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“We have no choice,” Belle said gently. “There’s nowhere else to run. Not anymore.”
Aiden glanced at her. “Meaning what?”
“We suspect the wild magic will prevent us leaving.”
His frown deepened. “But Liz and I leave all the time.”
“Not permanently.”
“It’s wild magic we’re talking about here. It’s not like it has any sort of cognizance.”
“Except that it has since your sister became part of it,” I said.
Katie’s soul—via a spell so powerful it had literally torn her witch husband apart—might have originally inhabited only the younger of the two wellsprings here in the reservation, but her influence had recently started to cross over.
“Remember,” Belle added, “Liz is the only means of communication and interaction Katie has with the real world. She won’t support us leaving, because she’d lose that.”
His expression suggested us leaving permanently wasn’t something he’d support, either, and that warmed me in so many ways. His gaze returned to mine. “Have you actually discussed this with her?”
“No, but it’s not like I really need to. I’ve used the wild magic—and been in communication with her often enough—to know it’s a foregone conclusion.”
He grunted. “Well, I admit that I’m not sorry it’s happened. I’m not ready to lose you quite yet.”
Belle raised an eyebrow, her expression wry. “I take it, then, you will inform us when you are ready to lose her? Because I’ll need to have vast vats of whiskey and a truckload of chocolate ready.”
Something flashed in his eyes, something that was both acknowledgement of the jibe and anger combined. The latter made no sense, given his oft-repeated warning that he wasn’t into forevers—not with witches, anyway.
“I’m not the type to simply jump from one partner to another, Belle—even if that partner is a wolf.”
“Happy to hear that.” She picked up her empty cup and rose. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some transcribing work to do.”
Aiden watched her leave, then returned his gaze to mine. “I’ve got the feeling she’s a little annoyed at me.”
“It comes from her overprotective tendencies when it comes to me.” I shrugged. “I have a habit of falling for entirely unsuitable men.”
“At least you know better than to fall in love with me.”
My lips twisted, though there was little in the way of amusement. “It’s not always easy to control the heart, Aiden. At least it isn’t for me.”
Which was as close to an admission as I dared get.
He didn’t immediately reply, but his conflicting emotions were very visible in his eyes. He wanted me in his life, he obviously cared for me deeply—and perhaps even loved me—but he wasn’t about to admit any of that. Not to me. Not even to himself.
And for one simple reason.
When he fell in love, he wanted it to be with someone who could give him what I couldn’t—full-blooded werewolf children. Apparently, any children born from the union of a wolf and a witch had little chance of survival. Those who weren’t stillborn often had such serious defects they died before their first birthday. According to Aiden’s mom, very few lived to claim their wolf heritage, let alone make it to adulthood.
And while I had no doubt Karleen would do or say anything to prevent a union between her son and me, there’d been no lie in her words. She obviously witnessed someone go through that very situation, and had no intention of watching her son suffer it.
I picked up my coffee and the remaining brownies and then rose. “Let’s head upstairs. It’s more comfortable.”
We spent the rest of the night snuggling on the sofa, watching Netflix and talking about anything and everything but the elephant in the room that was our feelings.
Belle was right—I was going to be an utter mess when we did eventually break up. But there was no chance in hell I’d change the situation, even if I could.
As that old saying went, it was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
And I did damn love the man.
