3 Conjuring (17 page)

I stomped up the stairs to Aric’s apartment with d
rama in my heart and mayhem on my mind. I was geared up to make a huge scene, as many hurtful words on the tip of my tongue as I could muster, when I threw open his door and abruptly stopped. Aric was sitting on the couch, his elbows on his knees, and he had his head buried in his hands.

He looked up in surprise when he realized his apartment door had been thrown
open. His eyes were dark and murky – and that didn’t change when he caught sight of me. “What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” I countered uneasily. “I t
hought you were going to be at the frat house?”

“I was. That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here.”

“I had a huge fight with my roommates and I decided to walk over here and wait for you.” That was my initial intention, so it wasn’t exactly a lie.

“Is that why you threw the door open like one of
those women on that awful soap you make me watch with you?”

“Well,” I hesitated, “when I got here I saw Will leaving. I
decided I was pissed off, so I thought I would come up here and confront you.”

Aric smiled wryly, although there wasn’t much mirt
h in the expression. “And what made you change your mind?”

“You,” I replied simply. “I can’t be mad at a guy who looks that sad.”

“I’m not sad,” Aric shot back.

“Right. I wouldn’t want to impugn your manliness,” I s
aid sarcastically. “You looked like you were brooding. Really hard.”

Aric blew out a sigh. “This night was supposed to be just the two of us,” he lamented.

“Instead I got a pile of crap at the frat house and then a pile of even bigger crap when I got home.”

“Well, since you can’t tell me about the frat stuff,” I said, moving to th
e couch and sitting down next to him, “why don’t you tell me why Will was here? Did he tell you what happened tonight?”

Aric looked confused. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, I had my own little run-in with Will tonight,” I sighed, leaning forward far enough to slip out of my heavy coat. Aric reached over and helped me, letting his hand wander down the back of my head tenderly when he was done.

“What happened?” Aric asked, rubbing the bridge of his nose tiredly.

“Well, when you dropped me off, I went straight upstairs and found Brittany and Will making out in the hallway.”

“They are going out,” Aric replied pragmatically. “They’
re allowed to do that. She’s a bitch, but it’s not like she was out of line or anything.”

“They were doing it in front of my room.”

“Of course they were.”

“I decided to ignore them,” I continued. “She wouldn’t
exactly let me. He was kind of in on the action tonight, too.”

Aric clenched his jaw and waited for me to continue.

“He said he hoped it wasn’t too hard on me to see him with Brittany. I shot back some snarky crap about being more worried about him in that regard and then Brittany flew off the handle.”

“I bet,” Aric smiled at the mental image. “Let me guess?
It was all a big screech fest with her demanding Will tell her you were lying?”

“Pretty much,” I agreed.

“And then what happened?”

“Then Kelsey showed up and made things worse.”

“She’s really starting to grow on me,” Aric said.

“Me, too. Especially after what happened when I actually got into the room.”

“Do I even want to hear this?”

“I’m not sure,” I said. “Let’s find out.”

“I can’t wait. So what happened when you entered the room?”

“Laura and Matilda were sitting on the floor with a
full-length mirror. Only they weren’t looking at themselves. They were writing messages on it with a bottle of hairspray and then lighting it on fire.”

Aric looked flabbergasted. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“Neither did I.”

“What were they writing?” Aric asked, worry lining his handsome face.

“I have no idea. I couldn’t actually read it.”

“So, what did you do?”

“I picked a huge fight and bitched about everything that had been bothering me for the past few months,” I admitted.

“That’s my girl,” Aric sighed, slinging his arm arou
nd my shoulders and pulling me closer. “And how did that go?”

“Well, it was interesting.”

“Interesting?”

“That’s the best word to describe it. Although, the word ugly kind of fits, too.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Well, she started by saying that you were a werewolf.”

Aric didn’t look surprised – or concerned. “Did you pretend you were surprised? I thought she already knew that.”

“No. Then she told me there were other werewolves and vampires on campus, too.

When that didn’t move me, she referred to me as a mage and said that everyone on campus may be busy bowing down to me and my precious boyfriend – that’s what she called you, by the way – but she was done giving me any respect or special treatment.”

“So Jessica has been feeding her a line of crap,”
Aric mused. “That’s not really surprising.”

“No,” I agreed. “The problem is, I think she’s been
telling Laura and Matilda the truth, but wrapping it in a bunch of lies to fuel her agenda.”

“And what’s her agenda?”

“That is the question, isn’t it? I was kind of hoping you knew.”

“That would be too easy,” Aric sighed, “I’ve h
ad people trying to ferret out information from that damn sorority for months. All I’ve heard is that they’re dabbling in witchcraft and keep saying they have something big planned.”

“And that worries you?”

“Since I think that whatever they have planned revolves around you, I’m more terrified than anything else.”

My heart welled in for him. I may doubt his methods, b
ut I couldn’t help but believe that his heart was truly in a good place – at least where I was concerned.

“Laura admitted that Jessica asked them about me bef
ore she invited them to pledge the sorority.”

“That’s not exactly news,” Aric said. “Still, at least we have confirmation now.”

“We have confirmation of intent,” I agreed. “We still don’t know what they’re up to.”

Aric’s face remained impassive, but I swear I saw his teeth clench inside of his jaw.

“We don’t know. Right?”

“No, we don’t know,” Aric replied succinctly. “We hav
e to find out, though. We have to find out before they do whatever it is they’re going to do.”

We sat in silence for a few seconds but curiosity final
ly got the better of me. “What was Will doing here?”

“He was asking why he’s out of the loop on frat stuff,” Aric replied disinterestedly.

“That’s probably my fault,” I explained. “I might have let it slip that you got called away on frat business.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Aric said. “Will is at the bottom o
f the frat hierarchy. He knows he has no basis for complaint.”

“Then why was he really here?”

“He wanted to make amends,” Aric barked out a hollow laugh. “He said he wanted to put all of the animosity behind us and try to forge a real and lasting friendship.”

“He did not.” That seemed pretty implausible.

“That’s what he said.”

“You don’t believe him, though?”

“I think that the only thing Will wants from me is to stab me in the back when I’m not looking so he can reclaim you,” Aric answered pointedly.

“That’s a little insulting.”

“What is?”

“That you’re talking about me like a piece of meat that’
s up for grabs at a barbecue,” I responded airily.

“You’re not a piece of meat,” Aric smiled, the first real s
mile I saw since I entered the apartment. “You’re more like a kabob.”

“You’re a funny guy,” I smiled back.

“Come here,” Aric murmured, reaching for me and pulling me onto his lap. “I can’t take much more of this.”

My heart froze in my chest. “What? My drama?”

“No,” Aric chuckled into my hair. “Everything else. I’m used to your drama.”

“You’re tired of the frat?”

“You have no idea.”

“You’re tired of Will?”

“Most definitely.”

“I’m the only good thing in your life?”

Aric laughed throatily, flipping me over onto the couch and pinning me there with a wolfish smile and his impressive body weight. “Now you’re fishing for a compliment.”

“I am not,” I replied disdainfully. “I have pe
ople all over campus paying me compliments.”

“Oh, yeah?” Aric grinned. “Like what?”

“Well, the most common one is that I have a really hot boyfriend.”

Aric swiveled his hips against me and flattened his
body along the length of mine. “I’m not going to argue with that.”

“That would be a nice change of pace.” I smiled at him,
lifting my head off the couch far enough to plant a sultry kiss on his lips.

Aric sighed, letting go of my arms and resting his
forehead against mine when we pulled apart. “Let’s go to bed, trouble. I want to put this day in my rearview mirror and get you naked in my bed.”

I could live with that. For now.

“I’m hungry.”

“Go back to sleep,” Aric whispered, shifting me so I was more comfortably cuddled into his side, my head on his shoulder.

“I’m hungry,” I repeated.

“It’s still dark out,” Aric tried to silence me again.

“It’s ten in the morning.”

“We had a late night.”

“That’s why I’m hungry.”

Aric blew out a frustrated sigh. “You’re not going to let me go back to sleep, are you?”

“No.”

“Fine,” said Aric, throwing the covers off the two of us and exposing my skin to the cold morning air of Michigan’s winter.

“Why is it so cold in here?” I grumbled, burrowing into his side for warmth.

“Oh, no, none of that, “Aric laughed, shifting away from me and climbing out of bed.

“When I wanted to snuggle, you were hungry. Now
I’m up and you’re getting up, too.”

“You’re a masochist,” I complained, pulling the pillow over my head.

Aric grabbed my bare ankle and pulled me down the bed. “If you get in the shower right now, I’ll buy you breakfast before I take you back to the dorms.”

The shower and breakfast sounded good. Returni
ng to the dorms sounded like a really bad idea. “I’m not going back to the dorms,” I announced.

“Ever?” Aric raised an eyebrow. I couldn’t help b
ut let my gaze wander over his naked body appreciatively. Maybe I could use a little appetizer before breakfast?

Aric must have read my mind. “If you don’t stop looki
ng at me like that, you’re not going to get any breakfast.”

I sighed, forcing my eyes up to his handsome face. “I’m really hungry.”

“Then get up.”

“Fine,” I grumbled, crawling out of the bed. “I’m doin
g this under duress, though. I just want you to know that.”

“Duly noted. Now get your lazy ass in the shower.”

“You’re such a bully.”

“I’ll show you a bully.” Aric chased me into the shower and didn’t let my faux squeals

of protest stop him from giving me a little appetizer after all.

“I CAN’T
BELIEVE how much you just ate.”

“I told you I was hungry.”

“Yeah, but you ate more than I did.”

“You had two sides of bacon,” I reminded him. “You definitely ate more than me.”

We were sitting in a booth at one of the local diners enjoying a rather robust breakfast.

“I’m twice your size.”

“Are you calling me fat?” I narrowed my eyes in Aric’s direction suspiciously.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not what I said.” Aric looked alarmed by the tone of my voice.

“Then what are you saying?”

“That I make you hungry,” Aric replied smugly, lifting
his coffee cup to his lips and taking a sip.

“So, this was basically a roundabout way for you to compliment yourself?”

“Pretty much.”

“You’re nothing if not predictable.”

Aric smiled. The weariness from last night had almost completely evaporated. He looked invigorated. I loved these moments, when he could be happy and playful and I could respond in kind. They were pretty far removed from each other these days.

“Whatever you’re thinking, keep thinking it,” Aric in
structed. “I have to go to the bathroom, but when I get back, I was thinking we could go back to my place and go to bed for the entire day.”

“Don’t you have class?”

“Nothing I can’t skip.”

“I’m pretty sure I have classes.”

“Is there anything you can’t skip?”

I considered the question and then shook my head. “Ac
tually, no. I don’t have to go to class today.”

Aric smiled widely and got to his feet. “Don’t you even think about moving.”

“Yes, sir,” I saluted saucily.

Once Aric was gone, I jumped when I felt a figure move
past me from my left and slip into the booth across from me. I was stunned to find Mark looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and worry.

“Hey,” I greeted him. “What are you doing here?”

“The same thing you are, I would guess. Although,” Mark broke off, raising his eyebrows speculatively, “you look like you’re having a lot more fun than I am.”

“Is Paris here with you?” I asked, ignoring his pointed comment.

“No. I’m alone.”

“Are you going to class today?”

“Yeah, but my first one doesn’t start until noon. Are you?”

“It doesn’t look like it.” I smiled to myself.

Mark frowned, glancing toward the bathrooms to make sure Aric wasn’t on his way back to the booth. Or at least that was my guess. “You two seem close.”

“We’re doing pretty good,” I agreed.

“Well, then, what I’m about to tell you is probably going to tick you off.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t tell me then?” I suggested.

“We’re friends,” Mark said. “At least I like to think we are.”

“Of course we’re friends.”

“Then I want you to know something.”

“Go ahead and tell me,” I sighed resignedly.

“The academy has heard some rumblings,” Mark started nervously.

“Let me guess,” I said. “They’re about Delta Omic
ron and their sorority full of witches planning some big thing that’s supposed to endanger the student populace?”

“How did ... right, Matilda and Laura are members of the sorority now.”

“They are.”

“And that doesn’t worry you?”

“I’ve thought about nothing else for months,” I said, although that was kind of an overstatement. I’d worried about a couple of other things, too. Ironically, none of those things had anything even remotely to do with academics.

“And you don’t know what’s going on either?”

“No. I don’t think it’s good, though.”

“Does Aric know?”

“He says he doesn’t.”

“But you don’t believe him?” Mark asked.

“I believe him,” I countered irritably. “I just don’t trust his stupid fraternity.”

“You think they’re in on this?” Mark looked intrigued by the prospect.

“I don’t think that,” I said hurriedly, pointing my finger in Mark’s direction for emphasis. “Don’t you go telling Sam Blake I think that.”

“Okay,” Mark replied. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cast aspersions on your boyfriend.”

“Then don’t do it,” I warned him. “Aric is a good man.”

“Do you think you’re blinded by love?”

“I think I know him better than you,” I countered. “And I think you’d better be careful where he’s concerned. If anything happens to him ... if your little group of monster hunters touches one hair on his head ... I swear, I’ll make you all wish I’d never been born.”

It was a big boast, but I meant it. The mere thou
ght of harm coming to Aric was enough to wrack my body with indelible terror.

“I won’t say anything.” Mark held his hands up as a
sign of voluntary retreat. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t upset me,” I replied. “I just wanted to m
ake sure that you realize Aric isn’t the enemy here.”

“Are Matilda and Laura? The enemy, I mean?”

I frowned at the question. “I don’t know.”

“What will you do if you find out they are?”

“I don’t know.” My voice was barely a whisper.

“What if they go after your boyfriend?”

“They wouldn’t be that stupid.”

“From what I hear, they’re nothing but stupid these days.”

I couldn’t help but wonder what he information he was privy to. “You heard about the fire incident?”

“Brittany told Paris.”

“I’m sure by the time Brittany was done with the story the fire department had to come to save the day,” I grumbled.

“Pretty close,” Mark replied, forcing a weak chuckle. “
It still doesn’t bode well for you. They could be going down a really dark path.”

“They could. So could you,” I pointed out.

“So could you,” Mark charged back bleakly.

“I guess we all have something in common.”

“I guess.”

Mark got up and started to move away from the booth but I stopped him. “Mark.”

“Yeah?”

“Be careful.”

“You, too.”

“If you hear something ... .”

“I’ll tell you,” Mark promised. “Paris would never forgive me if I didn’t.”

Once he was gone, Aric returned to the booth and s
lipped into his empty seat. He fixed me with a curious stare. “What did Mark want?”

“He wanted to warn me about Delta Omicron.”

“So Blake and his commandos are aware of the situation, too?” Aric mused. “I wasn’t sure.”

“I don’t know how much they know,” I replied. “I wou
ld guess it’s less than we do, though. They’re always about five steps behind.”

“Except when they’re five steps ahead,” Aric said. “It’s
rare, but it has been known to happen.”

That was a disturbing thought.

“Come on,” Aric stood, extending his hand out to me. “I’m not letting this ruin our plans.”

“A whole day? Just the two of us? No frat. No r
oommates. Do you think you can handle it?”

“I’ve been dreaming of it for more than a year,” Aric s
heepishly admitted. “I guess I had better.”

I took his hand and followed him out of the rest
aurant. Worry could wait until tomorrow.