Page 19 of Ensnared
I jump to my feet, suddenly electrified after everything I’ve been through in the past few weeks, after all the secrecy, my fears over Jack. After my complete and utter ignorance.
“That fuckinghypocrite!”
Seven
Aiden
“Where is he?”
Skye’s angry yell wakes me from much-needed sleep. I jerk up in my bed and feel for my old phone. It’s buried under my pillow, where it must have fallen from my fingers after I fell asleep typing notes to myself. There’s an email from the Norwegian king I need to answer—something about their clan being endangered by witches. I’d read it and collapsed, too tired to even formulate a reply, even as my insides roiled with worry over our own situation.
It’s twenty minutes past eleven, and the world outside my window is dark. The storm hasn’t blown over either, so I have no idea why Skye is banging around at this time of night. She should be in her cabin, either sleeping or working.
But I’m slowly learning that the woman doesn’t always stay where she’s put.
“Skye, wait…”
I put my feet on the floor. That was Jack, and he sounded like he was trying to placate Skye. I’m about to stand to see what’s going on, but then footsteps clatter down the corridor to my room, and my door flies open, smacking against the wall.
“What—?”
I’m halfway up but sit back down as Skye plants herself in front of me, a finger pointed accusingly at my face.
“You lying asshole!”
She’s completely wet, her curly hair plastered to her head, and her face is red with fury.
Jack, equally soaked, grabs her by the elbow and tries to drag her away. “Skye, no…”
She shakes him off with force and faces me again. “All this time, you kept going on and on aboutmywitch powers and howIwas different, and howyour peopleneed protecting. Ha!”
Realization dawns, cutting through the last of my sleep-induced brain fog. I glare at Jack. “What did you do?”
Skye snaps her fingers in front of my nose. “Excuse me? I’m talking to you. Jack had nothing to do with this. You brought me here and acted like I was the freak for having magic. And now I find out that you’re dragons! All of you!”
I rise, growling, and she falls silent. Her dark eyes go wide, but she doesn’t back away. It should bother me that she smells of fear, but I’m too furious to care. Instead, I round on Jack.
“What. Did. You. Do?” I repeat slowly, my voice barely audible.
I expect him to submit and lower his gaze, but he doesn’t. It’s not a dare—he’s not challenging my authority, but he stands by his decision.
“I showed Skye what I am,” he says.
Skye, who’s half a head shorter than either of us, puts herself between us. “Yeah.A dragon. And don’t you blame him for telling the truth! He’s the only one who—”
Jack puts his hand on her shoulder, and she stops, turning her face up at him. He shakes his head slightly, his gaze so full of—fuck. He’s looking at her with so much affection, I can’t stomach it. To my surprise, Skye presses her lips together and steps away, folding her arms across her chest.
“I shifted on the beach,” Jack finally continues.
“It wasn’t your decision to make.” I’m clenching my jaw so hard, my teeth might crack, but it’s either that or start yelling—and I don’t want everyone in the village to hear us, even though the Lodge is almost a mile from the nearest house.
“What would you have me do?” he asks, spreading his arms wide. “Continue lying to her?”
“Yes!” I shove my fingers into my hair and yank it in frustration. “If that’s what it takes!”
He’s just as irritated, though. “Aiden, you can’t build a relationship on lies!”
“What relationship?” I snap. “She’s leaving as soon as she’s done with the work.”
