Page 23 of His Last Will

“And since you are the most important thing that I possess, I am determined to make sure that you are taken care of after I am gone.”

Pausing, Nico shifts toward Aiden and speaks almost directly to him.

“Aiden, you are my stepbrother. I know things have been strained between us, but I trust no one else to take care of my Ari. Protect her with your life.

Sincerely,

Brodie Araneae”

Cries of outrage from the council tear through the room. But I can’t focus on that right now. I can only focus on breathing and not passing out. Nico packs his papers and leaves, squeezing my shoulder on the way out and whispering, “Contact me when you are ready,” as he slips out of the room.

The members of The Order that are here are huddled in the corner of the office, clearly arguing about the validity of the will.

Looking over at Aiden, I pause. His jaw is set, and a look of displeasure fills his face. He takes a large gulp of his amber drink and turns to face me. We stare each other down, Aiden’s gray eyes so much like a storm. The waves crashing against the water, always in motion. Piercing and haunted.

There is no way Aiden could want this. He has despised me since we were thirteen years old. I cringe thinking about the way I ran from him. When I looked back, his eyes were down, and the flower in his hand was crushed, petals falling.

Aiden doesn’t say anything. We are stuck in a room full of chaos as arguments have broken out around us. But we both know the truth. We will honor this will even if it destroys us. With a single nod from Aiden, I become engaged to the man I hate.

Aiden stands, and the room quiets. “We will honor the stipulations of the will. I will take Brodie’s place as heir, and Ari will become my wife.” Slamming down his empty glass, he walks out of the room.

Anthony looks over at me with a peculiar smile that I don’t completely understand. “You will do this.”

I tense up as everyone in the room turns to me, waiting for my response. With every fiber of my being, I want to rebel. I want to run out of this room, pack my things, and go somewhere no one knows me. To be alone for the first time in my entire life.

But the invisible collar around my neck tightens, and it feels like Brodie’s hand is bringing me back to the present. A warning that if I left, I would forever be choking on unanswered questions.

That there had to be some reason that Brodie created this will and made this stipulation. A long-term plan, something I couldn’t see yet?

Even from the grave, he was weaving fate to his desires.

And the only thing I had ever desired was him. My fate was tied to Brodie, even if he was gone, and even if he expected me to marry Aiden.

So with one word, I seal my fate.

“Yes.”

I find Aiden a short while later in the garden, taking a long drag of his cigarette. I don’t say anything as I walk up to stand by his side. The warmth I normally felt when I was standing next to Brodie isn’t there. An almost-chill comes off Aiden. My skin prickles with goosebumps.

He continues to stay silent as he watches the perimeter. Always watching for threats, even though Gage follows him everywhere now. I wonder what Gage thinks of this mess, if he knew what was coming. He would’ve gone to the lawyer with Brodie.

“We will be married soon.” A statement, not a question.

Taking one last puff of the cigarette, Aiden drops it to the ground and stomps it with his shoe. “Probably.”

“Is that a problem for you?”

“No.”

“You do know that we are now engaged to be married? At some point, you are going to have to talk to me in more than a monosyllable word?”

“Fine.”

“God dammit, Aiden. It’s not like I asked for this.” I use my foot to stomp his.

Turning toward me, Aiden growls in my direction, “What do you want, Ari? What do you want me to say? I have had just about the same amount of time to think about this as you have. My life is now devoted to you. Is that what you want to hear?” Aiden pauses, letting more of his anger show. “I no longer have the free will to do the things I planned. I will honor my brother’s wishes, and that will be the end of it.”

I am in shock. I don’t think I have heard Aiden speak that much to me since before the incident.