Page 50 of Captive Hybrid
Evelyn barks a harsh laugh. ‘Unlikely. She would only want to do so if there were something in it for her.’
‘I thought we were gathered to help Zenna acclimate?’ Will has already devoured his food, and spears a second steak with his fork. ‘Zenna, is there anything you wish to ask me, or discuss?’
My cheeks redden. ‘No.’
‘You won’t offend me,’ he offers.
I glance at Aidan, who nods encouragingly. ‘Same here.’
Evelyn smiles, the tips of her fangs protruding.
‘You eat food?’ I ask. It seems the least-harmful question I can think of.
She chuckles. ‘Sure. It tastes like old cabbage to me, but it can make humans more comfortable if I appear to be eating.’
Huh. ‘I never knew that. Does sunlight burn you?’
Evelyn’s copper eyes darken slightly.
Aidan sets a hand on my forearm and shakes his head slightly. Oops. Okay, don’t ask the enemy about their potential weaknesses. Got it. I lower my head to nibble on my food. Another question pops into my head, but I’m about 2000% sure I really don’t want to know the answer. What do humans, witches, taste like?
Instead, I glance between the guys. ‘How old are you?’
Will huffs a laugh. ‘What a boring question. I’m thirty-three.’ I underestimated. His tan, surfer look makes him look much younger. A horrifying thought slams into me. Or maybe drinking vampire blood has health benefits?
Aidan rolls his shoulders, showing off his muscles. ‘Old man. I’m thirty-one.’
I glance at Evelyn, wondering if I’ve offended her with the sunlight question, but she seems at ease. ‘You said you have… more than one boyfriend.’ I glance at Aidan. He doesn’t seem bothered by this.
‘I do. But Aidan is, well, probably my main… man.’
I nearly choke. What was she about to say? Meal? Eugh. No, she wouldn’t call him that. Would she? Instead, I drag my gaze to Will.
‘I thought you’d have more specific questions,’ he muses. ‘Not about how relationships work.’
I shrug. ‘It’s just as interesting to me. I have a fated mate. Being with someone else just seems wrong. So, having the option, having multiple partners…’ My eyes grow wide. ‘I’ve never been around that before.’
‘Huh,’ Will says. ‘So, this fated mate of yours, he’s a werewolf?’
I think back to my talk with Mordecai. So, you’re undoing the decision of rejecting me? I’m undoing the fuck out of it. ‘Yes. He’s the alpha of his pack, actually. That’s how it works.’
‘That’s how what works?’ Will asks.
Should I be giving them this information? I don’t see how it could hurt. I need to build their trust, and quickly. Mordecai is on his way. I have to figure out how to help him get in here once he arrives.
‘For the last few generations, yeah. My coven and our local pack mate together. The alpha’s, at least. To make each other stronger.’
‘Don’t the wolves, uh, want to kill you?’ Aidan asks.
I bite back my response, but it seems he can read it on my face.
‘Of course, you would think the same of us.’ Aidan smirks, seeming to understand my perspective a little better.
‘Aren’t werewolves terribly possessive?’ Will asks cautiously.
‘They… can be. Yeah. Unless you get rejected like I was.’ The familiar shame burns in my stomach, searing my cheeks. ‘My mate, he rejected me because I’m half-fae.’ The vines swirl on my arms, writhing like thin snakes.
Will pauses. ‘Ye-ouch. What a bastard.’
