Dark Covenant (Living Covenant Trilogy Book 2) by Amanda M. Lee Page B

suppose I can adjust my thinking now that he’s dead,” Rafael said, although he didn’t put a lot of effort into the statement.
    “How magnanimous of you,” I deadpanned.
    “I wouldn’t push her,” Aric said. “She may look and sound the same, but she has a few new tricks up her sleeve, and her temper is a thing to behold these days.”
    Rafael was intrigued. “Do tell.”
    Aric did just that, launching into a short tale encompassing the past five years. When he got to the part where I absorbed a magical book and went on a killing rampage, Rafael was officially impressed.
    “I heard about the siege on the compound, but I had no idea it was Zoe,” Rafael said. “That makes sense. The wolves have been whispering about an angel of death. I guess that’s you.”
    “I’m not surprised the wolf chatter spread,” Aric said. “Zoe wiped most of them out, but we strategically kept a few standing to spread the word. How did you find out about Mark?”
    “I’ve been in Europe,” Rafael explained. “I still have contacts in the area. When I heard Mark Doyle was here I ignored the tidbits as idle gossip as long as I could. I was convinced he was either incarcerated or dead, so my informants must be mistaken.”
    “Were you with Fiona in Europe?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. Fiona was his girlfriend last time I checked.
    “I was,” Rafael confirmed. “She’s still there dealing with a family squabble, but she’ll return here shortly. She’s as concerned about the ramifications of Mark’s resurfacing as I am.”
    “Why didn’t you contact with us when you found out Mark was back?” Aric asked.
    “I tried,” Rafael said. “You have no listed phone numbers, and I wasn’t comfortable calling the senator outright. I did call his office and get an aide once, but the man would not put me through.”
    “Well, we’ll make sure you have a way to get in contact with us in the future,” Aric said. “We’ve spent the past five years living under the radar … for obvious reasons. That didn’t stop people from coming after us. We’re not hiding any longer.”
    “If you don’t mind me asking, why are you getting married now?” Rafael asked.
    “Because I love her,” Aric replied, unruffled.
    “That’s not what I meant,” Rafael said, smirking. “I’ve known you loved her from the beginning. My mistake was thinking I could love her the same way you did. At a certain point I knew that was impossible. Still, I would’ve thought you two would mate right after graduation.”
    I made a face. “Mate? Is that code for something dirty?”
    “Your mind always goes to a dirty place where I’m concerned,” Aric said, resting his hand on top of mine. “He’s talking about marrying, not … the other thing.”
    “Oh,” I said. “Aric bought a ring right after graduation and then hid it for five years. Blame him for us not … mating … right away.”
    “Thank you for that, Zoe,” Aric muttered.
    Rafael snickered. “I see the fire still burns. That’s good. What do you plan to do about Mark?”
    “We need to talk about that,” Aric said. “Our initial plan was to stay under the radar and follow him. I want to know whether he’s trying to get the Academy up and running.”
    “I have been following him for the same reason,” Rafael admitted. “He does not go near the building where the Academy was housed. That doesn’t mean he’s not trying to revive it. He could be doing it someplace else, or by different means than Blake employed. I simply don’t know.”
    “Have you heard any whispers among the students?” Paris asked. “Kids that age can’t keep their mouths shut.”
    “I make it a point to not engage with the students unless I’m absolutely desperate,” Rafael replied. “I find the older I get, the more annoying they get.”
    “Join the club,” Aric said. “Some girl told me I reminded her of her father today, and that was after another girl asked Zoe and me if