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My voice elevated and my body shook from the inside out. “You came to Memphis not to help me, but to prove my abilities were accurate. Then, you found a way to force my hand to help you—through Kipp.”
The only indication my words affected him was his nostril flare, but I wasn’t nearly done. After seeing what happened to Alexander, there was a very good reason why Kipp vanished. “Did you cast a spell on him to force him into the Netherworld?”
Dane stared at me dead-on. “No, I did not.”
While no deception showed in his features, how could I believe him? I willed myself to think straight, calm down, and piece it all together. “But if you didn’t force him away, then how would you know Kipp would go into the Netherworld?”
“I didn’t.” His intense gaze was serious before he once again lowered his head. “But I hoped.”
Amelia dropped down next to him on the couch as if her legs held no strength. “No, that can’t be true. You didn’t go to Memphis for that reason. You went there because father asked you to.”
Wayde, who had stayed silent, cleared his throat. “Alexander asked you to meet with Tess?” He looked mildly befuddled that Alexander hadn’t asked him, or maybe that he hadn’t been told, since by all appearances, this was a new development to him.
Who knew why it bothered him—who freaking cared!
Lifting his head, Dane nodded at Wayde, then said to me, “Alexander learned about you from Max and asked me to look into your abilities. I arranged to see you before Alexander’s death.”
“What happened then?” I snapped, so wound with anger I thought I might combust. “You realized you had a way to force me to help you?”
He shrugged so nonchalantly I wanted to bash his face in. “I saw an opportunity and I took it.”
Before I could step forward to gut him, Amelia interjected, “Dad wouldn’t have wanted this.” She shook her head slowly and tears filled her eyes. “He’d be disgusted in how you’re all behaving.” She turned to me and in a much softer voice said, “I apologize for them, and for Dane. Your relationship is a personal matter and I, like Gretchen, understand you can’t help who you love.” She sent her now angry expression onto Dane. “You can’t turn your nose up at anyone for loving someone. It’s wrong.” She glared at Wayde. “Sordid.”
Perhaps Amelia did deserve to be in my good book; she seemed to have an effect on the men. Heads lowered in shame. Turning to Dane, she narrowed her eyes. “Did you spellbind, Kipp?” Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t believe him.
He frowned. “I just said I didn’t.”
Part of me—the evil part wanting to hurt him—hoped I could ruin his life, as he’d ruined mine. I’d never been vindictive, but right now, I couldn’t hold back. “No, he kissed me.”
Amelia’s head jerked to me, eyes huge. “Pardon me?”
“Oh.” I blinked innocently. “Didn’t Dane tell you?”
The man in question shot me the look of death, but I returned it. “That’s how he forced Kipp away. He kissed me—a big, hot kiss—when I didn’t know Kipp was watching, making Kipp think I was cheating on him and pissing him off so he’d leave me.”
Even as I said it, it sounded so absurd. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that Kipp had actually believed I cheated. He should’ve known better—known I’d never love anyone else but him. Exactly why, deep down, I knew Kipp had left for another reason. He trusted me—I didn’t doubt that. So why did he leave? And that daunting question drove my motivation now.
Amelia slowly stood from her seat next to Dane, glaring down at him. “Is that true? Did you kiss her?”
Dane’s eyes practically threw daggers at me before he looked at his wife with a tender expression. “The kiss meant nothing. We need her, Amelia.” He softened his voice as if to soothe his wife’s concern. “You know this.”
Obviously, he’d said enough, since tears now rushed down Amelia’s cheeks. I snorted at her tears. Dane didn’t deserve her sadness, but more so, the removal of his masculine parts.
She shook her head, wiping at her face and whispered, “I’m so ashamed of you. Everything you’ve done—it’s horrific.”
Maybe it irritated me she wasn’t more pissed about the kiss. But I suspected she knew Dane wouldn’t cheat on her, but that his intention was to do exactly what he did—put me in a situation where I needed their help. Besides, her reaction only firmed up why I believed Kipp wouldn’t have fallen for it either. Which only confirmed to me, once again, there was no logical reason for Kipp’s departure, le
ading me to believe Dane magically forced him away.
Only problem? How to prove it.
Amelia finally tore her gaze away from her husband, glancing at me. “I would’ve never agreed to Dane’s actions. My father wouldn’t have gone about it this way.” Her lip quivered, sending more tears rushing over her face. “He was a really good man and would’ve just asked for your help.” Her gaze shifted to Dane and she snapped, “Not tricked you, or put you in situation where you didn’t have a choice.”
Dammit, why did she have to be so nice? “You should lead this group and put it in the right direction, since you’re surrounded by a bunch of assholes.”
Dane, the biggest one, glared at me.
Amelia cut in, giving him a look. “You’re right—I should’ve come in Dane’s place.”
