Aiden didn’t move from his knees on the floor, deciding to lean over so that his chest rested against my thighs.
“You still wanna go somewhere?” I asked.
“No,” Aiden said before he kissed my stomach through my tank top. “I’m happy right here.”
“Don’t tellme y’all are staying in again.” Zephyr said, exasperated. He still wore his apron from the café, and a bit of flour on his cheek stood out brightly against his dark skin.
“We’ve been here like three days, andwhereare we supposed to go?” I said, throwing my arms out. “Aiden’s supposed to be dead. Isn’t there a missing poster of us somewhere?”
“Doubt it,” Aiden said from where he sat on the floor between my legs. “The Gulf won’t care that some students are missing from the Western Academy, it’s a whole world away.”
Well, that was true. But damnit, I was running out of ideas to keep from going out. I was an introvert, and a bit of a hermit. I didn’t want to go anywhere, ever.
“Y’all could go hit up the Island Moon,” Zephyr suggested as he moved into the kitchen.
I glared at the direction my brother had gone as Aiden perked up. “Island Moon? What’s that?”
“A nightclub,” I muttered.
Aiden sat up straight, turning to face me with wide, puppy-dog eyes. “Skye,” he said in his small voice. “Can we go?”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I said slowly. “It’s a club, Aiden. Aren’t you…” I waved my hand around, like that explained anything.
“I’m not sober, exactly,” he said with a shrug. “I’m just…not doing drugs anymore?”
I raised my eyebrows.
Aiden shook his head. “Drinking was the tamest thing in my usual lineup. But I haven’t wanted anything in a while. Probably since I fucked up at the party.”
I grimaced, turning my head away sharply. I did not want to thinkabout that fucking party, or that stupid tight dress Willow had made me wear–
“Wait, Skye, we totally have to go to this club. I need to see you in sexy party clothes again.”
I laughed in disbelief. “No way,” I replied. “That dress wasn’t even mine, you know.”
“I figured it was Willow’s,” Aiden jumped to his feet, then shrugged. “But I don’t care. I need you grinding on me in some tiny skirt. Preferably without panties.” He paused for a second, his brow furrowing in thought. “Actually, nevermind. I don’t want anyone else looking at you without panties on.”
I laughed. “How would they know I didn’t have panties on?”
Aiden blinked at me. “They wouldn’t. But I would. And I’m not down for that.”
I laughed again just as Zephyr came back into the living room in his loungewear, all traces of flour gone from his face. He tossed Aiden one of his fancy sodas.
“Y’all should go, hang out, have fun. No offense, but no one’s looking for Aiden in the islands.”
I rolled my eyes. I knew he was right.
“But besides that,” Aiden said slowly. “Now that we’re connected, they wouldn’t be calling my mom about finding me, anyway. You’re the next of kin as my Key.”
Zephyr choked on his sip of soda, shooting me a look.
“What? Are you serious?” I asked.
Aiden nodded. “Yeah. I’m pretty sure you take precedence over Rafe, even if he’s the Prince. The Key is supposed to be head of the family.”
Zephyr and I shared another look, because that was not how our family Chain had worked growing up, and suddenly, there was a thump from downstairs.
All three of us froze, looking between each other as we listened.
