Rising Covenant (Living Covenant Trilogy Book 1) by Amanda M. Lee Page B

it wasn’t a topic Aric wanted to discuss.
    “Why now?” James asked.
    “Because … it has to happen eventually,” Aric said. “I’ve put it off for as long as I could because I was afraid Zoe wouldn’t take it well.”
    “What changed to make you see things differently?”
    “I kept thinking that we’re going to come to a place in our lives where everything is settled and we can have a serious discussion,” Aric replied. “I’m starting to think that’s never going to happen. We need to have the serious discussion whether she wants to deal with it or not.”
    That didn’t sound good. In fact, it sounded downright dreadful. I could only deal with one catastrophe at a time.
    “When you introduced me to Zoe, I was worried about the two of you,” James said. “I’m not going to lie. She’s … a handful. After spending thirty years married to your mother, I know a little something about taking on a handful.
    “Zoe is something else entirely, though,” he continued. “She has so much power. Aren’t you worried that she’ll lose control and kill you?”
    “Zoe would never hurt me.”
    “I don’t think she would do it on purpose,” James countered. “I think Zoe loves you with her whole heart. You should see the way she looks at you when she thinks you’re not looking – which is rare, mind you, because you’re always looking at her. What she did last night, though, was … .”
    “Necessary,” Aric finished for his father, his voice low with warning. “Zoe did what was necessary. There were ten of them. Even if I could’ve managed to take out the three I was fighting – and they were ready to kill me until she stepped in, don’t kid yourself – that left the other seven. She protected both of us.”
    “I’m not saying she did anything wrong,” James said, matching his son’s tone. “I had a coroner go over some of those bodies. Do you know the ones she burned were cooked on the inside?”
    “I … .”
    “The spines in the two she crippled were snapped in half,” James added. “They begged to be killed at the end.”
    “I don’t care,” Aric said. “They would’ve killed Zoe and me to get to that book. I don’t think that book is just about Zoe. Don’t get me wrong, I believe someone would love to use it on her. I think there’s more to that book than we realize.”
    “Do you think Paris knows what’s in that book?”
    “I think Paris is struggling,” Aric replied. “She was angry at Zoe for cutting off contact. She was angry with me because she feels Zoe picked me over her. She still did the right thing in the end.”
    “That’s not what I’m saying,” James said, his tone softening. “Do you think Paris knows what else is in it? Maybe she’s afraid to tell you what she knows.”
    “Maybe,” Aric conceded. “That’s why I need you to start going through that book tomorrow. We have to know exactly what we’re up against.”
    “I agree,” James said. “What are you going to do while I’m studying the book?”
    “What do I always do?”
    “Protect Zoe.”
    “We protect each other,” Aric clarified. “You’re right, though. I will kill anything and anyone who tries to hurt her. That’s the one thing I can promise you.”
    “Then I guess we have to make sure that doesn’t happen,” James said.

    I GAVE Aric ten minutes to get settled before joining him in our bedroom. I didn’t see James when he left, instead making myself scarce in the hallway bathroom so I could wash my face.
    Aric’s expression was thoughtful when I shuffled into the room. “Did you get your parents on the phone?”
    I shook my head.
    “They’re probably out for one of their walks, or on one of those camping trips they enjoy so much, Zoe,” Aric said. “Don’t worry about them until we have something to freak out about. Dad is reaching out to the council up there to check on them.”
    “I thought the wolf council hated your father,” I said, stripping out of my clothes