Page 192 of Halfblood Deceived

Aylana returned to her side, handing her a bottle of ice-cold water, and throwing one at her mate, who caught it effortlessly. “Then what is it, honey?”

Aella hesitated, giving a sideways, embarrassed look at Sebastian. She hadn’t told Diana or Kamilla about Reese kissing her and all the confusing racing thoughts she’d had since then. She would, but not yet. And she had spoken with Aylana about private matters before, but never in front of Sebastian.

Males and females can’t be friends.

Aella knew this wasn’t true. Sebastian was her friend. But sometimes, it was hard to push through all her ingrained preconceptions.

Sebastian blinked and stood. “I’ll leave if you want me to.”

“No!” Aella protested too loudly. She groaned. “Reese kissed me, and I didn’t hate it, and I don’t know what it means!”

Sebastian and Aylana stared at her with wide eyes.

Her breathing sped up even more than it had when she was sparring. “I mean, I shouldn’t have liked it even a bit, right? It was wrong. I am still married, and I am straight. And I like Zeydan. I think he likes me. Letting Reese kiss me makes me a bad female on so many levels. I feel so guilty—” She hiccuped, her breath getting stuck in her lungs.

“Woah! Easy, Aella.” Aylana placed a hand between Aella’s shoulder blades. “Sit down. Come on, sit down and take some deep breaths.”

Aella all but fell gracelessly to the mat on her backside. She placed her head between her knees automatically. “Inhale through your nose, hold the air for five seconds, and release it through your mouth,” Zeydan’s voice said in her head, which only made her feel guiltier.

Still, she followed the memorized instructions until her ears stopped buzzing, and she could breathe properly again. Aylana and Sebastian had sat across from her. Their faces reflected concern.

“Drink some water,” Aylana instructed, handing Aella the uncapped bottle.

She hadn’t noticed when it stopped being in her hands.

“Small sips,” Sebastian advised.

Aella drank small sips, feeling beyond exhausted. “Sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, honey,” Aylana said.

Aella took a deep breath. “I just dumped all my ridiculous issues on you guys.”

“Your issues are not ridiculous,” Aylana insisted.

Sebastian shrugged. “Friends are there for you when you need to rant. Either to listen and offer comfort or to give some advice.”

“Which one would you like?” Aylana asked.

Aella bit her lip. “Advice, please.”

“Alright then,” Sebastian agreed, sharing a look with Aylana. “We have some questions.”

Aella took a deep breath. “That’s fair. Go ahead.”

“Did Reese kiss you without permission?” Aylana asked. Her tone was kind, but there was steel in her hazel eyes.

Aella had the feeling Aylana would have no qualms about marching to Hecate and kicking Reese’s ass on her behalf. But that was not necessary. “No,” Aella admitted, guilty stirring in her sloshing stomach. “I let them kiss me.” She wished she had a pillow to scream into.

“You said you liked it a bit?” Sebastian asked.

Aella’s cheeks burned. “I didn’t dislike it.”

Aylana’s brow furrowed. “There’s a difference between not disliking something and liking it.”

“I know that,” Aella said. “Well, no. I don’t really know that. But…” Honesty was the best policy, right? “I liked it. And I don’t understand why. I’m straight. And liking that kiss, liking Reese, would mean I’m not straight, right? But I can’t even think about the kiss without feeling so guilty that I want to hide under my bed and never come out. I’m so confused.”

“You feel guilty because you’re still technically married, right?” Sebastian asked.

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