Deity (Covenant #3)(37)

“Really? I hope my father… isn’t one of the ones who are missing.”

“How do you know about that?” His eyes narrowed. “Never mind. Seth?”

I nodded. “He told me that some of the half servants were missing and that the elixir wasn’t working.”

A troubled look darkened his eyes. “How much did he tell you?”

“Not much at all.”

Aiden nodded curtly. “Of course not. Some of the halfs aren’t responding to the elixir. There’ve been outbreaks of fighting among the servants; they’re refusing Masters’ orders and disappearing. The Council fears there will be a rebellion, and the New York Covenant has been weakened since the attack. And no one knows exactly how or why the elixir stopped working.”

I thought of my father. Was he one of those who’d disappeared, or was he fighting back? I knew he had to be one of the ones the elixir had stopped working on. “I should be there.”

“You should be anywhere but there.”

“Now you sound like Seth.”

His eyes narrowed. “For once, I have to agree with him.”

“That’s shocking.” My gaze fell on the main academy building, and I knew immediately where we were going. “You’re taking me to the library.”

The smile returned. “It’s private. No one is ever in there at this time, and if anyone spots us, you’re studying.”

I laughed then. “And someone is going to believe that?”

“Stranger things have been known to happen,” he replied as we headed up the wide steps.

We passed two Guards posted at the entrance. Ever since the attack here that had taken Caleb’s life, and the subsequent one in the Catskills, security had gone through the roof. Back in the day I would’ve bitched about this because it made sneaking around so much more difficult. But now, after everything, I was relieved to see the increased numbers.

Toasty air greeted us as we entered. Silently, I followed Aiden down the hall toward the library. Several Instructors still lingered in their offices, and we passed a few students heading out.

Aiden stepped forward and opened the door to the library, forever the gentleman. Smiling my thanks, I stepped inside and came to a complete standstill.

Luke and Deacon were emerging from one of the tall stacks, shoulder to shoulder. When they saw us, I’d swear they jumped at least three feet apart.

“Deacon?” Aiden sounded shocked. “You’re in the library?”

“Yeah.” Deacon brushed the mop of curls off his forehead. “We were studying for trig.”

Neither of them had a single book in their hands. I looked at Luke expectantly. He looked away, but his lips twitched.

Aiden eyes widened. “Wow. I’m sort of proud of you. Studying?”

I clamped my mouth shut.

“Turning over a new leaf and all.” Deacon bumped into his older brother. “Taking my education seriously.”

My tongue was literally burning to say something.

Aiden nodded at Luke. “Keep him out of trouble, Luke.”

Oh jeez. By the way Deacon was shifting back and forth on his feet and the size of Luke’s grin, I figured Aiden had no idea what kind of “trouble” those two were probably getting into. Same-sex relationships in our world didn’t even have a place on the list of taboo things to do. It was the fact that Deacon was a pure and Luke was a half.

And of all the half-bloods in the world, I knew just how stupid and dangerous whatever it was that they were doing was. I glanced at Aiden. He caught my eyes and smiled. My belly flopped. Stupid and dangerous, but it didn’t change how I felt.

Chapter 11

I WAS STILL STRUGGLING TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT when Aiden found an empty study room in the back of the library, somewhere near the Books-I’d-Never-Read and the Books-I’ve-Never-Heard-Of section. He left the door cracked open, which relieved and disappointed me in the same breath.

Sitting down, I dropped my bag on the table. “That’s really cool that Deacon is studying and all.”

Aiden took the seat beside me, turning so that his knee pressed against mine and he was facing me. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.” I pulled out the massive book and placed it between us.

“Do I look stupid?”

My hand froze over the edge of the book. “Uh, is this a trick question?”

He arched a brow.

“No. You don’t look stupid.”

“I didn’t think so.” He reached over, taking the book away from me. His hand brushed mine as he did so, sending little shivers through my fingers. “They were doing the same amount of studying that we’re doing.”

I wasn’t sure how to proceed with this. So I said nothing.

Aiden stared at the book, brows lowered. “I know what my brother is doing, Alex. And you know what? It pisses me off.”

“It does?”

“Yes.” He looked up, meeting my gaze. “I can’t believe he thinks I’d care if he was into guys or whatever. I’ve always known he’s been that way.”

“I didn’t.”

“Deacon is good at hiding it. What am I looking at?” he asked. I reached over, opening the book to the section about the Order of Thanatos. Understanding dawned. He turned a couple of the pages before going back to the beginning of the section. “He’s always pretended to be interested in girls, and maybe he is, too. But he never had me fooled.”