Page 35 of Captive Hybrid
He blows out a breath. ‘I couldn’t even guess. It would have to be someone with enough power to do so.’
‘What kind of supernatural would have that power?’
Aidan runs a hand over his clean-shaven face. ‘Ah, I’m not sure. Evelyn’s told me a lot of stories over the years. It could be a Fae. Their powers vary widely. Or a Dark Witch, perhaps. I’ve met one, he a was… well, I hope I never come across him again.’ He shudders. ‘Dark Witches are bad news.’
‘I… I actually know one. A woman. Her name’s Divina.’
Aidan’s brown eyes bulge. ‘Seriously? Where did you come across her?’
‘She was at my coven. My old home. Wolf Grove.’ Sadness tugs at me. That home is likely destroyed now. ‘I don’t know how she came to be there, but yeah, she has this freaky mind power. She seemed sort of nice, though. A feminist.’
Aidan’s face doesn’t smooth.
‘What?’ I press.
‘Nothing. I don’t know who was sent to make those kills, but they might be individuals working for each Origin.’ He lifts his shoulders in a shrug. ‘But I am sorry about your cousin.’
I blink. ‘You’re the first person to say that. But… no one else has connected that we were related.’ As I speak, I wonder if I should have revealed that, but I don’t see the harm.
Aidan doesn’t seem to have words for that, and I don’t blame him. ‘Do you feel a little better, at least? Talking with me?’ He gives a playful smile. ‘Being around another witch?’
A fraction, yes. ‘At least I know you’re probably not about to eat me.’
He offers a grateful smile. ‘Ah, good, we’re besties, then. Listen, I live with Evelyn, so you’ll be around me, too. I hope that’s of some comfort.’
‘I hate to break it to you, but if you’re not helping me get out of here, you’re one of my captors, too.’
Aidan blanches at that, truly offended. ‘I…’ He runs a hand through his hair, clearly disturbed by the thought. ‘We—we should head home. Get back to Evelyn.’
I flinch as he offers me his elbow again. ‘This is not my home.’
This time, he gives me a withering look, having finally lost that easy smile. ‘Look, I get that you don’t want to be here, but that’s out of my hands.’
I know I should be going along with his attempt at friendship, but I can’t bring myself to even feign it. ‘You seem like a nice guy, but—’ How skewed is his perception if he’s been with a vampire? ‘Why would you want a vampire to drink your blood?’
He inhales, a visible attempt at patience. He stuffs his hands in his jeans pockets. I’ve nearly forgotten he’s been shirtless the whole time. He’s an enemy. ‘At first, I didn’t. Long story—Evelyn didn’t do anything wrong. But, well, it’s like you and your wolf, right? Sometimes things just turn you on. You want him to mark you with his teeth? How is that different?’
Blood heats my cheeks. ‘I never said—’
‘You don’t have to. You said you were to be mated to the wolf, right? Well, that’s how they claim you, yeah? Unless you didn’t want to be his mate?’
My gaze flicks down, clear admission.
‘Right, so that’s a yes. Look, I’m not judging you for your turn-ons. I get that mine might seem odd, but it’s a way to connect. If your wolf bit you, you’d be proud, right? To show that off? To be the one he marked?’ Aidan gives shrug. ‘Same thing, really. Plus… I kind of like that Evelyn feels better when she’s drunk from me.’
I do my utmost not to scrunch my nose up, but I fail.
Aidan takes it well, offering me his hand again. ‘It’s okay. Takes some getting used to.’
Hesitantly, I take his hand, letting him lead me out of the room. ‘She says she likes the taste of witches,’ I whisper up to him. ‘You don’t think she would—’
‘No.’ Aidan stops and turns me by the shoulders. ‘No, Zenna. I promise she wouldn’t.’ The sincerity in his eyes is startling. He truly believes that.
That, at least, is somewhat of a relief. I swallow. ‘So, what do you do here? Lay around in a bar unless you’re with Evelyn?’
Aidan chuckles. ‘Ah, you make me sound like a slacker. Sometimes, yes. I chat with the others. Mostly I read and study. Sometimes help out Drusilla these days.’
I round on him as we approach the Den. ‘What?’
He gives another little laugh. This man acts as though he has the easiest, carefree life possible. ‘Well, yeah. Gaia isn’t forthcoming, apparently. Never has been. Kind of a purist, too.’ He sniffs, as though annoyed.
‘I’m so lost.’
He just smiles. ‘There’s much we can learn from each other.’ It sounds like an offer, but he says no more as he pushes the door open to Evelyn’s home. We settle onto the couch just as Evelyn returns, a hesitant smile on her lips.
‘Everything okay?’ Her copper gaze slides between us. She sets a casual hand on the back of Aidan’s neck, gently caressing him. He leans into her touch, eyes flitting shut in pleasure.
I nod stiffly, my mind swirling.
