Page 3 of Deceived

“It’s what we saw Felix. This is not the bastard who got away from us but that doesn’t mean he’s not guilty. Hence the cuffs. He knows Anna,” Griffyn tells him.

Felix changes course, coming to my side and palming my face. “Are you okay Kitten?”

There’s a snarl of fury coming from behind Felix that makes me flinch.

“Get your hands off her!” Ryan growls.

Now Felix looks challenged but he doesn’t even turn to face Ryan. “She’s my mate and as long as she’s okay with it, I’ll touch her any damn way I please.”

There’s silence, then in a softer voice, “She’s your mate?”

“Yup.”

“Enough of whatever this is. We need some damn answers,” Aksel says.

And I agree with him. I do need some answers.

I step around Felix and look at Ryan. “You need to explain who you are and why you were locked up in the basement.”

Two

Griffyn

I hate him.

I hate this threat to my mate that can make her flinch just by flashing his fangs. For once, I want Aksel to go off on him. Be the asshole he’s meant to be. Of course, he’s restraining himself. Like he knows what will piss me off the most.

“Let’s start from the beginning. You said you are Ryan, not your brother. Explain,” Aksel says.

The vampire’s shoulders sag but he keeps his eyes on Anna. I was grateful when Felix arrived and staked his claim right away. It screamed what I couldn’t; Anna isn’t available to you.

“Myname is Ryan. If you believe Killian is Ryan then that just means he’s been impersonating me.” Ryan’s eyes shift to Anna, pain shining through.

I don’t buy it.

“So, the apparently evil one’s name is Killian. Why is he impersonating you?” I ask.

“Killian has always-” A shudder runs through his body. “It is Killian’s mission to make my life miserable. He wants ownership over me and to hurt anyone in my life.”

“So, you pretend to be human and start dating Anna. Even knowing your brother would want to hurt her?” Felix asks with disgust in every word.

Ryan looks away. “I thought I was free from him and the draw to Anna was irresistible. I needed to be with her. I don’t know how he found me.”

Anna clears her throat, uncomfortable. “I might know.”

We all look at her.

“My friends made an enemy out of Ry-uh Killian. He came for them and came across me. We assumed it was a long game, that you had been playing me since we met. Although, looking back it doesn’t make perfect sense since Aly didn’t even know what she was at the time we met.” Her words are dripped in pain and I can tell Ryan knows it. Even if it was his brother, Anna won’t be getting close to him anytime soon.

My plan is to not leave them alone. He might be waiting to strike when she is vulnerable. Again.

“We can’t trust your story is true. This could be a trick. A ploy by one or both of you to hurt us,” I say.

Felix moves closer to Anna.

“Anna, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry my brother hurt you, that you thought I betrayed you, that he changed you, and everything else in between. I’m sorry you thought what we had was fake. I’ll never forgive myself for allowing this to happen,” Ryan says.

Anna stares at him. Her shoulders slowly dropping.

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