I squeezed my eyes shut. Bond or no bond, I did care about him. He was important to me and maybe there was more to how I felt about him than what the bond was making me feel. Maybe it was just that I cared for him like I’d cared for Caleb. Either way, I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
He dropped his shoes and swept his arms around me. “You drive me crazy.”
“I know.” I smiled. “The feeling is mutual.”
He laughed and then brushed his lips over my forehead. “Come on.” He started pulling me back to the bed.
I stalled a little. Not hurting his feelings did not equal me ending up with a mark on the back of my neck.
Seth dropped down, tugging me forward. “To sleep, Alex. Nothing more… unless…” His gaze dropped to my tank top. “You know, you should wear that more often. It leaves very little to the imagination, which is something I like.”
Flushing to the roots of my hair, I quickly climbed over him and pulled the covers up to my chin. Seth laughed as he lay down. He threw an arm around my waist, snuggling close. His breathing was steady. Nothing like mine, which seemed to be racing my heartbeat. And he was smiling easily, as if we hadn’t just argued.
“You’re such a perv,” I said for the hundredth time.
“You’ve called me worse.”
And I had a feeling I probably would in the future, too.
CHAPTER 9
“WOW. LOOK WHO’S SMILING. THE WORLD IS GOING TO end.” Two silvery eyes peeked out behind a mop of curly blond hair, and Deacon St. Delphi smirked as he dropped into the seat beside me. “How’s it going, my favorite half-blood?”
“Good.” I glanced down at my textbook, lips pursed. “Sorry I haven’t been real chatty.”
He leaned over, nudging me in the side. “I understand.”
Deacon did. That’s probably why he hadn’t pressured me into talking with him since I’d been back. He’d just sat beside me in class, not saying a word. I hadn’t realized he’d been waiting for me to come around.
I glanced at him again. That’s the thing about Deacon. Everyone, including Aiden, saw him as a lazy party-boy who didn’t pay attention to anything, but he was far more observant than anyone gave him credit for. He’d had a real hard time growing up without his parents, and I think he was finally coming out of the “party-boy who doesn’t care about anything” stage.
“Are you doing anything for winter break?”
He rolled his eyes. “That would require Aiden taking time off, since he won’t let me off this island without him. He’s been super-paranoid ever since the whole thing in the Catskills. I think he’s expecting daimons or furies to drop in here any minute.”
I cringed. “Sorry.”
“Whatever,” he replied. “It’s not your fault. So I’m not going to be doing anything exciting. I hear my esteemed older brother is playing guard for you.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You know, I overheard him and the Dean talking when he visited the house.”
“What house? Aiden’s cabin?”
Deacon arched a brow. “No, like thehouse.” He saw my dumbfounded look and took pity on me. “Our parents’ house? Well, it’s really Aiden’s house now. It’s on the other side of the Island, near Zarak’s.”
I had no idea that there was another house. I’d just assumed that Aiden had the cabin and Deacon stayed in the dorm. Come to think of it, why in the hell was Aiden living in that tiny shack if he owned one of those huge, opulent houses on the main island?
As if he knew what I was thinking, Deacon sighed. “Aiden doesn’t like to stay at the house. Reminds him too much of our parents, and he hates the whole lavish lifestyle thing.”
“Oh,” I whispered, glancing at the front of the classroom. Our teacher was always late.
“Anyway, back to my story. I overheard them talking.” Deacon’s chair and desk made a terrible scratching noise as he scooted closer to me. “Want to know?”
Luke, who had been sitting on Elena’s desk, faced us. His brows rose when he saw us. “Sure. Spill it,” I said.
“There’s something going on with the Council—that has to do with the half-bloods.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Don’t know exactly. But I know it has something to do with the New York Council.” Deacon looked away, focusing on the front of the class. “I figured you might know, since you were just up there.”
I shook my head. There was always something going on with the Council, and it probably had to do with the elixir. Then I realized Deacon was still staring at the front of the classroom. I followed his gaze. He was staring at Luke.
And Luke was staring back at him.
Like in the really intense way I sometimes stared at… Aiden.
My eyes darted back to Deacon. I couldn’t see his eyes, but the tips of his ears were pink. After several moments, like too long for one dude to be looking at another dude casually, Deacon leaned back. I thought about the phantom voice I’d heard with Luke in the sensory room. It had sounded familiar… but no way.
“Anyway,” Deacon cleared his throat. “I think I might throw a party for those left behind during winter break. You think Aiden will be game?’
“Uh, probably not.”
Deacon sighed. “It’s worth a try.”
I glanced at Luke again. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“It’s not working.”
Seth made an impatient sound in his throat. “Try concentrating.”
“I am,” I snapped, pushing the windblown hair out of my face.
“Try harder, Alex. You can do it.”
I hugged myself, shivering. It was freezing out by the marshes. The cold, damp wind beat against me and the heavy sweater was no help. We’d been at this for the better part of Saturday. When Seth had suggested I try to blow something up, I’d assumed he’d been joking.
I’d been wrong.
Closing my eyes, I pictured the thick boulder in my mind. I already knew the texture, the sandy color, and its irregular shape. I’d been staring at the damn thing for hours.
Seth moved behind me, taking my hand and placing it against the spot the latest mark had appeared. “Feel it in here. Do you?”
Feel the cord? Check. I also liked the fact that he was now blocking the worst of the wind.
“Okay. Picture the cord unraveling, feel it coming alive.”
I had a feeling Seth was enjoying this way too much, considering how he was pressed against me.
“Alex?”
“Yeah, I feel the cord.” I did feel it opening up, slithering through my veins.
“Good. The cord is not just us,” he said softly. “It’s akasha—the fifth and final element. You should feel akasha now. Tap into it. Picture what you want in your mind.”
I wanted a taco, but I doubted akasha could serve me up some Taco Bell. Gods, I’d do some terrible things for Taco Bell right about now.
“Alex, are you paying attention?”
“Of course.” I smirked.
“Then do it. Blow up the rock.”
Seth made it sound so easy. Like a toddler could do this. I wanted to elbow him in the stomach, but I pictured the rock and then pictured my cord shooting from my hand. I did this over and over again.
Nothing happened.
I opened my eyes. “Sorry, this isn’t working.”
Seth moved away, brushing back the shorter stands of hair that fell out of his ponytail. He popped his hands on his hips and stared at me.
“What?” Another gust of biting wind had me shuffling to stay warm. “I don’t know what you want me to do. I’m cold. I’m hungry. And I saw that National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is on TV for some odd reason and I must watch it since you soaked up all the time it was on TV during Christmas.”
His brows inched up. “Watch what?”