Page 39 of Captive Hybrid

‘She, uh, figured you might want a little distance.’ Aidan claims a plate of scrambled eggs and starts wolfing down his protein.

After a moment of watching him, I say, ‘You eat like a werewolf.’

Aidan guffaws, and it’s surprisingly endearing. ‘Is that a bad thing?’ A little blush colours his cheeks.

I just shake my head, nibbling on a bowl of fruit. Almost-comfortable silence passes between us as we finish breakfast. I sip my coffee, appraising him from beneath the rim of the mug. Not long ago, I had never met—not really—a vampire. I was surprised at how different Godric and Callen seemed. And Drusilla. Three different kinds of powerful and intimidating. Then there’s Evelyn who actually seemed nice until the I like to eat witches comment, but still. Now, there’s Aidan. This seemingly nice witch who likes to be bitten by vampires. Now, there’s a kink.

I once had a conversation with Jana about this, and she had gotten oddly squirrelly. Is that something she would want? Why? I wish I could ask her, but asking her through Mordecai would be way too weird. Like a thousand times too weird.

But there is something I might broach with him. If he’s ever thought about claiming and marking me, and how he feels about it. Though, after how we just left things, I don’t think now is the time.

‘Trying to read my mind?’ Aidan smiles. ‘Wait, can you do that?’

I open my mouth to say ‘no’, but clamp it shut. I shouldn’t be open with what I can and can’t do. Instead, I offer what I hope is a wry smile. ‘Where’s my walk?’

Aidan smiles, and it seems really easy on his sweet-looking face. A small swell of envy passes through me. I wish I was someone who could smile easily. It’s been too hard to smile about much these past years.

As we leave the apartment, Aidan leads me down a quiet, dimly-lit hall. ‘Can I ask you something?’ His voice is low and soft in the space between us. I’m glad the halls seem empty.

I side-eye him. ‘Sure,’ I say warily.

‘What happened after your mate rejected you?’

My heart clenches. I bite my lip, gaze focused on the cold, stone floor. ‘I was cast out, so I had to leave. I moved to the witch’s French Quarter.’

‘That sucks. I’m really sorry. I’ve never seen anyone else mate inter-clan before. Smart.’

‘Not if it doesn’t work,’ I mutter.

‘Right. Sorry. You know, I bet he didn’t mean to hurt you.’

I shoot him a glare.

‘I’m going to shut up about this now because what would I know?’

‘Good idea.’ I grit my teeth as he turns, letting the awkward silence fill us up. I wish I could ask Divina to teach me how to use my vines, but I can’t risk Aidan noticing the connection.

‘What do you think Drusilla is really going to do? What’s the end-game here?’

Aidan tucks his hands into his pockets and blows out a breath. ‘Until recently, I’d never met Drusilla. She was before my time. From what Evelyn’s told me, she’s, uh, ambitious, sure, but…’ His brown eyes dart around. ‘I’m not sure I should be talking about this.’

I make puppy-dog eyes at him, and he breaks down.

‘Fine,’ he laughs. ‘I just… I have no idea what her plans could be, but Evie says Dru’s bloodthirsty, and that’s her Achilles’ heel. Evie says Dru’s made plans in the past, hoping to rule the world and all, but gets distracted slaughtering people.’

A full-body shudder passes over me. ‘I don’t really know what to make of that.’

Aidan offers a wry smile. ‘Stay on her good side. Or, out of her way.’

I lower my head, letting his words sink in. I have to gather as much information as I can, even if it seems like those plans have changed. ‘So, killing those of our bloodlines… that’s not happening anymore? Drusilla knows I’m one of them, doesn’t she?’

‘Yeah, I mean, she’s got to, but I guess you’re more interesting alive. To her,’ he adds. ‘I mean—’

‘I know what you mean.’

‘Right. But yeah, when the Origins first came back, they, uh, they were ready to destroy everyone in sight they were so mad. And Dru was ravenous. I’m only alive because Godric and Evelyn are close. He protected her, and me. They were really mad, but after a while, they calmed down. And Drusilla has other goals now.’

‘Does Evelyn know who brought them back? The Origins?’

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