Chapter 11 Skye #2
“But besides that,” Aiden said slowly. “Now that we’re connected, they wouldn’t be calling my mom about finding me, anyway. You’re the next of kin as my Key.”
Zephyr choked on his sip of soda, shooting me a look.
“What? Are you serious?” I asked.
Aiden nodded. “Yeah. I’m pretty sure you take precedence over Rafe, even if he’s the Prince. The Key is supposed to be head of the family.”
Zephyr and I shared another look, because that was not how our family Chain had worked growing up, and suddenly, there was a thump from downstairs.
All three of us froze, looking between each other as we listened.
Zephyr nodded to me, and I teleported down to the basement, popping up near the cabinets.
Levi was in bed, but his cup of water was on the ground, spilled.
“Hey,” I said softly.
He gave the bed a tight smile.
“What happened?” I asked as I picked up the cup and moved to the sink to replace it.
“What does it look like? I dropped the cup. You know my stupid fucking fingers still don’t work sometimes.”
I cringed as I refilled the cup.
“Right, sorry.” I muttered as I brought the new glass of water back to his bedside table. I used my affinity to pull the water from the carpet, then put it down the drain.
My stomach began to roll, the same way it did any time Levi got into one of his moods. He didn’t speak again, keeping his gaze down on the sheets. “Do you need anything else?”
He sighed. “No, baby girl. I’d tell you if I did.”
“Right,” I whispered, then teleported back to the living room.
Zephyr was holding a book when I got back. He saw my face and instantly knew something was wrong.
“I should’ve gone down,” he said.
“Nope,” I said a little quickly. “Everything’s fine. Just dropped his cup.”
“That was kind of a loud thump for a water cup,” Aiden murmured so quietly I almost missed it.
Zephyr didn’t hear him, instead jumping back into whatever conversation they’d had while I was gone.
“No shit, I remember the chapter but it didn’t even occur to me.” Zephyr said.
Aiden watched me for just a moment before turning back to my brother. “Yeah, I was reading it earlier today. It made me wonder how it would help the other two,” he looked at me in alarm. “If you choose to accept them, of course.”
My stomach soured even further at the thought of Wyatt.
Rafe, not so much. He hadn’t really done anything terrible besides stalk me, and for some reason, that really wasn’t bothering me as much as it should have.
He was also decently angry at Wyatt for his actions, so that helped.
From the picture everyone painted, Rafe and Wyatt were practically brothers, one never going against the other.
Figures the first time they’d have a true disagreement would be over me.
“You cured him, Skye. His addiction is gone.” Zephyr said.
Aiden shook his head and laughed. “Come on, bro, that’s not what I said.” He saw the look on my face and pulled me into a hug.
“Have fun,” Zephyr said, wiggling his eyebrows. “Go to the club, Skye.”
I scowled at his back as he disappeared down the hall, probably to go take a nap. Then I squirmed in Aiden’s arms before turning around to face him.
“I cured you? Don’t say things like that,” I shook my head and Aiden chuckled.
“You didn’t cure me,” he said. “Zephyr’s being a dick. I told him connecting probably just helped me.”
My head spun, remembering what Zephyr had just said. I eyed the book he’d put down on the back of the couch. I’d read that book several times, but I didn’t remember reading anything about how connecting could cure anything.
Aiden nodded vigorously, following my train of thought.
His red waves bounced on his forehead as he jerked his chin toward the bookcases lining our living room wall.
“I can show it to you. There’s a few studies that suggest fully connected affinates are less susceptible to physical or mental ailments. ”
I blinked at him before looking back at the nearest bookshelf.
I’d read all of these books at some point. I’d bought most of them, actually. Reading wasn’t Zephyr’s thing, but we’d both been so desperate to find a cure for Levi that we’d looked just about everywhere. We even had fairy tales and mythologies on this shelf.
I looked back at Aiden, failing to hide my grin.
“You were reading my books?”
It was Aiden’s turn to blush, his freckles darkening slightly as he turned pink. I leaned forward and he leaned down, letting me kiss his cheeks.
“I actually read our textbooks, too.” He rubbed his nose against mine. “I just wanted to make sure I knew what you were talking about if it ever came up.”
I pushed up on my tip-toes, pressing my lips against his and Aiden eagerly kissed me back, licking along my lips as he pushed me toward the couch.
I laughed a little breathlessly as I pulled back. Zephyr had been good up until now, but fucking Aiden on the couch would have both of us on his shit list. All my courage from earlier when I had Aiden crawl across the floor was gone.
“Or we could stay home,” Aiden murmured against my neck. I shivered as goosebumps rose across the back of my neck. That was a great idea. Why hadn’t I thought of that? “I’ll crawl all over your bedroom floor for you.”
I laughed, sudden and loud, and Aiden beamed at me before his expression dropped, and he gave me his big, innocent eyes.
“Please, Skye? You’ll have fun. I promise.”
I sighed. “Fine.”