Page 50 of Secrets in Salem: Part One

The little nickname he's bestowed upon me sounds different now, like a lover's caress on my sensitive skin. It has a ring of familiarity to it, the effect staggeringly different after the memory I witnessed.Mymemory. But how in the ever-loving fuck is that possible? I'm getting real tired of thinking that question and getting zero answers in return.

Aleric gives me a knowing look, likely realizing the same, but he only holds his hand out for me to take in an attempt to help me off the bed. I pause briefly, unsure if I want another trip down memory lane that can't actually be my memory. At least, I don't think it can. Ah, what the hell do I know? I'm apparently not human. Anything is frigging possible these days.

Sliding my hand into his, I brace myself for the worst. The only thing that happens is my hand warming in Aleric's, his long fingers wrapping over the back of my hand with that ever-present sense of familiarity. He pulls me off the bed, helping me stand before tugging me along behind him, our fingers linked together. Guess he doesn't want to let go of my hand then. Why doesn't that bother me like it probably should? Ah, yes, more questions. Fuck me up a steep hill.

I'm led through the door and up the small hall, Aleric knocking on two doors with heavy thuds before pulling me back the way we’d come, sitting me on the couch with him while taking the seat close beside me. I can only blink stupidly, going along with him like some dummy who can't think for herself. I think my brain is broken or something.

Not a moment later, a disgruntled Bishop comes stumbling into the living room, tripping over his own feet while rubbing at his tired eyes. I feel bad immediately, noting how exhausted he looks. Dark circles line the skin beneath his eyes, a brush of red staining his cheek from where his pillow had been pressed against his face. His shirt is rumpled at the front, though the sleeves are tight around those well-defined muscles. It doesn't escape my womanly attention that the guy is adorable when he wakes up.

Much the same can be said about Micah, who comes hurrying out, a little more alert but no less sleepy-looking. In only low hanging sweats, his chest completely bare, and messy strands of black hair sticking up on end, I'm pretty sure my vagina sings a choir fit for angels when he looks over at me with pretty blue eyes filled with concern. It's like I can't take in the two men before me fast enough, my eyes rapidly trying to swallow every inch as quickly as they can.

Aleric clears his throat, and I snap my eyes in his direction, a heated blush crawling up to my cheeks. When I catch him staring at me with another raised brow, I'll be damned if I don't want to smack his eyebrow right off his damn forehead. I frown at him and blurt, "What? I'm allowed to look, damn it."

I'm pretty sure I hear a very animal-like growl come from deep in his chest, his body vibrating with the noise while he narrows his eyes on me, and I swear to all that is unholy I think I have some sort of mini-orgasm there and then. What in the fucksicles is wrong with me?A lot, a little voice in my head mocks. My brain is an asshole of the highest order.

"What's going on?" Bishop's rumbling voice asks, raspy from sleep. I could listen to him talk to me all day. Maybe I should record him reading some books and save them all for rainy days. Because that's not weird, right?

Micah walks around Bishop and sits beside me, placing a comforting hand on my knee while his intent gaze scrutinizes me like he can find the answer in my face alone. Aleric squeezes my hand, and I look over at him, mouth popping open like a guppy. The dick has the gall to roll his eyes, but he squeezes my hand once more and replies, "I think Willow and I saw something. Like a vision or memory."

Bishop hurries to the coffee table now, wide awake and alert. He sits down in front of me, the table groaning beneath his weight, though the thing surprisingly doesn't break despite the guy being packed with muscle. Micah frowns, confused and worried, his eyes flicking back and forth between Aleric and me.

Removing his hand from my knee, Micah quickly moves his hands to sign something. Thankfully, his brothers can follow along, because Aleric answers. "I said something that triggered it, and the next thing I knew, I was watching a snippet of a scene of the two of us lying down and just talking."

My cheeks warm again, remembering it was more than just lying down. I'm pretty sure we were both as naked as newborns, but I don't bother blurting that out. I don't think that's information that needs to be shared right now.

"What did it feel like?" Bishop asks, his eyebrows downturned in wonder.

At the exact same time, Aleric and I blurt, "A memory."

We both turn to look at one another, eyeing the other contemplatively. Keeping my gaze trained on him, I question, "How could that be? I know a lot of weird stuff is happening lately, but visions of memories? That doesn't make sense. I've never met you guys before, so how could it be a memory?"

They all share a look, one I don't particularly like. They have a silent conversation between themselves while I watch and wait for someone to talk, to explain this new development to me. Honestly, I don't think I can cope with many more developments in such a short amount of time. I need these things spread out so I have space to deal with each one before reaching another.

"Guys? Someone tell me what it could be. What's happening?" I ask, finally breaking the silence and mental convo the three of them are having.

Micah looks back down at me, tilting his head to the side in a way that shouldn't be cute at all, and places his hand back on my knee. The warmth from his palm seeps through the sweats I'm wearing and tingles my skin, a pleasant feeling I find myself enjoying. Like my hand has a mind of its own, I place it over his before turning my gaze onto Bishop.

He's looking down at the floor, very deep in thought. Without even raising his head, he starts talking, almost like he's thinking out loud rather than speaking to any of us directly. "I've been having weird thoughts and feelings since… for a while. My beast is restless, I keep feeling emotions that shouldn’t be possible, and certain things appear familiar when they can’t possibly be."

"I've had the same," Aleric is quick to agree.

I look over at Micah just in time to watch him sign, instinctively knowing it means 'me too.' Well, shit. So it's not just me then.

Clearing my throat, I look down at Aleric's hand in mine. They’ve somehow found their way in my lap with Micah's on my knee. Swallowing hard, I confirm, "Guess that makes all of us."

When I look up, the men are looking at me with surprise. I shrug my shoulder and nod, confirming, "Yup. Had it since I met you all, but I chalked it up to me being crazy. I mean, weird things have been happening to me since Halloween, so I thought 'hey, why not something else to add to the weird-o-meter, you know? I don't know what it means, though. Do you?"

They shake their heads, speechless.

"I guess we're all up shit creek without a paddle then, huh?" I grumble, already tired of getting no answers to the questions that keep springing up like daisies.

"We'll work it out, Low. Don't worry," Bishop responds, nodding as though he's trying to convince himself of as much. I'll have to take his word for it.

"Alright. Until then, I need to pick up a couple of things from my house. Can one of you drive me there?" I ask, rubbing my tired eyes. Maybe I shouldn't go looking for answers tomorrow. I'm already overwhelmed, and knowing I'll likely find another dead end and more disappointment waiting for me at the end of this task isn't really appealing to me. But... I've waited so long just to get here. No. I'm going. The worst thing that can happen is that I return knowing as little as before. I'll just have to find another avenue of searching, that's all.

I push myself off the couch, slipping my hand out of Aleric's while Micah's slides off my knee. Before I can move too far, Aleric snags my wrist in a gentle hold to stop me. "What do you need? Why do you have to go to your house?"

"Uh, to get dressed? I can't go anywhere in borrowed sweats and shirts, no matter how comfortable they are. Plus, I left something important there," I answer like it should already be obvious.

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