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“What if it’s not about us, but keeping me separate?” Kenzie didn’t know Corine and she didn’t have the trust in her that Aiden, Marshall and Chris seemed to have.
“To what end?” Aiden genuinely seemed puzzled. He couldn’t even fathom the idea of her not being loyal.
Kenzie walked up to him and placed a hand on his chest to stop his pacing, “What if she is the mole? What if she is working with Andre?”
Aiden was shaking his head before she even finished, “She would never betray the werewolves. Everything she does is to strengthen us. She is devout in her pursuit to increase the power the werewolves have.”
Kenzie paused before answering, trying to organize her racing thoughts. Then the idea popped into her head, making her wonder how she’d missed it to begin with, “What if Andre is not trying to hurt the werewolves?
Aiden snorted, “He has hurt us. On more than one occasion. He killed many of us, not just your mother when he attacked twenty-eight years ago.”
“Right. But he was trying to get to me and Marshall. Everyone else was collateral damage. What if he needs us and our magic for something completely unrelated to the werewolves? Would Corine help him if it meant the werewolves would become more powerful?” She knew she was on to something.
The idea wasn’t fully formed, and she obviously didn’t have all the details, but it was starting to make more sense.
Aiden looked like he might be putting the pieces together just like she was, “You might be right.”
He took her hand and started pulling her through the house. He marched her to a room she’d never been in before. When he opened the double doors, it was the most beautiful library she had ever seen.
The room had recessed floor to ceiling mahogany bookshelves, each stacked full of books in every color and size. There were big, overstuffed chairs all throughout the room and in the center, there was a large fireplace. It was currently unlit since it was unnecessary in this heat wave.
She twirled in a circle, trying to take it all in. There were more books here than any one person could read in a lifetime, even their long lives.
Aiden tapped her on the shoulder, then motioned toward one corner of the room and the figure leaning over a large tome.
She hadn’t noticed Chris sitting there. He looked completely engrossed in whatever book he was reading, but he looked up when Aiden called his name.
“Hey guys. Kenzie, how are you feeling?” He walked over to them and gently turned her chin so he could inspect her head.
The wound was completely healed, and her concussion seemed to have mostly dissipated. She still had a slight headache but figured it would be gone by the end of the day.
“I’m all healed up. How are you?” She motioned to his arm that was still in a sling.
He pulled the sling off and flexed his arm. “Still a little tender but looks like it’s all better. Honestly, I was distracted and totally forgot about it.”
“That’s great. Marshall is awake too and feeling just fine. I left to give him and Sorcha some time alone.”
Aiden looked at her, “You didn’t tell me he was awake. What did Doc say?”
Kenzie grunted, “I was a little distracted with the woman wrapped around you. You have lipstick on your chin, by the way. And I didn’t see Doc.”
She plopped down onto one of the oversized chairs and watched as he furiously scrubbed at his face, trying to remove the red smear.
Chris growled, “What the hell is she talking about Aiden?”
Oh oops. Kenzie held in a chuckle. Looked like Chris was about to turn into an overprotective dad, and she was going to enjoy it for a minute. She’d never had that before and wanted to savor the moment before she came to Aiden’s rescue.
Besides, he deserved it. He could have stopped Annabelle way before she had her legs wrapped around him. He could have easily pushed her away, or evaded her grabby little claws, but he didn’t.
In the end, he had done the right thing. But she couldn’t help the little tingle of doubt in her mind. That small hesitation that said, maybe he had enjoyed her attention.
Kenzie knew he had feelings for her, but she was still new. She had interrupted his life and maybe he wasn’t ready to close that door yet.
Aiden held up a hand to ward off Chris’ advance, “Now wait a minute. Annabelle came onto me in my office, but I pushed her away and told her to leave me alone. That’s kind of why we are here.”
“You let her close enough to kiss your chin?” Chris sounded pissed.
“She got a little handsy before he pushed her away. Though afterward he threatened her life so, that was fun.” Kenzie chuckled, not sure if she was helping Aiden, or getting him in more trouble.
