Page 20 of Ensnared
Skye’s outraged gasp is covered by Jack’s groan.
“Why? Because you said so?” she demands.
“Exactly,” I growl. “You voted just like everyone else. Did you or did you not pick me as the leader of this clan?”
“Yes!” Jack throws his hands up. “And I’m glad you won. Devlin Ward would have been a horrible choice. But that doesn’t give you the right to dictate my personal life.”
“It does if it concerns everyone in the fucking clan!” I roar.
My head’s about to explode. It’s like talking to a stubborn wall. He’s so in love with Skye, everything bounces right off him. I want to shake him. He put the entire clan in danger of discovery. What if Skye tells her family?
I turn to her. “That’s it. You’re never leaving this village again. Ever.”
“What! Will you make up your gods damned mind?” she yells at me.
Maybe I should just eat her right here. Then our witch problem will suddenly disappear.
Something moves in my peripheral vision, and I see Ty at the door, his black eyebrows raised, listening to this whole fucking conversation. I don’t want to have to deal with him, too, because I have no idea where he even stands in all of this.
“You can’t keep her prisoner,” Jack objects. “She’s not going to tell anyone!”
“I’m right here. You can’t talk about me like I’m a piece of property.”
I press the heels of my palms to my eyes and growl, my dragon threatening to burst out right here and smash all this furniture to pieces. Shimmers of warmth dance over my skin, and I itch to shed it.
“This is not a fucking democracy,” I bellow, and everyone shuts up. “Jack, this is unacceptable. I understand you can’t keep your dick in your pants, but for fuck’s sake, you should have kept your mouth shut. I don’t care how hot you think she is, you fucked up, man.”
He flinches back as though I struck him, and for a moment, I regret my words. But he should have asked me first.
He did.
Our conversation comes back to me, and I cringe internally.
Jack seems to be remembering it, too. Something like disgust flickers in his gray eyes. “Don’t forget you’re the one who brought her here,” he says, his voice low. “And at least I had the guts to tell her how I feel about her. Unlike you.”
Skye’s mouth drops open at that, but Jack takes her hand and tugs her toward the door.
“Come on.” He doesn’t glance my way again.
She looks like she might protest, so I do what I have to.
“Get out,” I snap. “All of you.”
Skye and Jack leave, disappearing down the hallway. Ty lingers by the door. He doesn’t say anything, but I feel the weight of his stare. I don’t give a shit. This mess is my fault. I wanted to protect my clan, yet all I’ve done is break up the most important relationships I’ve ever had in my life. Over a woman, a witch. What Jack is saying isn’t true. I don’t have feelings for her. Not real ones, anyway. I’d never let my hormones dictate my actions.
Barefoot, I push past Ty and down the stairs. Jack and Skye are nowhere to be seen, and I’m glad. I can’t deal with them anymore tonight. The safety of the clan is even more at risk now.
Through the front door, down the porch steps, and into the rain. There’s only one place where they won’t follow, so I break into a run. Rocks cut my feet, but I barely notice, and then I’m on the shore. I strip my now-soaked t-shirt in one move and jump into the churning sea.
She embraces me with cold hands, and I don’t have to think anymore.
Eight
Skye
Jack takesme to his room and switches on his remaining bedside lamp, the one I didn’t accidentally fry the last time I was in here. I’m cold and shivering by this point, and I don’t relish the thought of going out in the rain again. Honestly, I also don’t want to stay under the same roof as Aiden and Ty, both of whom want nothing to do with me, but Jack locks the door and holds me close until my breathing calms down.
Then he undresses me with gentle, methodical movements, and brings a towel from his bathroom for my hair. My sodden clothes go on a drying rack by the brick chimney chute. He finds me an old, soft t-shirt and a pair of boxers to sleep in. Then we lie in his bed, and he draws the covers over me, all without saying a word.
