Eden's Playground: Graystone Academy Book One, BE Kelly [good short books .TXT] 📗

were never enemies, as you remember them being. They’ve stayed friends all these years. Your father found out what I did to Simmons and I guess he thought that was the end of it. He never came forward about seeing the whole fight between his sister and Simmons. He never told anyone that Bianca tried to kill Simmons and that was when he attacked her. He never accused your father of killing her,” she said, nodding to the twins.

“What about dad?” Anson asked. “How has he changed?”

“He got over Bianca and didn’t wallow in his past. He married your mother and loved her very much—you boys too. When she passed, he did everything he could to make sure that you boys were his top priority. He cut back on business trips and he doesn’t drink,” she said.

“He doesn’t drink?” Duff asked. Eden could hear that he didn’t believe Glory in his voice.

“Not a drop,” she said. “He’s a lot nicer too. That poison made him mean, but he’s the same old Dugan he’s always been. The Kirkpatricks are once again credited with helping to found and build Graystone Academy. Nothing much has changed around campus since I went there. All the old names are still the same and it honestly feels like that is the way it should always have been.”

“I’m happy that Dad has changed and that he and Mr. Graystone are friends, but that doesn’t change the fact that witches are still dying. How do we find and stop the shifter who is doing this now?” Anson asked. Eden knew that he must feel guilty that they weren’t able to save Geneve. She knew that he was hoping that they’d be able to stop the murders that took place in their time.

“We keep our ears and eyes open,” Duff said. “The four of us stopped Simmons. I’m betting we can do it again.”

“There is one other change that the three of you need to be aware of,” Glory said.

“There’s more?” Eden grumbled.

“Yes, and this one might throw you three for a loop too,” Glory admitted.

“Crap,” Anson griped. “Just tell us—rip the band-aid off, Glory,” he demanded.

“You three are betrothed,” Glory breathed.

“Betrothed as in to be married?” Duff asked. “To whom?”

“To each other. Your fathers found out that the three of you have been sneaking around and—” Glory wasn’t able to finish what she was about to say because both of the guys were protesting—loudly.

“We are most definitely not sneaking around,” Anson shouted.

Glory held up her hand, effectively stopping their shouts of protest, and they both immediately settled down. “You’ll need to teach me how to do that,” Eden said.

“Of course,” Glory agreed. “All I can tell you is that your fathers are quite fine with the three of you being together. You boys know that threesomes are quite common in the shifter world. As soon as Theo found out that you both were ‘spending time’ with his daughter,” she said, using air quotes, making Eden giggle, “he insisted that you both marry her. Dugan agreed to the match and the three of you are to be married in the spring.”

“The spring?” Eden breathed. “What about my education? How will I finish at the academy?”

“Well, Duff and I will both be teaching at Graystone. We’re fine with you finishing your education,” Anson said.

“That’s big of you,” she sassed. “You’ll allow me to finish my education while the two of you teach?” Eden asked.

“That’s not what I said,” Anson shouted.

“I’m not going to marry either of you because my father and your father made an agreement. That’s barbaric,” she insisted.

“You love us, Eden,” Anson said. He wasn’t asking—he was stating a fact. It was one she knew well and there would be no point in arguing with him. He could see into her thoughts and know just how she felt about the two of them, and she wouldn’t lie to either of them.

“I do,” she whispered. “But I won’t marry you—either of you.” She stood and stormed out of the kitchen and through the back door to the pool house. She was running, but Eden wasn’t sure what else to do. She needed a little space and even though it was laughably ironic—she needed time.

Anson

“You are both first-class asses,” Glory said, crossing her arms over her chest. She stared them down just as she used to do when they were boys and she was cross with them for doing something stupid. He was pretty sure that the way he just handled Eden was stupid and from the angry look on Glory’s face, they were both going to get an earful.

“Hey,” Duff complained. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Exactly,” Glory agreed. “You didn’t do anything while that poor girl ran out of here feeling like an obligation to you both, rather than someone you both profess to love. You do love her, don’t you?” she asked.

“Yes,” they both said in unison.

“Well, that’s at least a start. Have you told her how you feel about her? Have you given her the words?” Glory asked.

Anson and Duff looked at each other and shook their heads. “No,” Duff said. “But in our defense, we’ve been a little busy trying to rid the past of wolf shifters wanting to kill witches, and all that.” Glory crossed the kitchen and stood behind Duff and Anson almost felt bad for his brother. He knew what was going to come next and from the way Duff cringed, he did too.

Glory slapped him upside his head and called him, “Daft.” He was too—they both were for letting Eden run off the way she had. She admitted that she was in love with them and they still just let her go. They needed to go after her and tell her that they loved her. They needed to beg her to marry them and hope to hell that she agreed.

“Now, you’re getting it,” Glory said, pointing to Anson.

“So, the whole no magic in the house rule, did that ever