Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout Read Free Book Online Page A

him.
    Thankfully, the doors to Marcus’ office opened and an entourage of people entered. First was my pure-blood uncle, the Dean of the Covenant in North Carolina. Behind him was my pure-blood stepfather Lucian, the Minister of the North Carolina Covenant. He was in his ridiculous white robes, his stark black hair hanging down his back, secured in a leather thong. He was a handsome man, but there was always a level of coldness and fakeness to him no matter how warm his words might be. He was flanked by four of his Guards, as if he expected a fleet of daimons to jump on him and suck out all his aether. I suppose, given the recent events, he couldn’t be too careful. And behind them were Guard Linard and Aiden.
    I averted my eyes and prayed Seth actually kept his mouth shut.
    Marcus glanced at me as he sat behind his desk, brows rising curiously. “Are we keeping you from a nap, Alexandria?”
    No, how are you? or good to see you alive . Yeah, he loved me lots.
    Leon retreated to the corner, folding his arms. “They were training,” he paused, “in her room.”
    I wanted to die.
    Marcus frowned, but Lucian—oh, dear Lucian—had a typical response. Sitting down in one of the chairs across from Marcus, he spread out his robes and laughed. “It is expected. They are young and drawn to one another. You cannot fault them for seeking privacy.”
    I couldn’t help it. My eyes found Aiden. He stood beside Leon and Linard, his gaze flitting over the room, stopping and lingering on me before passing on. I let go of the breath I’d been holding and focused on my uncle.
    Marcus’ eyes were like emerald jewels, just like my mother’s, but harder. “Fated or not, the rules of the Covenant still apply to them, Minister. And from what I’ve heard, Seth has a hard time remaining in his own room at your house during the night.”
    This seriously couldn’t get any more embarrassing.
    Seth leaned over the back of my chair and lowering his head. He whispered in my ear. “I think we’ve been found out.”
    There was no way Aiden could’ve heard Seth, but anger rolled off him in waves, so much so that Seth tipped his head up, met Aiden’s stare, and smiled.
    I’d had it. Sitting up straight, I knocked Seth’s arm off the back of my chair. “Is this why we’re having a meeting? Because, seriously, I could really use a nap instead.”
    Marcus eyed me coolly. “Actually, we are here to discuss the events at the Council.”
    Ice drenched my stomach. I tried to keep my face blank, but my eyes darted to Aiden. He didn’t look too concerned. In fact, he was still eyeballing Seth.
    “There are several things that we have discovered regarding our trip,” Lucian said.
    Marcus nodded, his fingers forming a steeple under his chin. “The daimon attack is one of them. I know that some have been able to plan attacks.”
    My mother had been one of them. She’d been behind the attack on Lake Lure during the summer, the very first proof some daimons could form cohesive plans.
    “But that type of large-scale attack is… it’s unheard of,” Marcus continued, glancing at me. “I know… I know your mother had insinuated that such was coming, but to pull something off of that kind of nature seems improbable.”
    Aiden cocked his head to the side. “What are you saying?”
    “I think they had help.”
    My heart tripped up. “From the inside—from a half or a pure?”
    Lucian huffed. “That is absurd.”
    “I do not think that is entirely out of the question,” Leon said, eyes narrowing upon the Minister.
    “No half or pure would willingly assist a daimon.” Lucian folded his hands.
    “It may not be willingly, Minister. The pure or half may’ve been coerced,” Marcus continued, and where I should’ve felt relief, something ugly still sat inside me. What if someone had actually let them in past the gates?
    No. No way could that have happened. If Marcus’ suspicions were right, it had to be under duress.
    Marcus glanced at me.