with old friends as I contemplated a night of new beginnings. “Drink up,” I said. “It’s going to be a long night, and alcohol is going to be our friend.”
    “I’m looking forward to it,” Kelsey said. “How many people from college did you invite?”
    “A few,” I answered. “I couldn’t find a lot of them, and I didn’t like most of the people I could find.”
    “So, who is