Free The Seahorse Who Loved the Wrong Lynx by Scarlet Hyacinth Page B

Loved the Wrong Lynx
    63
    Preston released an irritated sigh. “Look, you heard Layton. We’re
    starting a new life together. We’re not thinking about the past.”
    “Just hear me out, okay?” Morgan insisted. “Remember when
    Alexis said his power might have unlocked a knowledge you were
    hiding from yourself?”
    Layton nodded and his brother continued. “Well, he gave it some
    more thought and concluded that things don’t really work that way
    where shape-shifters are concerned. A human might have done that,
    but not one of us since we instinctively know who the best person for us is.”
    “Okay, so what are you getting at?”
    “Magic,” Morgan replied. “Alexis believes you might have been
    under a spell.”
    Layton stared at his brother in shock. “You’re not serious. Who
    could possibly place a spell on me, and why?”
    “Look, he’s not sure. I didn’t understand everything he said
    myself. Call him and hear him out.”
    Layton shared a look with his mate. He almost wanted to believe
    it was true because it meant he wasn’t to blame for hurting Preston all these years. But at the same time, if a spell truly had been the cause of it all, it meant someone really didn’t like him and it flushed Layton’s dream of a content life down the toilet.
    In the end, he needed to know either way. He retrieved his cell
    phone and dialed Alexis’s number.
    Alexis seemed to have been waiting for the call. He picked up on
    the first ring. On the vid screen, he looked anxious and relieved. “Hi, Layton. I take it things went well. Did Morgan give you my
    message?”
    “He did,” Layton replied. “You were saying something about a
    spell?”
    “Quite. As I explained to Morgan, I find it hard to believe that
    you, or any other shifter for that matter, would make a mistake

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    Scarlet Hyacinth
    regarding the identity of your mate. Something tells me outside
    influence must have been involved.”
    “Like what?” Layton inquired. “You said incubi powers couldn’t
    affect a mate bond like that.”
    “They can’t. You see, incubi influence lust, and a mate connection
    is far stronger than that,” Alexis explained. He gave Layton an
    apologetic look. “Honestly, I’m not sure what kind of spell would be able to do something like this. By incubus standard, I’m still very
    young, and I don’t know everything there is to know about our magic
    or that of other folk.”
    Layton rubbed his eyes tiredly. “So how do we find out then?”
    “I was thinking you should talk to my brother. Rhys is much more
    experienced in this sort of thing. He might be able to tell you more.”
    Layton hummed thoughtfully. He liked Rhys Whitaker, but the
    older incubus was still a stranger, and Layton didn’t particularly look forward to revealing his most hidden secrets to the man. Even so, if someone truly had put a spell on him, Layton wanted to find out. He’d been separated for years from his mate. They’d both suffered
    uselessly. Layton had hated himself when he’d thought he’d been the
    cause. Now, he needed to find this new target for his hatred.
    “All right,” he told Alexis. “We’ll talk to him.”
    “Excellent.” Alexis beamed at him. “With your permission, I’ll
    mention it to Rhys.”
    “You mean you haven’t discussed it with him?” Layton was
    surprised. “How come?”
    Alexis arched a brow. “Well, I couldn’t actually ask him without
    getting your agreement first, now could I?”
    Clearly, Alexis respected Layton’s privacy very much, and
    Layton’s appreciation of the incubus grew. He offered a tentative
    smile back. “We’ll be back home soon,” he told Alexis. “Thanks for
    everything.”
    “Don’t mention it. Anything for a brother.”

    The Seahorse Who Loved the Wrong Lynx
    65
    Alexis ended the call while Layton still mused over the incubus’s
    words. A new brother. A new mate. A child. He had so many loved
    ones now, and so much to lose. He needed to find out whether