Page 20 of The Aether

All the while he and Nate had been entertaining Sabrina with their pancake contest, Damian had a niggling feeling he’d missed something about Josie’s seductive performance when she believed he’d killed Vivian. It finally dawned on him. Her overtures were exactly that. A performance. He’d felt no desirous intent behind the action. No real concern for Vivian’s welfare. It was as if Josie had already known he would never take her offer or let Viv die.

“Why are you here, Josie?”

She glanced around as if confused.

“I thought I was heading to France,” she muttered with an edge of disgust in her tone.

He barely suppressed a chuckle. She was fiery to the end.

“Care to tell me who did that to you?”

Tenderly, she probed her eye socket and sighed. Without answering, she rolled, placing her hands on the stone beneath her and pushing up to her knees. Unable to take another second of her painful progress, Damian gripped her elbows and helped her rise.

She was quick to step back, all pretense of a femme fatale gone.

“Thanks.”

“You still didn’t answer my question, Josie.”

“Morgan.”

It only took a brief moment for him to remember the man Taryn had dated.

“I didn’t realize you’d taken up with him, other than the one time you foiled your sister’s relationship.”

She didn’t reply and merely lifted her chin. The defiant gesture was similar to Sabrina’s when she was hurting, and Damian experienced a pang. Josie, whatever her faults, appeared to be misunderstood.

“What’s going on?” he asked coolly, hoping to frighten her into a confession.

She blanched but firmed her resolve. “Nothing.”

“Give me your hand,” he ordered.

Alarmed, her gaze shot to his. All the smooth sophistication and practiced seduction she wore like a cloak was gone. In its place was apprehension.

“Josie, it isn’t a request.”

Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, then winced and grabbed her ribs.

“He’ll kill me if I tell you, Damian.”

“Are you sure I won’t if you don’t?”

He wouldn’t, but he wasn’t beyond putting the fear of death into someone.

Heaving a tired sigh, she raised weary eyes to his. “He’s evil.”

“I believe that’s a given, considering he struck you and broke your ribs.”

With a nod, she limped over to the patio set and sank down with a gasp.

Unable to take another second of her discomfort, Damian strode forward.

“If you don’t want me to know what’s going on, blank your mind. But give me your damned hand, Josie.”

“Why?”

“So I can heal you.”

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