Deity (Covenant #3)(36)

And that was odd, because my backpack was ridiculously heavy with the Myths and Legends book in it. I was carrying it around, hoping to corner Aiden with it whenever he took up babysitting duties. Right now Leon was trailing behind me at a not-so-discreet distance.

I stopped in the middle of the pathway by the garden and turned around. “Aren’t you cold?”

Leon glanced down at the short-sleeved shirt he was wearing. “No. Why?”

“Because it’s freezing.” And it was. I had a tank top, a long-sleeve thermal, and a sweater on, and I was still cold.

Leon stopped beside me. “Then why are you outside if you’re so cold?”


“Unfortunately, going outside is the only method of traveling to other parts of the campus, unless you know something I don’t.”

“You could just do us all a favor and stay in your dorm,” he suggested.

Shivering, I hugged my elbows. “Do you have any idea how nice it is to be able to do something other than train or stay in my room?”

“Or spend time with Seth?”

I looked at him closely, trying not to smile. “Was that a joke? Oh, my gods. It was.”

His features remained expressionless. “There is nothing about that boy that is a joking matter.”

“Okay.” I turned around and started walking. This time Leon walked beside me. “You really don’t like Seth, do you?”

“Is it that obvious?”

I peeked at him. “No. Not at all.”

“Do you?” he asked as we rounded the corner of the training center. The wind off the ocean was unnaturally brutal. “I’ve heard rumors… that two Apollyons share a powerful bond. It must be hard to know how you truly feel about someone if that’s the case.”

Now this was awkward. There was no way I was discussing my relationship troubles with Leon of all people.

He sighed deeply as he stared up at the statue of Apollo and Daphne, a distant look on his face. “Emotions that are forced always end in tragedy.”

That was deep. Another gust of frigid wind cut through me. The look on Daphne’s face was tragic. “Do you think Daphne knew that the only way she could escape Apollo was by dying?”

He didn’t answer immediately, and when he did, his voice was thick. “Daphne did not die, Alex. She still remains as she was the day… she was lost. A laurel tree.”

“Man, that sucks. Apollo was such a freak.”

“Apollo was struck by a love arrow and Daphne was struck by a lead one.” He looked down as he gestured at the statue. “Like I said, love that is not organic in nature is dangerous and tragic.”

Tucking my hair back, I glanced at the statue again. “Well, I hope I don’t have to turn myself into a tree.”

Leon tsked. “Then pay attention to what is need and what is want.”

“What?” I looked at him sharply, squinting. The sun had begun to set, casting an eerie golden halo over him. “What did you just say?”

He shrugged. “Your other babysitter is here.”

Distracted, I turned around. Aiden was strolling up the walkway. I’d kill to see him in jeans again. I winced. Okay, maybe not kill, but close. I twisted back around. Leon was gone.

“Dammit,” I muttered, scanning the growing shadows creeping across the beach and garden.

“What?” Aiden asked.

My chest fluttered like always as I faced him. There was a slight bruise along his jaw from his scuffle with Seth. “I was talking to Leon and he just up and disappeared on me.”

Aiden smiled. “He has a habit of doing that.”

“It’s just that he said something—” I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. Are you my babysitter for now?”

“Until you decide you’re staying in for the evening,” he responded. “Where you headed?”

“I was going to the rec center, but I have something I want to show you.” I tapped the bottom of my bag. “You up for it?”

His brows rose. “Should I be concerned by what’s in your bag?”

I grinned. “Maybe.”

“Well, what is life without taking risks? Do we need privacy?”

“Probably.”

“I know just the place.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his cargos. “Follow me.”

Grasping the strap of my bag, I ordered myself to pull it together. I wasn’t talking to him just so I could ogle him or flirt. Or do anything I wasn’t supposed to be doing. I had a purpose for this, so there was no reason for my heart to be racing as fast as it was.

No reason at all.

Aiden nudged me with his elbow after a few moments of walking in silence. “You look different.”

“I do?”

“Yeah, you look more like…” He fell quiet. By the time he spoke again, the ocean was a golden red as the sun slowly disappeared over the horizon. “You just seem more relaxed.”

“Well, I have some time to myself. That’s relaxing.” I wondered if I did look different. Didn’t seem that way when I got ready this morning. The only thing I really noticed that was different was that the marks hadn’t burned or tingled once since Seth left.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Your letter was sent to New York, ahead of the crew that just went up there. Laadan should’ve received it yesterday or today.”