Page 145 of Lost

“That’s the plan.” The stadium roared again as OSU fumbled and OU recovered. “Gotta go. Can’t hear you very well.”

“Boomer Soo—,” Kev yelled before the walkie-talkie cut off.

Heath ran back on the field and my eyes followed him. Well, when I wasn’t staring at his girlfriend. I had to admit Jenn Amala was pretty. And I was glad she wasn’t some ordinary blond chick—like Kayla. I shuddered at the thought. Shaunee would be glad Heath was getting some black-girl magic. I tried to be glad too.

And when that failed, I went back to watching him and trying to control the bile that kept rising in my throat.

* * *

Other Aphrodite

“This game is a bore,” Neferet pouted, sipping from a crystal goblet filled with red wine and even redder blood. “I thought the Bedlam thing was a magnificent rivalry.”

“Well, it is,” Aphrodite said reluctantly, waving away one of Neferet’s Warrior guards who tried to pour her more blood-laced wine. “But OSU isn’t very good, that’s all.”

“Not very goodseems an understatement. It’s intermission and the score is thirty-eight to three.Three. A field goal is all that orange team could manage.”

“Halftime,” Aphrodite corrected.

“What?” Neferet’s head swiveled, owl-like, to look at Aphrodite. “And why are you dressed so plainly?”

Aphrodite looked down at her jeans, her favorite pair of silver sparkly Jimmy Choo heels, and the red OU tee she’d tied up to show a little of her flat, gorgeous belly.

“Neferet, I’m dressed for a football game. And this pause in the game isn’t called an intermission. It’s called halftime.”

“Semantics.” She waved away Aphrodite’s comment.

“The marching bands are good,” Aphrodite said, attempting to make safe small talk.

“Good? They’re dreadful. Too much brass and noise and not enough finesse.” She drummed her long red fingernails on the press box window as she held out her empty goblet. “Artus. Refill.”

The grizzled Warrior moved with the speed and grace of a predator, refilling his High Priestess’ glass. As he did, Neferet ran a sharp nail up his arm, tracing his bicep and leaving a painful-looking pink trail.

The Warrior had to stifle a moan of pleasure.

Disgusted, Aphrodite averted her gaze.

“Did you have something else to say? Perhaps a thank you for these outstanding seats?” Neferet asked Aphrodite.

“These are great seats. I used to come up here with my father. He was a TU alum,” Aphrodite said.

“Again—boring. Human fathers are so overrated. I thought you understood that.”

Aphrodite shrugged. “Compared to my mother he was father of the year, every year.” She noted Neferet’s dark look, and quickly changed the subject. “But he never had the power you have. It’s amazing that we have the press box all to ourselves. Thanks for the invite, Neferet. These really are great seats.”

Aphrodite glanced around, plastering a grateful smile on her frozen face. The only other person in the box with them, besides Neferet’s Warriors, was a very sweaty human who was commentating the game. Neferet had shoved him over to the far side of the room and had ignored him completely. Aphrodite noted that he’d started stuttering halfway through the second period when Neferet had started complaining about being bored.

“What did you do with that young red vampyre who was following you around?” Neferet had turned away from the huge wall of windows and was studying Aphrodite with disconcerting concentration.

“Who? Oh, you mean Lieutenant Stinky.” She shrugged. “I told him to go find his flight or squadron or whatever it’s called. I don’t care what Stark says, I can’t stand his smell anymore.”

“Stark says hedidn’tassign that soldier to you.”

Aphrodite’s heartbeat began to hammer, but she’d spent her entire childhood hiding her fear from her mother—and that skill had never left her. She rolled her eyes. “Oh, right. It wasmychoice to have a rancid red vampyre follow me around. Wait! I thought Stark was followingyourcommand.” She sat up straight as if the thought had just come to her. “You mean you didn’t tell him to shackle me with that stinky creature?”

“No, my dear. I did not.”

She snorted. “Well, I’m going to have words with General Bow Boy. Where is he, anyway?”