Page 42 of Their Offering

By the time Aiden finished cleaning me, I was barely awake. Nicholas got out of bed, probably to get himself cleaned up, and I let out a little whimper at the loss.

“I’ve got you, little one,” Aiden reassured me as he climbed into the bed and laid where Nicholas had been. His body was so warm, I pressed myself into it for more. He nuzzled into my hair and took a deep breath. “Fuck, you smell so good,” he growled.

“Aiden.” Nicholas’s footsteps approached the bed. I wanted to look at him, but my eyelids were too heavy.

“Relax, I’m just enjoying her a little more before we sleep.” He called him an asshole under his breath, and I nearly giggled.

Nicholas crawled into bed, his body noticeably cooler than Aiden’s, but being between them was perfect. Once I settled in comfortably, which didn't take long at all, I fell fast asleep.

It was the best night of sleep I’d had in ages.

Chapter 19

Aiden

“You missed out last night, Keir,” I teased my brother as he walked into the living room and sat beside my twin. “Where were you? I heard you leave.”

Nicholas and I had been reminiscing about the night before. It hurt me to see Lilly so broken, so hurt. I wanted her to tell us the name of every man who’d hurt her so we could torture the life out of each one. I respected that she didn’t want to talk about it, though, and I would never push her. One day, we would find a way to rectify the sins committed against her—one day.

Keir rolled his eyes. “I went out,” he said sharply. “I didn’t miss out on anything, I assure you.”

“Oh, trust me, we know you got a little piece of her, but you denied yourself the full experience,” Nicholas joined in with me.

It was too easy to bother our older brother. He’d always been wound so tight, taking everything more seriously than he needed to. Yeah, he was the heir to the throne, but I feared he’d end up like our father. I’d made it my mission to annoy the fuck out of him until he let go a little.

“Can we please talk about something else?” he grumbled. He clearly didn’t want to talk about Lilly.

I was surprised he let us have her. When I pointed out the birthmark on her thigh, he didn’t even react. In fact, after it was all said and done, heaskedusto take care of her.I didn’t understand, but he said he didn’t want to end up like our parents, which is probably why he didn’t want to be with Lilly, now that I thought about it.

Keir had told us on multiple occasions that our mother used to be different, softer, kinder, but our father had broken her. Nicholas and I had never known her any other way, but we could see the way it hurt Keir to think about it.

“No, we can’t. I don’t think we’re any closer to convincing her to go to Hell,” Nicholas started. “It doesn’t help that you’re closed off with her. I think she knowssomethingis––”

“She doesn’t know anything. I haven’t told her.”

“I think shefeelsit, Keir. You don’t think we haven’t noticed your odd little exchanges?” I nodded, agreeing with my twin.

We really had noticed weird things, like Lilly hearing things we didn’t. We didn’t press her, but we knew it was something. She was drawn to Keir; that much was clear. I wouldn’t be surprised if their bond was somehow making herwantto be around him, to wanthimeven. It was powerful, something no one truly understood.

“Fuck,” he swore as he rubbed his face, frustrated. “I don’t care. I won’t be with her. I won’t turn her into mom.”

So I was right. Thiswasabout our parents and their bond.

“You’re not him.” I leaned forward, bracing my elbows on my knees. “You can’t live your life avoiding everything because you’re afraid.”

“I’m not afraid,” he said quickly, defensively.

“Uh-huh,” Nicholas drawled. “Then why is Lilly still off the table? She’s amazing. She’s...”

I took over. “She’s gorgeous, tight, and makes the sexiest noises when y…”

“Enough!” our older brother yelled, clearly having had enough of our teasing.

“Fine,” I chuckled, putting my arms up in surrender. “Just know you’re missing out. We barely know her, but she’s meant to be yours, brother. That has to meansomethingto you.”

“It can’t.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I need you guys to move quicker with Lilly. She’s pushing against this too hard. The thoughts I planted should be working better than this, but somehow, she’s fighting back. I don’t know how, but we don’t have time for this.”

I don’t know why he expected his little mind trick would work. Even with fate on our side, Lilly was her own person, and it was unlikely she’d drop everything for us. Maybe if Keir told her… No. I couldn’t dwell on that. Keir was going to deny himself no matter what I said.

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