Dark Covenant (Living Covenant Trilogy Book 2) (5 page)

“I know where he is,” Jenna offered. “Once he reappeared, he moved to Novi for a few years and then got a job as a professor at the college.”

My heart flopped. “I’m sorry … um … are you saying that Mark is a professor at Covenant College?”

Jenna nodded. “He’s been there for about a year.”

“Son of a ... .” I hopped to my feet. “I am definitely blowing something up now.”

“
I
know where Mark is
!” I bellowed, slamming the front door for good measure to let Aric and James know I was home.

Aric stepped into view. I could tell he was bracing for a fight. “I do, too. How do you know?”

“Jenna is just as good with computers as Scott,” I said. “She found Mark in less than five minutes. I’m kind of curious how your father’s people managed to lose Mark when he turned up in the one place that should’ve set off bells and whistles.”

“Zoe, you need to calm down,” Aric warned. “We’re talking about what we should do right now. A few of my father’s aides and two members of the wolf council are here. Maybe you should … I don’t know … take a walk and come back when we’re done talking. How does that sound?”

“That sounds like something I’m not going to do.” If Aric thought reason would dissuade me, he was sadly mistaken.

Aric scowled. “I know you’re angry, but you have to calm down right now,” he said. “The last thing we need is for you to blow the roof off the house.”

“That’s because you don’t trust me,” I said, stalking into the living room and giving him a wide berth. He wasn’t wrong about me being on the edge. “You think I’m irrational and will do something stupid.”

“I didn’t say that,” Aric said. “I am worried you’re going to … do something you’ll regret if you’re not careful.”

“Oh, I’m going to do something,” I said. “I’m not going to regret it, though. I’m going to do it and throw a big party!”

“Take a walk and calm down,” Aric ordered. “Where are Paris and Kelsey? You didn’t leave them at the hospital, did you? Are they stranded?”

I narrowed my eyes. “No. I accidentally blew them up.”

“That’s not funny.”

“It wasn’t meant as a joke,” I shot back. “Isn’t that your worst fear? Don’t you sit around and worry every night that I’m going to lose control and kill the people closest to me? There’s no reason to deny it. If I were you, I would worry about it, too.”

“No. I never worry about that.” Aric crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re out of control right now. I don’t blame you, but it’s time to rein it in.”

“Don’t tell me what to do!” I lashed out in anger, my mind whipping an invisible lasso of energy and shredding a wedding magazine my mother left behind on one of her visits.

Aric glanced over his shoulder, his face unreadable as he watched the tattered bits of magazine fly through the air. “You’re getting better at venting when things start piling up on you,” he said. “That was pretty good. You took out an item you hated instead of blowing up the coffee table. I appreciate your restraint.”

I knew what he was trying to do, but his legendary charm wasn’t going to work on me this time. “We’re going to Covenant College,” I said. “Pack your things. We’re leaving in an hour.”

“No, we’re not,” Aric countered, holding firm. “We’re going to listen to what my father’s friends have to say, and then we’re going to decide on a plan of action. We are not running off half-cocked and getting in trouble.”

“Mark killed Scott,” I said, tugging on my limited patience and reminding myself that Aric was trying to do right by me. He always tried to do right by me, even when he accidentally did the absolute wrong thing. “What is there to talk about?”

Aric held out his hand. He wanted me to take it. “We’re talking on the deck,” he said. “They have information we need. I promise you we will make a decision together when we’ve heard all of the information. You have to trust me, though.”

I studied his hand for a moment, frustrated. “Fine.” I slipped my hand in his and let him lead me toward the deck. “If I don’t like what they say, though, I’m overruling everyone.”

Aric chuckled, the sound warm and throaty. “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he said. “Anger is going to work in our favor more than guilt.” He brushed a quick kiss against my forehead and yanked open the sliding glass door, causing four heads to turn in our direction. “You brushed your teeth for when we make up later, right?”

I scowled. “I can’t believe that’s what you’re worried about right now.”

“I’m a multitasker, baby,” Aric said, pushing me outside. “I can worry about a lot of things at the same time. Some things take precedence in my mind over others, though.”

“Zoe, I’m glad your back,” James said, forcing a smile for my benefit. “How is Jenna?”

“Alive.”

James and Aric exchanged a look, something silent passing between them.

“Well, okay,” James said, patting the chair next to him. “Have a seat. We have some things to talk about.”

“I’m fine standing,” I replied.

Aric squeezed my hand and dragged me toward the table. “She’s still feeling ill after throwing up this morning,” he said. “I apologize for her demeanor.”

“Yes, he apologizes for my demeanor,” I intoned, rolling my eyes as I dropped into the chair between Aric and James. I studied the three visitors. “I don’t recognize any of you guys. Who are you?”

“I’m sorry, forgive my manners,” James said. I caught the subtle undertones. He was really apologizing for my manners. “Zoe Lake, this is Stan Winfield, Jeff Torkelson and Mike Donner. They’re all members of the wolf council, and Jeff works in my senatorial office.”

“Charmed, I’m sure,” I said dryly. “Which one of you guys was responsible for keeping an eye on Mark Doyle?”

Stan shifted in his chair. “It’s not that simple, Ms. Lake.”

“I take it that means it was your job,” I said, not missing a beat. “How did he manage to get a job at Covenant College without anyone noticing? Shouldn’t that have been one of the first places you checked?”

“After his incarceration, Mr. Doyle moved back in with his parents in Novi,” Stan replied. “He got a job at a local community college and didn’t once poke his nose into a dangerous arena. We thought he was going back to a quiet life. We thought he learned his lesson and wanted out of the paranormal game.”

I read between the lines and knew what he left out. “In other words, you watched him for a year and then got bored,” I supplied. “Shouldn’t there have been some sort of … I don’t know … trap set to know when he changed jobs?”

“That probably would have been the best way to go,” James conceded. “It seems Mark slipped through the cracks.”

“Well, that’s great,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “Mark slipped through the cracks and blew up my college friend at my engagement party. Woo-hoo! Let’s hear it for our crack team of watchers, shall we? They surely deserve a standing ovation.”

“Zoe, the sarcasm isn’t necessary,” James chided.

“I think it is very necessary,” I argued.

“Aric, can you rein her in?” James asked. “She’s being a pain.”

I hate it when people talk about me as though I’m not in the room – or on the deck, in this scenario.

“She’s not wrong,” Aric said. “I’m not reining her in. That’s not my job. My job is to stand by her, and that’s what I’m doing. She has a bigger stake in this than anyone, including us.”

“I believe I was almost killed in the explosion yesterday, if memory serves,” James challenged.

“Yes, but Mark was aiming for me,” I said. “I’m the one he wants revenge on. I ended the academy. I had all his friends killed. I had him locked up. Speaking of that, does anyone know why he decided to return to Covenant College?”

“What do you mean?’ Stan asked.

I rolled my eyes. “I mean that there has to be a reason for Mark to return to his old stomping grounds,” I said. “Covenant College should be the last place he wants to be, given what happened to him there. Why is he back? What is he doing there? Is he trying to get the Academy up and running again? Hell, is the Academy already back?”

James ran his tongue over his teeth as he considered my questions. “Those are all things we need to answer.”

“Oh, good grief!” My temper flared again and the potted plant at the end of the deck exploded, sending pink flower petals spiraling and ceramic shards flying in every direction. Everyone at the table except for Aric ducked and covered their faces. “You have no idea what’s going on at Covenant College, do you?”

“Did she just blow that plant up?” Jeff asked, staring at the remnants of my lone attempt at summer gardening. “Did she do that with her mind?”

“She has impulse control issues,” James supplied. “We’re … fine.”

“That could’ve been you,” I whispered, internally crowing when the color drained from Jeff’s face. “My impulse control isn’t nearly as bad as James makes it out to be. You should be thankful for that.”

“Knock it off, Zoe,” James chided, picking a pink petal from his hair and studying it. “Is this … was this … a geranium?”

“I have no idea,” I answered. “The lady at the gardening center told me that it was the one plant that was impossible to kill. That’s why I bought it. I guess she was wrong.”

“I don’t think she had mental explosions in mind when she suggested the geranium,” James said dryly. “I’m impressed you managed to focus your anger on the plant instead of us, though. That shows growth.”

“Was that supposed to be a compliment?”

Aric reached over and gathered my hand in his. “It was definitely a compliment,” he said. “I find it convenient that you hated that plant and it’s gone now, but I’ll let that slide because you’ve had a rough twenty-four hours.”

“I didn’t hate that plant,” I protested.

“You told me it was mocking you,” Aric countered. “Of course, that was after you told me the bees were mobilizing to take over the yard, so I’m pretty sure you were exaggerating. You beat the plant, though.”

“I’m going to beat those bees, too.”

“If you kill those bees we’re going to have a big problem,” Aric said. “Forget about the bees. I’m sick of hearing about the bees.”

“I’m sick of listening to this argument,” James interjected. “We have a real problem on our hands. We have to decide how we’re going to handle it.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I said, pushing myself to a standing position. “We don’t have a problem on our hands. I have a problem, and I’m going to handle it. You’re not part of the equation. If I need your help, I’ll call you.”

“You can’t be serious,” James said. “Are you really considering going back to Covenant College and going after Mark on your own? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?”

“Do you have any idea how dangerous I am?” I asked. “I’m not messing around. Mark detonated a bomb at my engagement party. He was trying to kill me – and probably Aric, too. He never liked Aric.”

“That’s because he’s a putz,” Aric muttered. “I knew I should’ve beaten his ass when I had the chance.”

“Don’t worry, you’re going to get the chance,” I said, patting his arm. “We’re leaving first thing in the morning for Covenant College. I was going to leave this afternoon, but I have a few other things to check on first.”

“And what happens when you find Mark?” James prodded. “Are you going to take him on and kill him when an entire army of students – and possible new Academy recruits – are looking on?”

“Oh, no,” I said. “I’m going to follow him and kill him when he’s alone. First I’m going to find out whom he’s working for and who is working for him. If you think I’m going to let the Academy get a foothold on that campus again, you’re crazier than the woman who told me that flower was indestructible.”

James made a face. “I think if the Academy was up and running again we would’ve heard about it.”

“I would think that if one of the people who tried to kill us at Covenant College got a job at his old haunted stomping grounds you would’ve heard of that, too,” I argued. “It looks like we’re both wrong.”

“Ms. Lake, I don’t think you understand what you’re taking on here,” Stan said. “What if Mark Doyle has an army?”

“It won’t be the first army I’ve taken down,” I replied. “It won’t even be the second. I’m not messing around. Mark went after my family. He killed my friend. He doesn’t get to live a second time.”

“Aric, you can’t let her do this,” James said, turning to his son with a pleading expression on his face. “She could draw unnecessary attention to herself – and you by extension. It’s unacceptable.”

“If Zoe’s gut tells her that we need to go to Covenant College, that’s where we’re going,” Aric said, his tone calm and his resolve firm. “She’s never wrong when she feels things this strongly. I trust her.”

The flower petals, which had begun to settle, lifted back up and formed a heart as they danced on the other side of Aric. I didn’t even realize what I was doing until it was already happening.

Aric snickered when he saw the heart. “That’s cute, baby,” he said. “Go in and guzzle some mouthwash. I think we’ve got some making up to do before we pack.”

“This is unbelievable,” James grumbled.

“Well, believe it,” Aric shot back. “We’re not hiding any longer. Zoe is powerful. Mark apparently didn’t get the message the first time. He’ll get it this time.”

“Are you going to attack him with flowers?” Jeff asked, flummoxed.

“Yes,” I said. “Next time I’m going to set the petals on fire and jam them up his … .”

“Okay, Zoe,” Aric said, clamping his hand around my mouth. “I think you’ve said just about enough for the day. Let’s get your mouth cleaned out and pack. We’ve got a long couple of days ahead of us.”

“We’ll continue researching Mark and Covenant College,” James offered. “We might come up with something to help you.”

“I won’t hold my breath,” I said, wrenching my mouth from Aric’s hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve got it from here. Now might be the time for everyone to duck and cover, because I’m not taking prisoners this time.

“Look out Covenant College,” I continued. “Zoe Lake is coming back, and she’s pissed!”

“I hate it when you talk about yourself in the third person,” Aric grumbled. “That always spells trouble.”

I had a feeling this time would be no different.