“I agree.” His fingers toyed with the hem of the borrowed shirt.
In the quiet moments that followed, I leaned over again and kissed him for a third time. “For good luck,” I whispered. “We’re going to war.”
His lashes fluttered closed. “We are.”
“Did you ever think you’d be in this position?” I placed my hand on his smooth cheek, and he pressed into it. “I never did. Not in a million years,” I admitted.
“Me, neither.” He pressed his hand over mine, holding it there. “I don’t think any of us would have predicted this.”
I bit down on my lip. In that flash of a second, I felt incredibly… young. I wanted Aiden’s reassurance. “And you think it will get better afterward? Go back to normal?”
“I do.” He kissed my palm again. “Let’s talk about less depressing things. Do you still think there’s something up with Seth?”
I laughed. “Is that really a better conversation for you?”
“Maybe.” He grinned a little, and my heart toppled in my chest. “So?”
I started to respond, but there was a knock on the door. By the time I tugged the quilt over my legs, the door swung open and Deacon popped in, not even waiting for an invite.
The mop of blond curls bounced as he jumped to the foot of the bed. “Hi, guys!”
Aiden sat up slowly. “Hi, Deacon. Are you aware that it’s customary to wait until someone answers the door or says ‘come in?’”
“Not like I was interrupting anything. Both of you still have your clothes on.”
I laughed. “He has a point.”
Aiden shot me a “you’re not being helpful” look. “So, what’s up, Deacon?”
“Marcus is looking for you. He’s in the common room, so I figured it would be better if I was the one who checked in on you two, just in case you were naked.” He winked, and I smothered another giggle. “You’re welcome.”
Groaning, Aiden sat up. “Okay. You do have a point.”
“Thought so.” As his brother stood, Deacon dive-bombed the bed, causing me to bounce. He flicked my hand lightly. “Marcus wants to talk about the Council or some boring shit like that. His ladylove wants to talk plans about re-building. Then again, I sort of zoned out for half of the conversation.”
My brows rose. There was an open seat on the Council that had belonged to Aiden’s father. Since Aiden had never taken the seat, it was left open, something that had ticked away at Aiden. He knew that his father would’ve wanted him to follow in his footsteps rather than become a Sentinel.
Aiden ran a hand through his hair. “All right. Well, this should be interesting.”
His brother snorted. “I’ll stay here and keep Alex company.”
“You do that.” Aiden moved around the edge of the bed, swooped down, and kissed my cheek. “I’ll be back in a few.”
I waved him goodbye and watched him leave. Then I glanced at Deacon. My brows rose as his fingers flew over his cell phone. “Whatcha doing?” I asked.
“Just wait.” No more than a few seconds later, the door opened again and Luke and Olivia poked their hands in. Deacon tipped his head back, grinning up at me. “Slumber party?”
I laughed as I waved them in. “Sounds like a great idea.”
Olivia scooted in next to me, while Luke stretched out across the head of the bed. She reached over, grabbing the remote control. “We may be leaving for a few days to fight in a war, but that doesn’t mean we’re too old for a slumber party.”
“So very true.” I took the pillow Luke handed me and snuggled down.
The four of us watched a bad movie well into the night. It was one of the most relaxing moments I’d had in a long time. When they got up to leave, I sat up, holding the pillow to my chest.
“Let’s make a promise,” I said.
Three sets of eyes settled on me. “What?” Olivia asked.
I felt kind of corny about what I was about to say, but oh, what the hell. “After all of this is done and over with, let’s promise to do this at least once a week. No matter what we’re doing or where we are.”
A wide smile spread across Olivia’s face. “That’s a promise I’ll love to make.”
“Same here,” agreed Luke, dropping his arm over Deacon’s shoulders.
Feeling good about making plans to do something normal, I dozed off and didn’t wake up until I felt Aiden sliding into bed behind me. I tipped my head back toward him as he slipped an arm around my waist. “How was everything with Marcus?”
“Okay.” He kissed my cheek and tugged me back against him. “He wants me to take my Council seat once everything is…settled.”
I’d figured as much. “What do you think?”
Aiden was silent for a long time. “There are things that I could do on the Council, things that I could help make right, especially when the Elixir stops working for the rest of the half-bloods. It’s just…”
He didn’t finish. The Council seat was a lot of things to Aiden—more than just responsibility. I turned so I was facing him and cuddled up close, wiggling so that my head was under his. “You don’t have to make a decision now. You have time.”
“You’re right.” His hand slid up my spine and settled there. “We have time.”
* * *
After another grueling training session on Friday, I found myself limping into the dean’s office. Our AOA was leaving in the late morning on the following day. There was a lot to be discussed, and I had scored an invite. So did Seth. The only other times we’d been called to the dean’s office in the past was because I’d done something I was about to get in trouble for, and those meetings usually ended in insults being slung back and forth.
Like when I’d threatened to cut Seth with one of Marcus’ daggers.
I had to smile at that memory.
Easing down into an empty chair, I glanced around the room. Marcus was behind the desk, because where else would he be, with Diana alongside him. Aiden and Solos hovered by the desk like two hawks, both wearing intense expressions that told me this was going to be a serious conversation. Even Apollo was there. He’d been hanging around a lot, watching over the training. Right now, he was holding a Newton’s Cradle like he’d never seen one before, his hand hovering over one of the small, silver balls. I looked around again, frowning.
Looking for Perses? Seth glanced at me from where he was leaning against the wall. Last I saw him, he was heading into an empty room with two pure girls.
“What?” I screeched out loud before I could stop myself.
Several sets of eyes landed on me, and Seth smirked. Aiden’s gaze narrowed between the two, and I began to suspect that we were about to have a repeat performance of threatening Seth.
Apollo let go of the silver ball and it swung sideways, knocking into the next ball and creating a chain reaction. A wide smile broke out across his face.
“Did no one ever tell you two that it is not nice to communicate telepathically with one another while others are present?” Marcus said, folding his hands on the desk.
I pursed my lips. “No, actually, no one has said that.”
He smiled tightly. “Well, I am.”
Busted, Seth said.
Gripping the edges of the chair, I stared straight ahead. I hate you. “So, what’s up?”
Other than the fact Perses is getting some instead of being here?
Apollo picked up a silver ball from the other side and let that one go.
Oh my gods…
Marcus’ look turned suspicious as his gaze bounced between Seth and me. “Solos was talking battle strategy with Perses. We figured, since you two play an intricate role in this, it would be smart to bring you in on these meetings.”
Seth strolled forward and dropped down in the seat beside me. “What’s to discuss? From what I understand, it’s fairly simple. The army will attack the front gate while Alex and I sneak in with Perses.”