Page 54 of Secrets in Salem: Part One

"You're such an ass sometimes," I hear her gripe the moment she reaches the bedroom, only making my brother snort in response.

Micah slides his eyes away from the door she just entered, smiling over at me while he shrugs. I shake my head, amused and frustrated in one breath. Turning back around, I head to my brother’s room and place the bags in the doorway, catching the two staring at one another intensely.

"Everything okay?" I ask, gaze flickering between them.

Willow blinks rapidly before frowning and rubbing a hand over her forehead. "Yeah, we're good. I'm, uh, I'm going to get some fresh clothes and shower. I'm having pizza and movie night with Max and Molly, so I have to leave soon. I'll unpack later if that's okay?"

"We can do that for you, Low. Don't worry about it. Go ahead and get ready, and we'll get your things put away. That is, if you don't mind us handling your stuff," I offer, shrugging like it's no big deal.

It almost looks like Willow melts a little, sending me a grateful smile that I enjoy a smidge too much. "That would be amazing. I appreciate it."

And just like that, I'm on the receiving end of a frown from my brother. I smile at him before picking the bags up and carrying them to the bed. "Sure. Anything you want to handle yourself, or are we good to use our own judgment?"

Willow thinks about it for a moment before shrugging. "I trust you enough to put my stuff away. Just leave my journal under the pillow for me, okay?"

I nod and she smiles softly, digging into her suitcase for fresh clothes. She accepts the toiletries already in Aleric's outstretched hand with a bemused thanks and leaves the room. As soon as she's gone, I turn a glare onto my brother. "That was a dirty trick, you fucker."

The dick has the audacity to turn his head toward me with a fake innocent expression and says, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You pissed her off on purpose because you knew she'd take your room to try and do the same," I explain like an idiot. He knows what he did, that conniving son of a bitch. I hate him a little for how well it worked.

His lips twitch as he asks, "Did I do that? Huh."

Before I can move to throttle him, Micah is at the door, knocking the frame to garner our attention. He looks at us both with amused disappointment before signing.

You two are pathetic. You know that, right?

We both frown at him, Aleric scoffing under his breath before focusing on his task and grumbling, "Not as pathetic as you, lover boy. Really laying it on thick with all the touches, aren't you?"

I watch Micah as he narrows his eyes on our brother and signs again.

What's pathetic is playing games with a woman you clearly want. At least I'm being open with my affection because I'm genuinely interested in her and not pissing her off to get her in my bed.

I'm not sure if he means that as a dig at me too, but it makes me feel stupid nonetheless. He's right. We shouldn't be playing games. Willow has enough to deal with without the three of us acting like idiots because we've grown unnaturally fast crushes on her. For fuck's sake, we're creatures of Hell. We shouldn't grow crushes on anything or anyone. This entire situation is a mess.

Aleric's jaw tightens, but Micah signs before he can say anything.

Something is happening with all of us, something beyond our control. We care for the girl more than we have to. I don't know what it is, but I know it's strong. My beast has come close to breaking free several times in her company already. He's never steered me wrong before, so I won't fight what's happening, nor will I play these stupid games that will benefit no one. You might want to take a page from my book, especially since it's me who Willow just explained her plan to find her biological mother to. She feels what we're feeling too, and she's just as confused. You two playing some weird game of tug of war with her isn't going to make the situation better. It could quite possibly push her away when she needs us the most. Pull your fingers out of your asses and make your minds up about whether or not you're going to pursue something with her. Figure out why she's so familiar to us while you’re at it, and quit acting like childish assholes that don't deserve her at all.

I don't think I've ever seen my brother sign so much or rapidly before now. My mouth is hanging open, and the shame I'm feeling burns hot. He's right, of course, but it doesn't mask the surprise at how fiercely my brother's hands moved as he tried to protect Willow... from us.

When I look up into his blue eyes, I find them red instead, his beast dangerously close to the surface. Micah wasn't exaggerating when he said his beast is close to breaking free. She has a hold on us all, it would seem.

Aleric clears his throat, picking things out of the suitcase as he admits, "You're right. No more games. But don't expect me to act like someone I'm not around her."

Didn't expect anything less. Just no more competing like childish fuckers.

I snort and send Aleric a look. "Yeah, no more sneaky tactics."

"Don't need them. If she's feeling the same way we're feeling, even if she doesn't understand it, then I won't need any dirty tactics. I've seen the way she looks at us," he responds with another easy shrug and a smirk. "She doesn't stand a chance, just like we didn’t the moment we saw her in Hollow Grove. We're all every shade of fucked there is."

He's not wrong there is. Not to mention what the Devil will have to say about it when he no doubt hears wind of this turn of events. I'm sure he didn't send us here to do anything more than protect his daughter.

Groaning, I drop my head back and announce, "We're going to die. He's actually going to kill us."

The three of us share a look of dread and determination. That's when Willow comes into the room in nothing but a towel, wet hair dripping down her back and drops of water sliding over her skin. She startles a little, eyeing us like she's surprised. "Oh. You're still in here. Uh, okay. Are we having a meeting or something? Don't mind my interruption. Just forgot my razor."

She hurries to the bed, her body close to mine, to reach into the bag in front of me. There are soft waves of something sweet wafting off her skin, still steaming from the warm water that clings to every inch of her. My jaw is clenched real fucking tight, the image of her wet and in nothing but my towel doing good but inappropriate things to my body. My beast is clawing to be released, pacing restlessly the moment her scent registers in my mind.

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