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

be ticked off.”
    “I know you love me,” Aric growled. “What I don’t know is what’s up with the crazy light show. Tell me now!”
    “When I touch the book some funny stuff starts happening,” I hedged.
    “Funny ha-ha or funny this is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen?”
    “Both.”
    “You are testing my patience, Zoe,” Aric warned. “Tell me what’s going on.”
    “I think it would be better if I show you,” I said.
    Aric crossed his arms over his chest and tapped his foot on the ground. “I’m waiting.”
    “You need to get up on the table with Paris.”
    “Why?”
    “Just do it,” Paris said, lifting her feet off the ground and resting them on the wooden bench. “You don’t want to be on the ground when she does this. Trust me.”
    “I don’t trust you,” Aric grumbled, but he climbed up on the picnic table and sat, resting his feet on the bench without further complaint. “Are you satisfied, Trouble?”
    I nodded. “Okay, just … don’t freak out.”
    “I love it when you tell me that,” Aric complained. “I … wait … are you in any danger from this?”
    “None,” I said. “The book seems to love me.”
    “Well, the book isn’t the only one,” Aric shot back. “If I don’t like this, I’m going to take that book from you and lock it away so you never see it again.”
    “Whatever,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “Okay, here we go.” I reached down with both hands and grabbed the sides of the book.
    Aric leaned forward when he saw the blue smoke. “Are you going to start something on fire?”
    “Just watch.”
    It only took a few seconds, but as the power built between my hands and the book the sky opened and a bolt of lightning shot down and ran through me, causing my hair to briefly lift and then settle when I let go of the book. I was left with a tingly feeling after, nothing even remotely akin to pain. I turned to Aric with a triumphant look on my face.
    His expression was murderous. “Did you just get struck by lightning?”
    “I … technically, yes,” I said. “It doesn’t hurt, though. It’s as if the book wants to protect me. It’s like a shield.”
    Aric glanced at Paris, meeting her gaze for the first time since the previous evening. “How long have you two been doing this?”
    “About a half hour,” Paris replied. “I didn’t think it was a good idea either. Zoe was having such a good time, though.”
    “And you didn’t want to fight with her because you’re afraid that she’ll get angry and kick you out,” Aric finished. “I get it.” He turned back to me. “You need to stop doing that.”
    “Just one more time,” I pleaded.
    “No. The neighbors are going to call the cops.”
    “We moved out here because we didn’t want any neighbors,” I reminded him. “There’s no one out here.”
    “Don’t do it again.” Aric wagged a finger for emphasis. “You can do it again after dark. It’s supposed to storm tonight. You can show my father your new trick. I don’t want you doing it again now, though. It freaks me out.”
    I jutted my lower lip out. “Please?”
    “No.”
    “Pretty please?”
    “No.”
    “I’ll distract you with your favorite thing tonight,” I offered, knowing he would get what I was talking about while Paris was left in the dark.
    Aric sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Fine,” he said. “One more time – and you’re going to do my favorite thing twice tonight. Don’t even try to argue.”
    “Deal!” I turned back to the book.
    “You two are officially sick,” Paris muttered.
    “She’s really good at my favorite thing,” Aric said, smiling despite himself.
    “Sick!”

9
    Nine
    “ T hat’s it , baby … just like that … oh, right … oh … that’s my girl.”
    Aric’s enthusiastic reaction to his favorite thing was loud this evening.
    “That’s your favorite thing?” Paris asked, making a face as she watched me rub Aric’s back. “I thought you two were into some freaky sex