living covenant 03 - eternal covenant Read online

  “It was fine,” Helen said, releasing me so she could move into the living room. Aric designed our cabin in the woods himself. It’s really more of a mansion cabin – that’s a thing! – than a cabin. “The house looks beautiful.”

  Aric shot me a triumphant look as his mother bypassed the empty wine bottle and cracker package, and moved to study the new painting on the wall.

  As I opened my mouth to apologize for the mess in the living room, my mother took me by surprise, smothering me with her own hug. Since I’d seen her the day before, I could only assume she wasn’t one-upped by Helen.

  “I can’t breathe, Mom.”

  “You’re fine,” Mom said, turning away from me and following Helen into the living room. “Why is this house such a mess?”

  I shot a dark look in Aric’s direction. “I told you.”

  “That’s your mother, not mine,” Aric countered.

  “It’s not a competition.”

  “If it was, I would totally win,” Aric said.

  “What are you two whispering about over there?” Mom asked, her gaze pointed when it landed on us.

  “We were just talking about how happy we are to see you,” Aric responded smoothly.

  Mom looked dubious. I didn’t blame her.

  “We were talking about the mess,” I said, sticking out my tongue in Aric’s direction when I was sure neither mother was looking. “Aric was supposed to clean it up before we went to bed last night, but I guess he forgot.”

  “Thanks,” Aric muttered, shaking his head. “I see how this is. When the mothers come to visit, you sacrifice me to save yourself. I won’t forget this.”

  “Are your hands broken, Zoe?” Mom asked. “Is there a reason you couldn’t clean up?”

  “Yes.”

  Mom lifted her eyebrows. “Really? What’s that reason?”

  “Aric insisted that I needed sleep,” I lied, taking a step away from Aric when he reached for me. “He didn’t want me to have big circles under my eyes. I’m so excited for the wedding I haven’t been sleeping. Aric insisted on cleaning up so I could get some much-needed rest … and then he forgot.”

  “Aric Winters!” Helen’s hands landed on her hips. “This poor girl is about to have the biggest day of her life. How could you forget to clean up your mess?”

  Aric opened his mouth but no sound came out.

  “It’s not his fault,” I offered, flashing a smirk that only Aric could see before pasting an earnest expression on my face for the benefit of our mothers. “He’s exhausted, too. He’s so excited to get married that he actually cried last night.”

  “That did it.” Aric grabbed me around the waist, causing me to laugh as he swung me around. “That might’ve actually worked until you took it one step too far. Why must you always take it one step too far?”

  “I think it’s in my genes.”

  “I think you’re right,” Aric said, laughing heartily as he gave me a hot kiss. The kiss probably would’ve lasted longer if our mothers didn’t clear their throats in unison. Aric graced them with a sheepish smile when he finally pulled his mouth from mine. “I don’t care what either of you say. It’s my wedding week and I’ll kiss her if I want.”

  “Very cute,” Helen said dryly. “That doesn’t explain why you couldn’t clean up your mess. It would’ve taken five minutes.”

  “We had other things on our minds,” Aric replied.

  “Like what?” Mom asked, instantly on alert. “Is there another monster on the way to destroy the wedding? Instead of rain, should we expect a shower of blood?”

  “Wow. Thank you for that visual,” I deadpanned, making a face that had Aric in stitches and our mothers in snits.

  “No one is coming for us,” Aric said, pulling himself together. “Well, no one is coming for us that we’re aware of. That’s not what we had on our minds.”

  “I don’t understand,” Mom said.

  “He’s a sex fiend, just like his father,” Helen said. “That’s what they were doing. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that’s what they were doing when we got here, too. That’s why it took them so long to answer the bell.”

  Mom was scandalized. “Is that true?”

  “It is true,” I confirmed. “Aric is a total sex fiend. Blame him for all of this.” I hopped out of Aric’s reach as he grabbed for me again, giggling as I shuffled toward the kitchen. “I am starving. You promised me breakfast, Aric.”

  “Why would I cook you breakfast after that display?” Aric asked, purposely sticking close to me and avoiding the eye daggers his mother lobbed in his direction. “I promised you breakfast if you were good.”

  “Hey, I didn’t hear any complaints in the shower,” I pointed out.

  “Zoe Lake!” Mom wagged a judgmental finger. “That is inappropriate!. One doesn’t talk that way in front of company.”

  “You’re not company,” I scoffed. “You’re my mother.”

  “It’s the same thing,” Mom argued. “Good manners prohibit one from saying things like that in front of others.”

  “You seem to be forgetting the time I snuck into the house late that one night and found you and Dad … doing it … with your bedroom door open,” I reminded her, inadvertently shuddering at the memory. “I thought I would need therapy after that. It was horrifying.”

  “Yeah,” Aric said, enjoying the story. “At least we’re not doing it in front of you.”

  “I’ve seen you two come plenty close enough on more than one occasion,” Helen argued, shaking her head. “Aric, you cook breakfast for Zoe. Zoe, you clean up the living room.”

  Aric and I exchanged annoyed looks. “Do we have to?” I whined.

  “Yes.” Helen doesn’t take a lot of guff. I figured it was better if I did as she ordered rather than argue.

  “Fine,” I said, moving toward the living room. “I want eggs, corned beef hash, toast and juice for breakfast”

  “Yes, my little despot,” Aric said, blowing me a jovial air kiss. “I guess I should take my duties as Mr. Zoe Lake seriously starting now, huh?”

  Helen stilled. “What?”

  Aric realized what he said when it was too late to take it back. “It’s an inside joke, Mom,” he offered. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Are you really considering changing your name?” Helen was mortified. “I know the line between the sexes is almost completely erased, but your father won’t like that, Aric.”

  “Well, given how powerful Zoe is, I thought it would be better for us if we both had her last name,” Aric said, opting to mess with his mother instead of apologize. “Zoe Winters doesn’t send the right message of terror and fear. Aric Lake, though, that’s terrifying.”

  “It will be when your father finds out,” Helen huffed.

  “Good grief,” Aric muttered. “Do you have to take everything so seriously? It’s a joke. I’m not taking Zoe’s name. We were playing a game this morning, and it’s not the type of game I’m supposed to talk about in polite circles. It wasn’t serious.”

  “Oh … well, fine,” Helen sniffed, silently urging me to continue with my cleaning with a jerk of her chin. “Zoe is taking your name, correct?”

  I left Aric to deal with that question and started gathering the garbage in the adjacent room.

  “Mom, we really haven’t decided yet,” Aric admitted. “I wasn’t joking about Zoe Lake being a name that instilled fear. I would rather have people fear her than force her to take my last name.”

  “You couldn’t force me to take your last name,” I called out. “I would either take it because I wanted to or not take it because I don’t feel like it. You couldn’t force me.”

  “Thank you, Zoe,” Aric said. “That’s obviously the most important part of this conversation.”

  I ignored the dig. “I’m either going to hyphenate my name or stick with Lake,” I volunteered. “I won’t switch over to Zoe Winters regardless.”

  I jolted when I turned, surprised to find Helen practically on to
p of me. She was quiet when she moved, like a cat. That was probably some werewolf thing.

  “What’s wrong with the Winters name?”

  “Nothing is wrong with the name,” I replied, skirting Helen and quickening my pace so I could hide behind Aric in the kitchen. He had a can opener out and was opening my corned beef hash. He seemed to be enjoying the show. “I just happen to like my name.”

  “I like it, too,” Mom said. “That’s why we picked it.”

  As former mages, my parents created entirely new identities when they left the fold and started mortal lives. I’d never bothered to ask how they selected their names. Now didn’t seem the time to do it, though, especially because Helen looked as if she was about ready to blow.

  “Your name has no history, though,” Helen pointed out. “The Winters name has centuries of history.”

  “That’s great,” I said. “It doesn’t change the fact that I haven’t decided whether I’m going to hyphenate or stick with Lake.”

  “But … .”

  “No, Mom,” Aric said, shaking his head. “I know you’re taking this as some sort of personal affront, but Zoe can’t ditch the name Lake. That’s how paranormals know her. That’s what makes them afraid. She cannot abandon the name Lake. It’s not going to happen, so you have to let it go.”

  “Don’t you want her to take your name?” Helen pressed.

  “I don’t really care,” Aric answered. “I want her to be my wife. The rest doesn’t matter.”

  “You’re much more accepting than your father,” Helen said, brushing Aric’s hair out of his eyes. “I think that’s terrific. If your father puts up a fuss about the name, I’ll handle it.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “That’s enough talking about that anyway,” Mom said, hopping up on one of the stools at the kitchen island. “Let’s talk about the wedding.”

  “Yes,” Helen said, enthusiastically clapping as she joined her. “What color are the bridesmaid dresses?”

  I shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  Helen’s smile slipped. “But … ?”

  “I told Paris and Kelsey they could pick whatever dresses they wanted,” I said, reaching for the bread so I could pop it in the toaster.

  “So they’re not going to match?”

  “Nope.”

  “They’re going to be the same style, though, right?” Mom pressed.

  “Probably not,” I said. “Paris and Kelsey don’t like the same styles.”

  “You cannot have mismatched bridesmaids’ dresses,” Mom snapped. “That’s tacky.”

  Uh-oh.

  “I’ll talk to Paris and Kelsey and get that sorted out as soon as they get here,” Mom said. “What kind of linens did you order for the tables?”

  This had to be a trap. There could be no other explanation. “Why would I get linens for card tables?”

  “Why would you have card tables?” Helen asked, mortified.

  “People will need somewhere to sit,” I replied, unperturbed. “I didn’t think throwing picnic blankets on the lawn would make anyone happy.”

  “Zoe, I need you to tell me exactly what you have planned for this wedding,” Mom instructed. “I’ve taken a step back because I know you don’t like to be crowded, but I’m a little worried.”

  “Mom, we don’t want some elaborate thing,” I said. “We got a great caterer. We rented some card tables and folding chairs. We got a minister. We hired a deejay. What else is there?”

  “You’re joking again, right?” Helen asked, flicking her eyes to Aric. “This is one of her jokes, isn’t it? Tell me she’s teasing us.”

  Aric was unbothered by his mother’s tone. “What else do we need? We don’t want some fancy shindig. We want it to be quiet and low-key.”

  “Quiet and low-key is not the same as tacky and gauche,” Helen snapped. “What about your dress, Zoe?”

  “What about it?” I handed Aric a carton of eggs. “I want three eggs.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Aric said, narrowing his eyes as his mother started flapping her hands. “What’s your problem?”

  “Have you seen Zoe’s dress?”

  Aric nodded. “It’s pretty. It’s simple. The neckline goes nice and low so I can keep looking inside all night. I’m happy with it.”

  “Where did you get it?” Mom challenged.

  “I saw it in the window of a store a few weeks ago,” I answered. “It was even on sale.”

  Mom and Helen sucked in twin breaths of disgust.

  “That doesn’t look good,” Aric said, slipping an arm around my waist as his protective instincts kicked in.

  “Okay, Zoe, we’re going to change things up,” Mom said, choosing her words carefully. “You’re no longer allowed to make wedding decisions. Helen and I will take over the planning, including hiring a wedding coordinator. You will be allowed to voice your opinion as we try to … fix … what you’ve done here. You don’t get a deciding vote, though.”

  That sounded pretty dire. “This is my wedding.”

  “And you’re our only children,” Helen said, raising her chin. “I am disgusted that you let this go so far, Aric. Do you have any idea how hard Nancy and I will have to work to fix this?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with the wedding we planned,” Aric argued. “It’s what we want.”

  “Yes, well, it’s not the wedding you’ll get,” Helen shot back. “Come, Nancy. We need a computer and phone book. I cannot believe they did this to us.”

  “I can,” Mom said, lowering her voice as she followed Nancy out of the room. “Zoe enjoys upsetting me.”

  “Aric does the same thing,” Helen said. “You’d think they’d be thankful to have mothers like us.”

  “You would,” Mom agreed.

  Once it was just the two of us, I shifted my eyes to Aric. “Do you still think they’re going to swoon because you’re so handsome and romantic?”

  “What just happened here?” Aric asked, confused.

  “I blame you.”

  “You always do, baby.”

  3

  Three

  “Do something.”

  “You do something.”

  I fought the urge to smack Aric, and forced a smile as Helen and Mom glanced back at us before walking through the door that would lead to our doom. “If you don’t do something, I’m calling off the wedding.”

  Aric slowed his pace and turned, his face unreadable as he glanced down at me. He’s unbelievably tall, and for some reason he seems taller when he’s angry. He was practically a giant now. “I love you, Zoe,” he said. “Don’t use the wedding as a weapon, though. I don’t like it.”

  I balked. “I didn’t mean … .”

  Aric held up his hand to cut me off. “I know you didn’t mean anything by it,” he said. “You were joking. It still bothers me. If you want to threaten me with something else to manipulate me, that’s fine. Don’t hold this wedding over me, though. We’ve both been waiting too long for it.”

  Something about his expression pinched my heart. “I’m sorry,” I said, genuinely meaning it. “You know I don’t want to call off the wedding.”

  “I do know that.”

  “I’ll think of something else to threaten you with.”

  “That’s great,” Aric said, reaching for my hand and resuming our walk toward the wedding coordinator’s storefront. “This place looks creepy.”

  “What was your first clue?” I asked, frowning as we stopped in front of the display window. “Was it those creepy fake butterflies flying out of that cake, or was it the demonic doves with the red eyes hovering over that bride’s head?”

  Aric chuckled. “Both. Whatever they say, we’re not having butterflies fly out of a cake.”

  “I’m more afraid of the doves,” I admitted. “They’ll poop all over everything. How is that romantic?”

  Aric squeezed my hand and pulled open the door, drawing me in front of him as we walked into the store. Our mothers were already busy, both of the
m gesturing wildly as a man in a pastel peach suit – no, you read that right, a peach suit – glanced up at us with a wide smile.

  “And this must be the happy couple,” he said, striding toward us. “Aren’t you two just … adorable.”

  For some reason the way he said “adorable” made me think he really meant “beyond help.” I didn’t like him on sight. “I like to think of us as hot,” I said, earning a smirk from Aric and an eye roll from our mothers.

  “You have the potential to be hot,” the man said, grinning at Aric. “This one especially.” He reached out and squeezed Aric’s muscular arm. “Holy cannoli! How often do you work out, stud?”

  I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. Aric didn’t find the situation quite as amusing.

  “I … um … .” He cast a forlorn look in my direction. He needed help.

  “He works out five days a week,” I supplied. “He does it shirtless, too.”

  The man mock fanned himself. “Honey, you are one lucky woman.”

  “You don’t have to tell me that,” I said, playing the game. “I know how lucky I am.”

  “I will call this wedding off if you don’t stop that,” Aric hissed.

  “If I can’t use the wedding as a weapon, you can’t either,” I shot back.

  “Fine,” Aric grumbled, making a face.

  “Aric and Zoe, this is Pemberley Markham,” Mom said, arcing out with her hand in a sweeping motion, almost as if she was bowing. “He’s the premiere wedding coordinator in the area.”

  “Is that saying much?” The words were out of my mouth before I could think about the intelligence associated with uttering them.

  “Zoe!” Helen shot me a dark look. “Pemberley is doing us a favor fitting us in on such short notice.”

  I was still trying to decide whether that was a good thing. “Thank you?”

  “Try again,” Mom ordered.

  “Thank you!” I practically bellowed, causing Aric to drop his head as he shook with silent laughter and Mom and Helen to scorch me with looks that promised physical pain later.

  “You’re funny,” Pemberley said dryly. “Is that how you snagged this one? Was it your sense of humor?”