Devotion (Mystic #7) by B.C. Burgess
Author:B.C. Burgess [Burgess, B.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 25957030
Publisher: Bandit Publishing
Published: 2015-09-27T23:00:00+00:00
TWENTY-NINE
While Quin escorted Alec off the property, Layla comforted Aradia, supplying her with tissues and a shoulder to cry on. Theyâd watched from the window until Alec left the lawn, and as Layla closed the curtain, she noticed Banning staring at the house.
She led Aradia to the bed, brainstorming ways to tell the expurgator her secret was out. âIâm sorry youâre so sad,â she offered, wrapping an arm around her shaking shoulders.
âYou have nothing to be sorry for, Layla. Youâve done so much. And I canât believe you guys invited Alec back for Thanksgiving. Iâm blown away and beyond grateful.â
âI hope it goes as well as you want it to.â
Aradiaâs blubbering halted as she met Laylaâs stare. âAre you worried?â
âI am. I canât help it. He scares me. What heâs done scares me.â
More tears welled up in Aradiaâs eyes. âI donât blame you. What heâs done scares me, and Iâm his sister.â
âIt seems like he really wants to do better, though.â
âI think so, too. But I donât want you to be scared on Thanksgiving.â
âDonât worry about that. Quin keeps me safe. He wouldnât have invited Alec if he didnât think we could handle it.â
âYour family is wonderful, Layla. Youâre like a whole coven of angels.â
âIâm glad you think so, because I need to tell you something.â
Aradiaâs tears ceased as she looked over. âWhat?â
âWell, when you were hurt... when you told Alec what Vortigern did, you said it loud enough for everyone to hear.â
Aradia dropped her gaze, her cheeks pale as she swallowed. âI kind of figured. How did they react?â
âThey killed the piece of shit, but they donât think any less of you. This wonât change how they treat you.â
âIs that true for all of them?â
âYou mean Banning.â
âYeah. Heâs probably freaking out.â
âNo. I mean... I donât know. Maybe, but probably not in the way youâre thinking.â
âWhatâs the way Iâm thinking?â
âHow about you tell me before I shove my foot in my mouth?â
Aradia smirked and looked at the ceiling. âIâm thinking Bannâs probably wondering how to get out of this mess without hurting my feelings.â
âWhy do you think that?â
âWell, for one thing, Iâm an old manâs sloppy seconds.â
âAradia!â
âItâs true, Layla.â
âNo. Regardless of your past, youâre no oneâs sloppy seconds. Even if youâd willingly slept with every wizard in the institute, Iâd tell you the same. As for Vortigernâs age, itâs irrelevant. He forced himself on you, Aradia. You hold no fault in that and did your best to wash away every trace of him. Nobody in this family will hold you accountable for what happened. The shame is his, not yours. Youâre as beautiful and valuable today as you were before he touched you, and Iâll break the shins of anyone who says otherwise.â
A smile tugged on Aradiaâs lips. âThat was vehement.â
âBecause I speak the truth, but you donât have to believe me. This family will show you how much they value you.â
âSo Banningâs not disgusted?â
âNot with you. Not even a little bit.â
âThank Ava for small blessings, but now he knows exactly how messed up I am.
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