Chapter 8
Aiden needed to discover what Quinn knew about Jamie’s captivity, not only to ensure his father was punished for what he’d done to Jamie, but Aiden wanted more than that. He wanted to find out where Jamie was held prisoner so he could make sure no one else remained captive. So far, the SCB had had no luck finding the facility, which made Aiden sick. He knew it was ludicrous, but he felt responsible for the horrors his father inflicted.
Was his father experimenting on shifters to try to help Aiden? Was it because Aiden had never been able to shift into his phoenix? He didn’t think his father cared enough about him for that. But if not, then why? And why had he taken Jamie? They’d been best friends since childhood. He had never hurt anyone. Why would his father want to torture him? Was it because of Aiden? Did he sense the feelings he’d always had for Jamie? He thought he managed to hide his true feelings for him, but maybe his father had known, and that thought tormented him. He never wanted Jamie to be hurt ever again.
He was roused from his thoughts by his sister. “I feel so weird saying this, but I hope the transition is over soon,” Iris said.
“Why is that weird?” Aiden asked.
“Well, I’m so sad that it means the end of the Tessa that we know. It’s so final. But on the other hand, it’s a new beginning for her spirit, you know?” Iris said.
“I know,” Jamie said. He patted Iris on the shoulder.
Aiden’s mouth went dry. An icy chill ran deep into his chest. He wasn’t ready for Tessa to be gone. Once she was truly gone, he’d need to step up to the plate and protect Grey Lake. How he could do that since he still couldn’t shift? He sighed heavily.
“It’ll be OK,” Jamie said to him.
“What?” Aiden asked.
“You’re worried about shifting into your phoenix, aren’t you?”
“Mate is smart,” his phoenix mumbled within Aiden’s mind.
Aiden nodded shakily at Jamie. “Stop saying we’re mates. He’s too good for an albatross like me,” Aiden hissed back at the beast.
Jamie and Iris gave him nearly identical quizzical looks.
“I was just arguing with my beast, sorry,” Aiden replied.
Jamie grinned. “I’m so glad that you can do that. You never thought you’d be able to speak with your phoenix, and now you can. See, I bet you’ll be able to shift in no time.”
God, he wanted to kiss him so badly. No, wait! What was wrong with him? He needed to keep himself together. Focus, Aiden! “We’ll see,” Aiden mumbled. His pulse raced, and he felt dizzy. Crap, was he having a panic attack? Freakin’ wonderful! He didn’t want either Jamie or Iris see him fall apart. Hold it together! He sucked in a steadying breath and nodded toward the swinging door. “Um, I have to check on the souffles.” He strode back into the kitchen.
Minutes later, he pulled a large tray holding several perfect fluffy creations from the commercial oven. Aiden winced when he noticed his hands were still shaking.
“Let me help,” Jamie said. He came up from behind him and took the tray from him.
Aiden hadn’t even heard him come into the kitchen. What was going on?
“You’re stuck in your own head. Focus on the now,” his beast hissed.
“Thanks,” Aiden murmured to Jamie.
“It’s nothing. I’m here to help.” Jamie placed the tray on the cooling rack and began pulling the other trays out of the oven as well.
Tears threatened. He cared so much for this man. He owed it to Jamie to punish his father. Jamie couldn’t be taken from him again. Aiden needed to make sure Jamie was protected, and he needed to be able to shift to do that.
“It’ll be OK. I mean it,” Jamie said. He placed a hand on Aiden’s shoulder. “I know you’re going to be able to shift soon.”
Aiden huffed out a watery laugh. “How? How can you be so positive? What if I am defective?”
Jamie’s smile morphed into a scowl. “Do not insult my mate like that!” he growled out. It wasn’t Jamie’s voice, though. It was his wolf’s. Jamie’s eyes went wide.
Aiden felt his eyebrows rise.
Jamie coughed and shook his head. He gave Aiden what looked to be a forced smile. “Sorry about that. My wolf is tired of you speaking poorly about yourself. He’s a little confused.”
Aiden frowned. “I can’t be your mate,” he whispered.
Jamie scowled and stalked toward him. Aiden had never seen Jamie like this. He seemed bigger somehow, more dominant. Aiden felt his back hit the kitchen wall, but Jamie continued closer until they were inches apart. His eyes flashed from icy blue to deep blue and back again. “That was my wolf talking, not me. We’re best friends, not mates. I’m not stupid. I know you’re straight.”
Aiden shook his head. “No.”
“What do you mean?” Jamie asked. “You’re not straight?”
“I don’t think I am entirely straight,” Aiden said. “I’m not sure.”
Jamie put his hands on his waist and glared at Aiden. “You don’t know if you’re straight, but you know you can’t be my mate?”
Aiden shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve never been with a man, but I am attracted to you.”
Jamie rubbed his eyes with one of his hands. “You are attracted to me as more than a friend?”
Aiden nodded.
“Are you worried about ruining our friendship?” Jamie asked. “Because that’s the only reason I haven’t told you how I felt about you.”
Aiden felt his jaw go slack. “What? You feel….” Aiden nodded several times. “I don’t want to lose what we have, but that’s not the only thing holding me back.”
“Then, what is it? Why are you so sure that we couldn’t be mates?” Jamie asked.
Aiden’s face crumpled, and tears threatened. What was going on with his emotions today? “I let you be taken. I couldn’t find you. I don’t deserve your forgiveness or your love,” he whispered. “I’m a coward.”
“Enough,” Jamie’s wolf snarled. He leaned in, his hands on Aiden’s shoulders, his mouth close to his ear, but this time Jamie spoke in his human voice, soft but stern. “I don’t want to hear you talking like this. There’s nothing to forgive and you’re not a coward. End of story. My beast believes you are our mate. Now that I know you have non-friend feelings toward me, I’m all in. I know you can’t accept that yet, but we—me and my wolf, that is—have. We’ve already wasted so much time dancing around it. We’re here to support you and make you see sense when you’re being difficult.” He leaned even closer, his lips brushing against Aiden’s ear.
Aiden shivered. “Finally, he sees it,” his phoenix yelled into Aiden’s mind.
“Guys,” Iris flew into the kitchen. Aiden watched as she immediately halted, eyes wide when she saw him and Jamie. “Uh, sorry, but I have news.” Her cheeks blazed pink, and she averted her eyes.
Jamie released Aiden and stepped away from him.
“It’s OK,” Aiden choked out. “We were just having a disagreement.”
“That didn’t look like a disagreement to me,” she blurted out before covering her mouth with her hand.
Jamie chuckled. “More like a discussion.” He shook his head, smiling. “What’s this news?”
“Oh, Heath just called me. There’s been a change in Tessa’s transition. We should go. I mean, we can’t all go, but you two should go. They think they’ll need your help. I’ll stay here,” she rambled.
“It’s going to take us a bit to get out there. How fast do they need us there?” Jamie asked, frowning. He removed his apron as Aiden did the same.
“Leah’s going to teleport over here and grab you both,” Iris said.
As if summoned by Iris’s voice, there was a pop, and tawny haired Leah appeared in front of them, her combat boots smoking.
“Hi,” Leah said to the three of them. “I was told to bring back Jamie and Aiden right away.” She walked over to where they both stood. “You both ready?” She held out a hand to each of them.
Aiden shrugged into his flannel as Jamie tossed a hoodie over his head.
“Let’s go,” Aiden said. He placed his hand in her left one. Jamie grabbed her right. Then everything went black.