Shuddering, I thought about my precarious position. If I didn’t get accepted in the fal , servitude was what I had to look forward to. There was no way I could al ow that. I’d have to leave, but where would I go? What would I do? Live on the streets? Manage to find a job and pretend to be a mortal again?
Pushing those troubling thoughts away, I focused on Jackson’s party, which I final y agreed to attend, and a couple of hours later, I found myself there. The little party real y wasn’t little; it looked like al the halfs who were stuck at the Covenant during the summer had spil ed across the beach. Some sprawled across blankets; others reclined in chairs. No one was in the water.
I opted for a comfy-looking blanket beside Luke. Ritter, a younger half with the brightest red hair I’d ever seen, offered me a yel ow plastic cup, but I turned it down. Rit hung out with us for a little while, talking about how he was getting ready to travel to California for the rest of the summer. I was only slightly envious.
“You aren’t drinking?” asked Luke.
Even I was surprised by my decision, but I shrugged. “I’m not feeling it tonight.”
He flicked a long strand of bronze-colored hair out of his eyes. “Did I get you in trouble today during practice?”
“No. I’m usual y easily distracted. So it was nothing new.”
Luke nudged me, grinning. “I can see why you are distracted. Too bad he’s a pure. I’d give my left butt cheek for a piece of that.”
“He likes girls.”
“So?” Luke laughed at my expression. “What’s he like?
He seems so quiet. Like you know he’d be good in—”
“Stop right there!” I giggled, throwing up my hand. The movement pul ed my sore back muscles.
Luke tipped back his head and laughed. “You can’t say you never thought about it.”
“He’s… he’s a pure,” I said again, like it didn’t make him sexy.
Luke shot me a knowing look.
“Okay.” I sighed. “He’s actual y… very nice and patient.
Most of the time… and I just feel weird talking about him.
Can we talk about some other hot guy?”
“Oh, yes. Please. Can we talk about another hot guy?”
Caleb snorted. “Exactly the thing I want to talk about.”
Luke ignored him, his gaze flickering across the beach and settling near a couple of coolers. “How about Jackson?”
I eased onto my back. “Don’t say his name.”
He chuckled at my pathetic attempt to make myself invisible. “He just showed up without Lea. Come to think of it, where in hel is that little ho?”
I refused to look up and draw Jackson’s attention. “I have no idea. I haven’t seen her.”
“Is that a bad thing?” asked Caleb.
“Oh, Alex, here comes your man,” Luke announced.
There was nowhere for me to go and I looked helplessly between Caleb and Luke. Neither of them did anything to hide their amusement.
“Alex, where have you’ve been?” slurred Jackson. “I haven’t seen you around.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and muttered a dozen curses.
“I’ve been busy with training.”
Jackson swayed to the right, toward a distracted Caleb.
“Aiden should know you need to get out and have a little fun.”
Luke turned and gave me a sly wink before standing. I sat up, but that was as far as I made it. Jackson dropped into the empty space and threw his arm around me, nearly knocking me over.
His breath was too warm and smel ed of beer. “You know you’re more than welcome to hang out here after the party.”
“Oh… I don’t know about that.”
Jackson smiled and moved in closer. Normal y I’d find Jackson attractive, but he just grossed me out now.
Something was wrong with me. Had to be. “You can’t be practicing tomorrow. Not after the celebrations. Even Aiden wil be sleeping in.”
I doubted that and I found myself wondering if Aiden was having a good time. Did he go to the celebrations and stay? Or did he show up, make an appearance, and bail? I kind of hoped he stayed and had fun. He could use it after spending an entire day holed up with me.
“Alex?”
“Huh?”
Jackson chuckled and slipped his hand over my shoulder. I grabbed it and dropped it in his lap. Undaunted, he reached for me again. “I was asking if you wanted something to drink. Zarak went on a compulsion frenzy and stocked us up for the rest of the summer.”
That was good to know. “No. I’m fine. Not thirsty.”
Eventual y, Jackson grew bored with my lack of interest and roamed off. Grateful, I turned to Caleb. “Smack me next time I even think about talking to a guy. Seriously.”
He stared down into his cup, frowning. “What happened with him? Did he come on too strong?” A fierce look came over his face as his eyes narrowed on Jackson’s back. “Do I need to hurt him?”
“No!” I laughed. “It’s just… I don’t know.” I turned and saw him standing with the female half I’d caught a glimpse of earlier. She was a pretty brunette, ridiculously curvy, and she had a smooth, caramel-colored complexion. “Jackson doesn’t do it for me.”
“Who does?” His own gaze settled on Jackson’s companion.
“Who’s that girl?” I asked.
He turned and sighed. “That’s Olivia. Her last name is one of those unpronounceable Greek ones. Her father is a mortal; her mom’s a pure.”
I continued watching the girl. She wore a pair of designer jeans I would’ve kil ed for. She also kept avoiding Jackson’s wondering hands. “How come this is the first time I’m seeing her?”
“She’s been with her dad. I think.” He cleared her throat.
“She’s actual y… kinda nice.”
I looked at him sharply. “You like her, don’t you?”
“No! No, of course not.” His voice sounded sort of strangled.
My curiosity increased as Caleb’s eyes seemed drawn back to Olivia. A red hue colored his cheeks. “Sure. You aren’t interested in her at al .”
Caleb took a long gulp of his drink. “Shut up, Alex.”
I opened my mouth, but whatever I was about to say was cut off when Deacon St. Delphi strol ed up out of nowhere.
“What the hel ?”
Caleb fol owed my gaze. “Now, that’s interesting.”
Seeing Deacon on the beach wasn’t at al surprising, but seeing him on the night of the solstice when al the pures hovered together was shocking.
It was so very… impure of him.
Deacon swept the halfs with his cool gaze and a sardonic grin broke across his face when he saw us.
Sauntering over, he pul ed a shiny silver flask from the pocket of his jeans. “Happy Summer Solstice!”
Caleb choked on his drink. “Same to you.”
He took Jackson’s empty spot, seemingly unaware of the shocked stares. I cleared my throat. “What… are you doing here?”
“What? I got bored over on the main island. Al the pomp and circumstance is enough to drive a man sober.”
“We can’t have that.” I took in the red rims around his eyes. “Are you ever sober?”
He seemed to think about that. “Not if I can help it. Things are… easier this way.”
I knew he was talking about his parents. Unsure of how to respond, I waited for him to continue.
“Aiden hates that I drink so much.” He glanced down at his flask. “He’s right, you know.”
I played with my hair, twisting into a thick rope. “Right about what?”
Deacon tipped his head back, staring at the stars blanketing the night sky. “Everything, but especial y the path he chose.” He stopped and laughed. “If only he knew that, huh?”