Page 22 of Seduced


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“No,” Aiden says after a long pause. “I’d never make her choose. But I’m no good for her. I can’t give her…what she wants.”

“Bullshit,” Ty snaps. “Did you even ask her what she wants?”

Aiden glowers at him. “She wants commitment. She wants me to hold her hand in the village, to share a bed with all three of you, and I can’tdothat. You know I can’t.”

“Why?” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “Are you ashamed of her? Because she’s a witch?”

“No!” Aiden stands now, facing off with us. “But the clan won’t trust me anymore if word gets out that I’m sleeping with her. You saw what happened—I can’t believe you’re even pushing this after Maya got hurt.”

“This hasnothingto do with my sister,” I growl. He’s being obtuse on purpose, and I’ve had it with him. “If you can’t treat Skye with the respect she deserves, stay the fuck away from her. She’s not some mistress you get to hide and use when you feel like it.”

He snarls, anger flashing across his features. “You have no idea what it’s like—”

“Whoa!” Ty jumps between us, nudging us apart.

I didn’t even realize we’d been standing so close. Was I about to hit Aiden? I take a step back and shake my head to clear it.

“How about we all take a deep breath and stop shouting at each other?” Ty says.

“I’m done here,” Aiden says, stalking back toward the path to the village.

But Ty catches him by his t-shirt and tugs him back. “No, you’re not. We didn’t solve anything, and this is too important to let go.”

For a moment, I think Aiden might clock him or pull rank, but in the end, his shoulders slump, and he parks his ass back on that tree stump. “Fine.”

“Okay.” Ty claps his hands together. “I can’t believe I’m the calm one here.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Don’t rub it in.”

He cracks a small smile, and his face lights up. Gods, I love this guy. He knows exactly what we need. If only our other friend would see reason.

“Listen, Aiden,” Ty begins, “I know you think the whole debacle with Maya and Ward and everyone gathering to torch the Lodge is your fault.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Aiden now sounds more tired than angry.

How long has he been shouldering all this blame? Thinking he has to do everything on his own and take on all the responsibility?

“That’s bullshit,” I echo Ty’s words from earlier. “It was Ward’s fault. It wasn’t even about Skye—he was looking for something to prove that you weren’t a fit clan leader.”

Aiden’s laugh is harsh and humorless. “Well, he found it, didn’t he? I brought a witch to our village without telling anyone. You saw the people. They were ready to lynch all of us.”

“That’s just it,” Ty says. “They weren’t. They were a bunch of idiots who allowed themselves to be pulled along with Ward’s agenda. They were curious! You brought a witch to the village. But that doesn’t mean anyone but Ward was ready to attack you.”

“Didn’t look that way to me,” Aiden grumbles. “But I see your point.”

“I think that if you were more, uh, open with everyone, you’d find that people are still ready to support you.” Ty lifts one dark eyebrow. “No matter who you’re sleeping with.”

“That doesn’t mean you get to treat Skye like crap, though,” I jump in, unable to stop myself.

“Dude,” Ty says reproachfully.

“What? It’s true. She deserves better,” I insist.

Ty crosses his arms over his chest. “Yeah, can’t argue with that.”

“I’m aware I fucked things up with her,” Aiden says. “I’m not a complete idiot.”

It’s a testament to the depth of our friendship that neither Ty nor I comment on that statement.