Page 52 of Captive Hybrid

I worry at my lip, measuring my response. He’s the asshole who rejected me, remember. I scoff. ‘He does not want to be with me, I assure you. It wouldn’t help her. And he’s probably long gone after that explosion.’ I lower my gaze. ‘If he’s still alive.’

A sliver of guilt slices into me. Despite everything, I’ve come to like Aidan, despite a few things (like being a vampire’s chew toy).

‘I wonder what it’s like. To feel connected to someone like that.’

‘It sucks,’ I snap.

His smiles apologetically. ‘Well, I don’t know about your wolf, but I do know Drusilla wouldn’t expect you to stay down here forever. She’s figuring out her plans, that’s all. You know, if you do your best to make friends down here—and tonight was a good start on that—and offer her your allegiance, along with your powers and service, she will try to please you. Including letting you go outside. Supervised, of course.’

I take a split-second to decide my reaction. My eyes brighten. ‘Really? She would do that for me?’

Aidan’s smile widens. ‘Yeah. Drusilla looks out for us. It seems strange and chaotic down here sometimes, but she is the Queen of our Clan, the Origin. I could ask Evelyn to pass on a message that you would request an audience with her?’

A breath shudders out of me. ‘I like that idea, Aidan, but I honestly feel like I can’t breathe. It feels like I’m still in that cell. This place is a labyrinth. I wish I could just see for myself that there are exits.’ A hollow chuckle. ‘I’ve always been afraid of being buried alive. This is a slow version of that.’

‘Oh.’ Aidan reaches out and sets a hand on my knee. ‘I’m sorry. Yeah, I mean, we… would have to be, uh, careful. I could show you one of the exits tomorrow, but you have to promise to keep it to yourself and not run off alone. I’m serious, I could get in trouble.’

‘You don’t have to do that.’ I set my hand on his, still resting warmly on my knee. I fill my eyes with tears, pushing the guilt down.

Aidan nods stiffly. ‘I can see you’re trying to fit in here. If this one little secret will help you, I want to do this. I really don’t like keeping something from Evelyn, though.’

My eyes snap wide. ‘Oh, no. Please, I can’t face the idea of her getting in trouble because of me. I can’t put her in that position.’ Carefully chosen words.

‘No,’ Aidan muses. ‘I don’t want to put her in that position, either.’ He squeezes my hand. ‘Fine, we keep it between us.’

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