Graduating (Covenant College Book 5) Read online

  “I see that I love her,” Aric said.

  “Why?”

  “Because she has a great smile,” Aric said. “She’s brave – which often makes her stupid – but she’s loyal, and she’s smart.”

  “I don’t see any of those things in her.”

  “You’re not looking,” Aric said. “You see me as some prize you want to win.”

  “Is that so wrong? So what if I see her as competition.”

  “Honey, you’re not even in the game,” Aric said.

  “That’s … hurtful.”

  “It’s the truth,” Aric said. “You don’t have any attributes I find even remotely attractive.”

  “Because of her?”

  “Even without her, I wouldn’t be attracted to you,” Aric said. “I’m with her, though, and I don’t want anyone else.”

  Kate wasn’t giving up. “Even though you yelled at her and called her stupid tonight?”

  “She’s not stupid,” Aric said. “She does absolutely moronic things, but she’s not stupid. I was just frustrated … and scared.”

  Kate snorted. “You were scared? Of what?”

  “People took Paris tonight,” Aric said. “Bad people took her. They could have taken Zoe, too.”

  “They probably just didn’t want to put up with her mouth.”

  “Kate, is there something you want?”

  “I thought I made that obvious.”

  “Well, you’re not going to get that,” Aric said. “I love every stupid thing Zoe does. I love her laugh. I love her sarcasm. I love the way she drools on my chest in the middle of the night – because that’s how I know she’s slept well. I like that she’s mean to people that bug her, and I like that she’s loyal to a fault. I love that her hair stands on end in the morning, and that she’s grumpy for at least a half hour until she really wakes up.

  “I love that she leaps before she looks – even if it makes me want to yank my hair out,” Aric continued. “I love every single thing about her, even when she acts stupid.”

  “So, that’s it?”

  “That’s it.”

  Kate made a disgusted sound, but I heard her feet shuffling as she started to move out of the room.

  “Shut the door,” Aric ordered.

  Once I heard it snap shut, Aric shifted next to me. “I also love that she pretends she’s sleeping and eavesdrops,” he said, flicking the lamp next to the bed off and pulling me tighter. He kissed my cheek softly.

  “I … .”

  “Go to sleep,” he said. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

  “Are you going to yell at me again?”

  “Probably.”

  Thirty-Five

  Sometime during the night, I did manage to drift off. When I woke the next morning, I was in the exact same position I’d been in the night before – and so was Aric. He was already awake, his brown eyes focused on me, his arms tight around my waist.

  “How did you sleep?”

  “Better than I had any right to,” I said, pulling away from him.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Do you think Paris slept?”

  “I don’t know,” Aric said, his tone soft. He reached over, tugging me back to him. “I’m sorry I yelled at you last night.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  “You’re right, I’m not,” Aric said. “You deserved to be yelled at.”

  “Are you going to do it again?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s not going to help anything,” Aric said. “We have to move forward, not look back.”

  “You can yell if you want,” I said. “I deserve it. You said it yourself.”

  Aric pulled his head back so he could look me in the eye. “Do you want me to yell at you as some form of punishment?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Zoe, I’m not going to pretend what you guys did last night was smart,” Aric said. “You couldn’t possibly have known how it would turn out. I really wish … you’d just waited for me.”

  “You wouldn’t have gone with us,” I scoffed.

  “No,” he said. “I would have gone for you.”

  “And that’s exactly why I didn’t tell you what we were doing,” I said.

  “What?” Aric’s face clouded over with confusion.

  “What’s to say that they wouldn’t have taken you?”

  Aric chuckled, the sound hollow. “You didn’t tell me to protect me?”

  “Maybe.”

  “We’re such a mess sometimes,” he said. “I keep trying to protect you and making things worse, and you keep trying to protect me and making things worse.”

  I didn’t reply, instead resting my head on his chest.

  “How about, for a change, we try to protect each other as a unit?”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means we’re not going to work apart anymore,” Aric said. “We’re going to work together, and we’re going to fix this together.”

  I was surprised by his offer. “So, you’re really not going to yell?”

  “Nope. I am, however, going to get some breakfast in you.” He smacked my rear, a familiar gesture devoid of the usual playfulness associated with it. “Get up. I’ll take you out to breakfast.”

  “That seems … .”

  Aric sighed. “I know you don’t want to eat breakfast when you don’t know if Paris is getting breakfast, but you need your strength,” he said. “We can’t get her back if you’re running on fumes.”

  “Fine.”

  When we made our way out into the living room, the sight of a small suitcase on the couch caught my attention. “What’s that?”

  “It looks like a suitcase.”

  “You’re so smart.”

  “I’m glad your sass is coming back,” Aric said, tilting his head to the side to listen. “Someone is in the kitchen.”

  I trailed behind Aric, my nose picking up the unmistakable aroma of eggs, bacon and hash browns. My stomach growled in appreciation, causing Aric to raise an eyebrow. “I knew you were hungry.”

  All of my roommates – all but one – were sitting around the kitchen table when we entered the room. Each one of them had a full plate in front of them, and there was a tall woman standing at the stove with her back to us.

  “What’s this?”

  Kelsey glanced up. “This is Mrs. Princeton,” she said. “She’s … .”

  “Paris’ mom,” I finished.

  Mrs. Princeton turned around, and I was immediately caught off guard. Just like her daughter, Mrs. Princeton was blessed with exquisite bone structure, wide set eyes, and a kind face. She had a bohemian flair, her long skirt brushing her ankles, and her blue peasant blouse offset her unsettled eyes.

  I immediately wanted to cry again.

  “You must be Zoe,” she said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “I … .” I couldn’t find words.

  “And that makes you Aric,” Mrs. Princeton continued. “I’ve heard a lot about you, too.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Princeton,” Aric said, extending his hand. “I wish it were under better circumstances. I’m assuming Detective Perkins called you last night.”

  “He did,” she said, nodding. “Call me Angela, please.”

  “Angela,” Aric said, shooting her a sympathetic smile. “We’re going to find Paris.”

  “I know,” Angela said. “I have no doubt. That’s why I’m here. I’m going to help. Sit down. I’ll get the two of you plates.”

  Aric gripped my wrist, tugging me along with him so we could settle together on the other side of the table. He purposely placed me in the chair next to Kate, while he sat down next to Kelsey.

  “No offense, ma’am … .”

  “Angela.”

  “Angela,” Aric corrected. “How do you think you can help?”

  Angela pursed her lips, making her look even more like Paris. “Because, you’re going to need a witch,” she said. �
�You need someone who can track my daughter, and that’s me.”

  Aric glanced around the breakfast table worriedly. “Um … .”

  “They already know,” Kelsey said, biting into a slice of toast. “Angela dropped the witch bomb an hour ago – and I told them the rest.”

  “Kelsey,” I hissed.

  “What? They have a right to know.” She lowered her voice. “And I didn’t tell them everything everything.”

  I glanced at Aric, who merely shrugged. “At least it’s out there.”

  “I can’t believe you guys have been hiding this,” Tally said. “Is that why no one could enter our house last year? Did you guys do a spell?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, at least I know I wasn’t going crazy,” she said.

  For her part, Kristy looked conflicted. “No one is going to turn me into a frog, right?”

  “No,” Angela said, patting her shoulder as she passed plates over to Aric and me. “No one is going to turn you into a frog, dear.”

  I dunked a slice of toast into my eggs, thinking. “Can you really do a spell to lead us to Paris?”

  “Yes.”

  “How soon?”

  “As soon as we’re done with breakfast,” she said.

  Aric shifted in his chair. “My father is sending … some help our way,” he said. “I talked to him last night. I think we should wait for reinforcements.”

  “I think you should,” Angela said. “I’m going after my daughter, though.”

  “Angela, I think you should wait,” Aric said, carefully choosing his words. “We may only get one shot at this.”

  “I understand where you’re coming from,” Angela said, her voice free of recrimination and anger. “I need to find my daughter, though. There’s something inside of me that tells me we have to do it sooner rather than later.”

  “I don’t think you should do this alone.”

  “She won’t be alone,” I said.

  Aric’s sigh was long and exasperated. “Zoe.”

  “I’ll go with you,” I said. “We’ll find her together.”

  “You’re not going without me,” Aric said.

  “You have to wait for your dad’s help,” I said. “We’ll follow the trail, and I’ll text you the location before we do anything.”

  “I don’t think … .”

  “It will be fine, dear,” Angela said. “Trust me.”

  Aric didn’t look convinced. “I know you don’t want anything to happen to your daughter,” he said. “I don’t want anything to happen to Zoe.”

  “Perhaps, to save one of them, we have to save them both,” Angela suggested.

  “Well, great,” Aric said. “Why do I think this is going to be a terrible idea?”

  “Because you have pessimist written all over you,” Angela replied.

  TWO HOURS later, we left Aric pacing on the front lawn of the house and started following the magical trail Angela conjured. I couldn’t actually see anything, but Angela said she could, and I believed her.

  Aric said our reinforcements were only fifteen minutes out – and he begged me to stay – but if Angela was going, so was I. We compromised, and I agreed to text him every turn we made along our route. He wasn’t happy, but he finally acquiesced.

  Once it was just Angela and me, she kept up a steady stream of chatter. I would have assumed she needed quiet to work, but apparently not.

  “So, Paris tells me you and Aric are quite close.”

  “Yeah.”

  “She’s happy you two made up,” Angela said. “She said you were miserable last year.”

  “I wasn’t happy,” I agreed, double-checking the intersection we were at before texting the information to Aric.

  “But you are now?”

  “I’m not exactly happy right now,” I corrected.

  “You will be again,” Angela said. “And you know that’s not what I meant. Paris said you’re evasive when it comes to your own feelings. I’m guessing that’s just a defense mechanism.”

  “A defense mechanism?”

  “You don’t like to appear vulnerable,” Angela said, heading down another side street. “You want people to think you’re tough. I’m guessing that’s why you fought dating Aric for so long. You knew he would make you vulnerable.”

  “I … have you been talking to my mom?”

  Angela chuckled. “I think all mothers have certain things in common.”

  “I guess.”

  We followed Angela’s “sixth sense” for several more blocks, me texting Aric directions at each turn, until we ultimately found ourselves on a dead-end street on the far side of town. We’d walked almost two miles.

  “Wow, this is right out of my nightmares,” I said, facing the dilapidated two-story house in front of us.

  “It is a little clichéd,” Angela agreed, stepping toward the house.

  I grabbed her arm, stilling her. “I think you should stay here and wait for Aric.”

  “We have to get inside,” Angela said.

  “I’m going to go inside,” I said. “You’re going to go and hide in those bushes and wait for Aric.”

  “I don’t think Aric will like that,” Angela said.

  “He won’t,” I agreed. “You need to be able to tell him exactly what house, though.” I handed her my cellphone. “Call him if he doesn’t show up in five minutes. He’ll be right behind me.”

  “What if someone is in there?”

  I lifted my hands, smiling ruefully. “I’m sure Paris already told you, I’m always armed these days.”

  “I don’t like it.”

  “Well, I have a feeling you need to be out here,” I said. “Just … send Aric in when he gets here. Tell him to … tell him to be careful.”

  “You be careful, too.”

  Once I was sure Angela was hidden from view, I made my way toward the house. Instead of climbing the front porch, I let myself into the back yard through the rusted, metal gate and hugged the house as close as possible until I reached the back yard.

  The lawn was overgrown, and I couldn’t help imagining any number of creepy-crawlies scurrying around as I moved to the small back porch. I climbed the cement steps, pressed my ear to the door, and then tried the knob. Of course, it didn’t open.

  I’d thought ahead and brought my little tool kit. The lock was old, and ultimately easy to pick. Will wasn’t good for much, but his brother’s little tip had turned out to be a godsend. I opened the door and listened. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought the house was empty.

  I knew better.

  I left the back door open, just in case a hasty retreat was going to be necessary, and entered the house.

  The back door opened into a small vestibule, and as I gazed down the dimly-lit hallway, I could make out a sagging couch at the far end, which would seem to indicate that was the living room. To my left, there was a dark staircase descending into what I was sure was a lovely basement.

  I considered my options. It would make things easier if Paris was being held on the main floor – or even the second floor – but I had no doubt that my destination was ultimately going to lead me to the basement.

  Why waste time?

  I pressed my hand to the wall to keep my balance. The house was older, and the stairs were narrow. I tried to keep as quiet as possible. I hadn’t heard a peep since I entered the house – but that didn’t mean some unknown danger wasn’t down here lurking for me, or threatening Paris.

  Once I hit the bottom, I leaned against the wall to listen again. While it hadn’t been visible from upstairs, the adjacent room was lit. I was envisioning a naked bulb hanging in an empty room. When I didn’t hear anything, I turned the corner and pulled up short.

  Apparently, all of my subterfuge was for naught, because the four faces waiting for me didn’t seem surprised at my appearance.

  “Well, crap.”

  Thirty-Six

  “Well, Ms. Lake, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised to see you here.”


  I wrinkled my nose, my gaze landing on each man in turn. “Well, you guys are a motley crew. I expected Professor Blake,” I said. “I even thought there was a possibility Will was involved in this. As for Mark? Well, I didn’t want to believe it, but I knew he was lying. You, though, Governor Reagan? You’re a surprise.”

  “Well, I should hope so,” Reagan said, chuckling. “I’ve gone to great lengths to keep my ties to this campus a secret.”

  “Then you probably shouldn’t have had a voter-registration day,” I said. “I mean, that’s when I first knew there was something hinky up with you. How are you going to explain being here?”

  “I have a rally on campus this afternoon,” he said. “I have a reason to be here.”

  “Well, bully for you.”

  Will was impatient. “Are you alone?”

  I ignored him and focused on Blake. “What are you hoping to accomplish? You hate monsters, but you keep partnering with them. You know he’s a wolf, right?”

  Blake snorted. “Aren’t you the one who told me some monsters are better than others? Governor Reagan wants to eliminate the really dangerous monsters. That puts us on the same side.”

  “We need to make sure she’s alone,” Will said. “I can’t believe that Winters isn’t lurking around. They’ve been inseparable all year. They haven’t spent a single night apart.”

  “Nice, stalker,” I said. “You’re such a sicko. Does your girlfriend know you’ve been peeping into windows?”

  “Shut up,” Will shot back.

  “We have had someone watching you,” Reagan agreed. “I mean, you are a celebrity on this campus. Our one and only mage.”

  I rolled my eyes. “If you’re trying to catch me off guard with that, don’t bother. Everyone in this room knows what I am … and what I can do.”

  Reagan furrowed his brow. “Yes, your reputation precedes you. I believe, first and foremost, you’re known as a pain in the ass. From what I understand, though, the mage thing comes and goes.”

  I stuck my tongue out. “The pain-in-the-ass thing is ever present, luckily for you.”

  “Seriously, are we just going to assume she came alone?” Will pressed. “Winters wouldn’t let her come alone.”

  “I’m assuming Aric isn’t speaking to her after her little escapade last night,” Reagan said. “He’s been working so hard to keep her safe, and then for her to do something so completely stupid.” He made a tsking sound with his tongue. “Well, he’s just got to be beside himself. Is that why you’re here alone?”