My jaw dropped. The reason he was so committed to her, even in death, wasn’t because he loved her, but because he felt guilty for what had happened to her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push,” I said.
“You are Trent’s soulmate, though, so it’s completely different. Your eventual death will destroy him.”
I turned back around and slouched against the couch cushions. I had the power to make it so that never happened, but I couldn’t force myself to take that leap. No matter how much I thought about it or how much I loved Trent, I wasn’t ready to become immortal. I’m not sure I ever would be.
“Excuse me.” I stood and ran upstairs, needing a minute alone to compose myself.
I locked myself in the bathroom and splashed water over my face, the shock of the cold snapping me from the spiral I was headed down. “Get a grip, Chloe,” I mumbled at my reflection.
Trent knew I knew something. He wasn’t going to just let me keep it a secret forever. And I didn’t want to, not when it was causing me so much stress and anxiety.
Drying my face, I left the bathroom and headed down the stairs. Angry voices carried from the living room, and I stopped on the last step, straining to hear what was going on.
“What’re you doing bringing the twins here, Trent?” Jax asked, his voice bordering on a hiss.
Who are the twins? I moved to go greet him when his voice made me pause.
“She knows something, Jax, and she refuses to tell me,” Trent answered in an equally furious tone. “I need to know what she knows. Otherwise, there’s no way I can keep her safe.” Desperation laced his words. “This is the only way I know how to protect her.”
“By bringing two vampires here who can read minds? Are you even going to tell her that’s why they’re here?” Jax asked.
Mind-reading vampires? I could feel the color slowly draining from my face as bile rose up the back of my throat.
“No,” Trent snapped. “And neither are you.”
I scowled. How dare he invade my mind like that? Well, if that’s how he wanted to handle this situation, I’d play his game, but he wouldn’t like what was going to be on my mind. I’d make sure of that.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT:
Mind Games
TAKING A DEEP BREATH, I ENTERED the living room and plastered a smile on my face. I needed to be careful about every thought that I allowed to enter my mind—I couldn’t risk the twins hearing something they shouldn’t.
“Hey,” I said.
Trent crossed the room and wrapped me in a hug. “I’m sorry I left so abruptly this morning,” he whispered.
I returned his hug. “It’s okay.” Pulling back, I looked up into his eyes. “Where did you go?”
“I brought reinforcements.” He smiled.
As if on cue, two people walked in—one guy and one girl—each appeared to be in their late teens, and they were so similar in looks it was eerie. More so than the resemblance between Trent and Jax.
“This is Wyatt and Whitney,” Trent said, nodding to each in turn.
The girl had light brown hair that hung to the middle of her back with matching brown eyes. Her round face and button nose were perfectly symmetrical and flawless. She was slightly taller than me, and she was dressed from head to toe in black.
“Chloe.” Whitney approached and threw her arms around me. I stumbled back from the force of her embrace. “I have heard so much about you.”
Great. She’s another Abby. “Uh, okay,” I said.
“Chill, Whitney.” Wyatt pried his sister away from me. “Sorry about her. She gets excited around humans.” He had the same color eyes and hair, his stopping just above his shoulders.
Whitney gave him a dirty look, to which Wyatt replied with a grin. Then, they both laughed. Yeah, that wasn’t going to get annoying fast.
I turned to Trent. “Why do we need reinforcements?”
“Yeah, Trent. Explain why we need reinforcements.” Jax crossed his arms, staring daggers at his brother.
“Eventually, we’re going to have to feed, and I refuse to leave Chloe here alone,” Trent said.
I nodded slowly, letting his explanation sink in. “Can’t Sean babysit me while you two… feed?” God, I hated even thinking about Trent drinking blood. I suppressed a shudder.
Whitney subtly lifted a brow, a hint of concern etched across her face.
“He usually goes with us.” Trent wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and I leaned into him. “Don’t worry. You can trust Wyatt and Whitney. Promise.” He kissed my forehead.
“Okay.”
Jax’s eyes narrowed, and his gaze zeroed in on me. “You’re rather agreeable.”
I shrugged. “Do I really have any other options?”
With a grunt, Jax stomped out of the room.
“Same old Jax, huh?” Whitney laughed.
“It’s not exactly an ideal situation for any of us,” Trent said, pulling me closer.
“Well, we’re here now.” Whitney smiled. “We’ll figure this out and make sure Chloe’s safe.” She glanced at me, her expression hopeful.
“Can we get settled first?” Wyatt laughed. “Where are our rooms?”
“End of the hall.” Trent nodded at the small hallway that extended past the living room. “Figured you two could share that room. It has two twin beds. If not, one of you will have to sleep on the couch.” He laughed, then released me. “C’mon, I’ll show you.”
I returned to my spot on the couch and resumed flipping through the channels, finally settling on a movie I’d seen a million times, but it was funny, and I could use funny right about now. A moment later, Trent appeared and sat next to me, our legs touching.
He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me toward him. I didn’t resist, because even though I was mad at him for bringing the twins here, I still wanted to be close to him.
“What do we do now?” I asked.
“What do you want to do?”
I smiled at how we so easily fell back into our habit of answering a question with another question. “I don’t know, but it’s going to get really boring sitting around watching TV all the time.”
“I know this sucks, but it’ll be over soon.” Lifting my chin, he placed a tender kiss to my lips.
Sighing, I leaned into him, eager for a deeper kiss, but he broke away.
“I’m not sure having you here like this is such a good idea,” he muttered.
I straightened. “What do you mean?”
“I have access to you twenty-four seven now. You asked me to spend the night in your room last night, and I have a feeling tonight won’t be any different.” He traced my bottom lip with this thumb. “You’re my greatest temptation, Chloe.”
“Oh.” My face heated at the meaning behind his words. Other than his father, there weren’t any other adults here to separate us, to tell us not to do something. “Right.”
He smiled.
“So, where’s the food?” Wyatt asked as he walked past the living room and into the kitchen. “Or did Jax eat it all?” He laughed.
“He might have eaten it all,” I said.
“Figures.” Wyatt opened the refrigerator and stuck his head inside.
“You boys should make a run to the grocery store. Us girls will stay here and bond, right, Chloe?” Whitney grinned at me as she walked by the couch.
I looked to Trent, fear stealing my words. He once again wrapped his arm around me and held me close. “Actually, I think I’m going to stay here with Chloe. But you two can go.”
Whitney stared at Trent, and then finally nodded once. “Sure.”
When they left, Trent asked, “Have you talked to your family?”
“Not since before I left. I should probably call Abby. And I have to check in with Aunt Beth. I don’t want her to call my dad’s house.” I frowned.
I could only imagine what my father would say to her if she called. I doubted he’d tell her the truth, but no matter what lie he told her, she’d be up
set with me for not calling her myself.
“That’s probably a good idea. You should do that.” He captured my lips in another kiss, this one long and searing hot. Before I knew it, I was flat on my back on the couch, and he was over me. “Later, though.”
My laughter was cut off when he eased his tongue between my lips, exploring my mouth as if he’d never kissed me before. I wiggled beneath him to get more comfortable, and he groaned. My ears rang at the much too sexy sound. Suddenly very aware of what he’d meant by being his greatest temptation, I ran my hands through his hair and held him to me.
Trent eased his hand up my shirt, and instant goose bumps rose up on my flesh. He left my mouth to trail heated kisses along my jaw. “You have no idea what you do to me,” he whispered and scraped his teeth down the column of my neck.
Trembling, I tilted my head, granting him access. If Jax had been telling me the truth earlier and red meant lust, then I probably looked like I was on fire. My eyes snapped open.
I pushed against Trent’s chest. “Trent. Your brother is still here.”
“So?” He didn’t so much as move, except for his lips, which continued to tease my neck.
“So, I don’t want him walking in on us like this. Again.” I pushed harder against his chest.
Finally, he eased off me and stood. I shivered from the lack of contact.
“Wanna go upstairs?” He held his hand out.
I stared at his open palm, then up at him before my gaze dropped to his outstretched hand again. Going upstairs meant no interruptions, and I wasn’t ready to take that step with him. Not yet. Not when we were both currently lying to each other. When I was finally ready to be that intimate with Trent, I wanted it to be honest and pure and without regrets.
“I think I should go call Aunt Beth.” I stood and patted his chest before rising up on my tiptoes to give his cheek a kiss. Then I headed upstairs.
By the time I reached my room, my heart had only just started to slow to a normal rhythm. I closed the door and leaned against it, blowing out a heavy breath. My lips tingled from his kisses, and my skin still burned from his touch. Why did things have to be so complicated between us right now?
I crossed the room to the closet and retrieved my backpack. Just touching it made me feel dirty. Part of me wished I had never brought the proof of my ancestry with me. I should’ve burned it the second I realized what it was.
Flinging it onto the bed, I unzipped it and grabbed my phone from the front pouch. Then I immediately returned the bag to the closet, hiding it in the farthest corner. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, I dialed Aunt Beth.
She didn’t answer, so I left her a quick voicemail. “Hey, Aunt Beth. It’s me. Just wanted to say hi and miss you. Call me back when you can.”
Ending that call, I dialed Abby. No answer from her, either, but rather than leave another voicemail, I texted her.
Me: THANKS FOR NOT ANSWERING MY CALL!
I added the emoji with its tongue sticking out, then hit send. Well, that was a bust. I chewed on my bottom lip. How was Ellie doing? I dialed her number, and she picked up on the second ring.
“Hey,” I said with as much cheeriness as I could muster. “I was thinking about you. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Sorry I haven’t called back.” But her tone said otherwise. All her normal enthusiasm was gone. “Just been trying to deal with stuff.”
“It’s okay. Are things with your parents any better?”
“Not really,” she said.
I blew out a breath and glanced around the room. Clearly, Ellie was in no mood to talk, but she sounded so sad, and I didn’t want her to think I didn’t care. Then again, I remembered how upset I’d been when Dad had left. I kept asking Mom when he was coming home, and she kept telling me she didn’t know.
I now realize she’d been lying to me, trying to spare my feelings. She’d known he was never coming back, and she knew why. At seven, the hurt was soul deep. I couldn’t imagine being older and knowing more; the pain must be unbearable for her.
“What’s new with you?” she asked.
Where did I even begin? I couldn’t hardly tell her the truth, but I guessed now was as good a time as any to practice my cover story.
“Well, remember that guy I told you about?” I asked.
“Which one?”
I laughed, and after a moment, so did Ellie. “Simon,” I said.
“The hot one?” she asked.
“They’re all hot,” I said, smiling. “But he’s the British guy.”
“Did you two hook up?” she asked, and a spark of her old, bubbly personality rose to the surface. “I need details.”
“No,” I said. “I was at a party at his house, and Trent showed up—”
“He’s the hot one?” she interrupted.
Laughing again, I shook my head, not that she could see me. “Yes, he’s the hot one. Anyway, he showed up and kissed me, and Simon saw the whole thing. Now, Simon isn’t talking to me.” I frowned.
“No,” she gasped. “Trent kissed you?”
“Yup.” I paced the room, too excited to be having a normal conversation about guys with Ellie, when I suddenly froze.
Eventually, whenever this whole thing with the Rose Coven was resolved, I’d be going home to Keene Valley. Ideally, Trent would be going with me. How was I going to explain that I met him in Malibu and he just happened to also be moving to a tiny town in the Adirondack Mountains?
Fear and dread curled around my chest and squeezed. I probably shouldn’t be telling Ellie any of this until after I’d talked to Trent first. We needed to come up with something to tell everyone once we got home.
“Chloe?” Ellie said.
“Sorry. Hey, I gotta go,” I said abruptly.
“What? You were just getting to the good part. You can’t leave me hanging like this.” She giggled.
“I know.” I rubbed my forehead and cringed. “I’m sorry. I promise I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Yeah, okay,” she said slowly. “Is everything all right?”
My stomach sank. “I’m not coming home,” I said before I chickened out. “I mean, I am, but not as soon as I’d planned. I’m spending the summer traveling with a friend. I haven’t had the chance to tell Abby yet, though, and I know she’s gonna freak, so please don’t say anything to her.”
I blew out a heavy breath and willed myself to stop rambling. Ellie was already suspicious of my weird behavior, and my inability to make sense right now wasn’t helping.
“This friend wouldn’t happened to be named Trent?” she asked, her tone teasing.
“No.” I tried to make my voice as equally light, but I wasn’t sure I succeeded. “Listen, I really have to go, but we’ll talk soon. Promise.” I ended the call before she could say anything else.
God, I hoped I hadn’t completely messed things up beyond repair. I needed to talk to Trent about all of this. Commotion downstairs caught my attention. The twins were back.
Showtime.
I headed down to the main floor to find the twins and Jax in the kitchen, unpacking what had to be two dozen grocery bags. Trent was on the couch, feet propped on the coffee table.
“Chloe! Just the girl I wanted to see,” Whitney said. “Do you know how to cook?”
“A little. Why?” I tucked my hands into my pockets and leaned against the counter island.
“Because I volunteered us to make dinner tonight.” She flitted around the kitchen.
Within seconds, everything had been put away. My head spun at how fast they all moved, and not once did they bump into each other.
“Um, why?” I asked.
“I thought it would be fun.” She leaned her elbows on the counter and dropped her chin into her hands. “And it will give us a chance to talk.”
“Okay, but Jax is the culinary expert. Why doesn’t he cook?”
Jax glanced at me over his shoulder, a faint smile plastered on his face, a smile that said we had a shared secret. “Apparently, us
guys are on clean-up duty tonight.”
“Oh.”
“Besides, as the only human in the house, you should do something to earn your keep,” Jax said, not bothering to look at me.
But I scowled at him, even though he couldn’t see me. What had crawled up his butt?
“It’ll be fun. Don’t worry.” Whitney playfully swatted at me. “And we’re cooking something easy—spaghetti.”
“You can still mess up pasta. Trust me,” I said.
Jax laughed, but it wasn’t the same easy laugh from earlier—it was downright mean. “Speaking from experience?”
I stuck my tongue out at him. He laughed harder, the sound morphing into something nicer, more genuine. Whitney watched our exchange too closely.
I pushed away from the counter. “So, when do we start?”
“Right now.” She zipped around the kitchen, gathering supplies that she piled on the counter near the sink. “C’mon.”
I tossed a glance at Trent, who simply grinned at me. Well, he was going to be no help.
“Okay, what do you want me to do?” I asked.
Whitney handed me a massive package of ground sausage, a can of breadcrumbs, and a seasoning packet. “Mix all this together with two eggs. Then start rolling some meatballs.”
I dug around through the cabinets until I found a mixing bowl. Dumping everything into it, I pushed up my sleeves and used my hands to mix. The meat was cold, and my fingers started to go numb. Once all the ingredients were blended, I washed my hands under a stream of hot water, flexing my fingers to get some feeling back in them.
As I dried my hands, I surveyed the kitchen. Where exactly was I supposed to put the meatballs once I made them? I tossed the dish towel on the counter.
“Here.” Whitney set a cookie sheet in front of me. “Line it with foil, then spray it with cooking oil.” She spun around to resume whatever it was she was doing.
I stared at her, biting back any thoughts that wanted to pop up. “Thanks,” I said.
Busying myself with rolling meatballs, my mind wandered, and every time I even started to think about my current situation, I built a metal cage and locked those thoughts up tight. Instead, I thought about Abby. Why hadn’t she called me back yet? Neither had Aunt Beth. I hoped everything was okay.
Eternal Choice: (The Cursed Series, Book 2) Page 22
