Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Aiden wasn’t even going to be one of Silvan’s groomsmen given he wasn’t made a Blue Blood until very recently, but since Sloane had already ordered a dress when she thought she would be coming with Killian, she has one. And since she has switched fiancés and Killian is mine now, Aiden was added to the lineup of groomsmen. One of the Blue Bloods without a girlfriend stepped down to make room for him.
I haven’t spoken to Aiden since the night of the masquerade ball, but I’ve gotten updates from Killian. I know he and Sloane had apparently been hooking up in secret, but it’s unclear if he was ever actually interested in her, or… well, he just wanted the Sloane Whitley package.
I heard from Addison that he was only using her, that he blackmailed her into the engagement, and, of course, Killian helped push it along for his own selfish reasons. Now Sloane is in a new arrangement—this time with Aiden, and there’s no chance she’ll get out of this one because unlike Killian, he’s exactly where he wants to be.
I feel bad for Sloane, especially seeing her here, in a bridal shop. She’ll be getting married soon, and she doesn’t seem to even like the groom.
Not that I blame her.
I’ve seen for myself how ruthless Aiden can be, and when he sets his sights on something, he seems to go after it relentlessly until it’s his—no matter the cost or what stands in his way.
I hope for her sake there’s more to it than what people are saying, but we’re hardly friends, so I’ll probably never know.
They turn around, and her gaze skates right past us like we’re mannequins modeling dresses she has no interest in.
I’m certain I’m the one who should feel bad for her, but when she strolls past us as if we don’t exist, it’s hard to believe that.
I guess that’s the point.
Sloane has her pride, so she’s not going to show it even if she is sad.
Aiden could fall in with the guys, but he hangs over by himself to wait for her. It reminds me of the car ride we took together when he didn’t really speak to me, but feels at odds with the story he told me before the house fire that went something like, “I just want somewhere to belong.”
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Killian, gently peeling his arm off me so I can step away.
He probably lets me go because he thinks I’m going to try on my dress.
He probably isn’t happy when I approach Aiden instead.
But I can’t help it. I’m curious.
Aiden smirks faintly when I approach. “Hey, buddy.”
“I hear congratulations are in order.”
“Same to you.” His gaze drifts to my stomach before moving back to my face. “Double congratulations, in fact. Are you gonna name him after me?”
I roll my eyes. “Oh yeah. Definitely.”
He shrugs. “I think it would be appropriate. I’m the one who introduced his mom and dad, after all.”
“I think when we tell the story of how we met, we’ll leave the botched sacrifice out of it.”
“Botched. Okay,” he says, smirking faintly. “Little virgin standing here pregnant by and engaged to the man who was supposed to marry my fiancée, and you think you weren’t sacrificed.” His eyes glint with amusement. “What? Because you weren’t gangbanged in the woods? There’s more than one way to sacrifice your pawn, Brynn.” He nods in Killian’s direction without looking at him. “If your future husband didn’t look so tempted to kill me just for talking to you, maybe I’d show you how to play a little better. Unfortunately, I don’t think friendship’s in the cards for us.”
I frown at him. His words are malicious, but his tone isn’t. The way he looks at me does seem almost… friendly.
“I don’t think I want to play games the way you do,” I say warily.
“No, probably not,” he allows. “Too tender-hearted. That’s why you’d never have the life you wanted if I hadn’t hand-delivered it to you. It’s all right. It all worked out. Lucky for you, our paths crossed at just the right time. I’m sure you’ll be very happy with Killian, and even if he comes to regret all he let go to have you, I’m sure he’ll be much happier alive than he would have been dead.”
My wary frown deepens to a scowl. That queasy feeling is back in my stomach, but I don’t think it’s morning sickness this time. “What are you talking about? Why would Killian be dead?”
He shakes his head, watching me the way Hex does sometimes. “Come on, Brynn.”
My eyebrows rise and I shake my head.
“The trap was never for you,” he says softly, leaning in just a little. “You were the bait. I didn’t know you’d be such tasty bait, of course. Could have never predicted you’d be Killian’s kryptonite, but I guess at least Kyle did one thing right in his life. He picked the perfect virgin to sacrifice.”