Free Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep Page B

looked at him, wondering what was on his mind.
    “I’m sorry about yesterday,” he finally said. “And everything that happened. I still can’t believe that my dad is doing this to you, that he thinks you somehow helped the Reapers. I tried to talk to him last night, but he just wouldn’t listen to me. He never listens to me—about anything.”
    Bitterness filled Logan’s voice, and his eyes were dark and angry. I reached over and threaded my fingers through his. The Spartan’s emotions washed over me, the way they always did, but as I held his hand, flickers and flashes of other things began to flood my mind, things I’d never seen before—memories of his dad through the years.
    Most of the images were the same—Logan slumped over at a table while his dad paced back and forth in front of him, his face stern, talking in a sharp voice. Do this. Don’t do that. Why can’t you get better grades? Why is your room always such a mess? Why don’t you straighten up and act like a real warrior, like a real Spartan? Your mother and sister would be so disappointed in you.
    The images and fragments of conversation flashed by one after another, faster and faster, until all I could see, feel, and hear was Linus lecturing his son over and over again, each harsh word hurting more than the last. And I experienced Logan’s emotions too—all his anger, frustration, and the aching disappointment in himself that twisted my stomach into tighter and tighter knots.
    “It’s okay,” I said, shaking my head to clear away the feelings and memories. “You don’t have any control over what your dad does or what he thinks of me. This is what the Protectorate does, right? Investigate claims that folks are Reapers?”
    Logan nodded. “Among other things.”
    “Don’t worry, okay? We’ll get through this, just like we always do.”
    He wrapped his arms around me and drew me close. I breathed in, just enjoying the heat of his touch, the warmth of his body next to mine, the steady thump-thump-thump of his heart under my fingers. I didn’t know what was going to happen from one day to the next, from one minute to the next, actually, but we were together now, and I was determined to enjoy it while I could. If there was anything that fighting Reapers had taught me, it was to appreciate the good times that much more—because you never knew when they and the people you loved could be taken away from you.
    “Anytime you two lovebirds are ready,” Daphne called out, twirling her own staff, pink sparks of magic crackling in the air around her. “I don’t know about everyone else, but I feel like hitting someone today— hard .”
    Carson winced. “Just don’t break my glasses, okay?”
    Daphne walked over and kissed him. “Would I do something like that?”
    “Well, you wouldn’t break my glasses,” he said. “But you definitely would a Reaper’s.”
    “And that’s why you love me and my fierce Valkyrie self,” Daphne purred.
    Carson smiled and kissed her back. Kenzie laughed.
    Logan and I stepped apart. A door at the far end of the gym banged open, and Oliver Hector rushed inside. The Spartan hurried across the mats and slung his bag down with everyone else’s. The Spartan turned and smiled.
    “Hey, guys, sorry I’m late—”
    Oliver’s voice cut off the second he spotted Alexei. I’d thought the Spartan would be surprised by Alexei’s appearance, but it was almost like Oliver had seen a ghost. All the color drained out of his face, and his green eyes widened, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
    “Alexei? What are you doing here?” Oliver said.
    Alexei’s head snapped up at the sound of the Spartan’s voice. He lost his concentration, and the staff that he’d been so gracefully twirling slipped through his fingers and rolled across the mats.
    “Oliver! I didn’t know if you’d be here this morning or not.” Alexei walked over to where Oliver was standing with me and Logan. “I looked for you at