I couldn’t hide my horror. “Didn’t anyone from your house do anything to help her?”
When I peered at Asher’s violet eyes, they were dark, haunted by whatever memory he was reliving. “Oh, Borren helped her all right by puttin’ her out of her misery. As for me, well, no one bothered to go after the offspring of the crazy female who stained the name of the House of Thorem.”
I tried to hide my shock, not sure if he’d hate the idea of me pitying him. My life hadn’t been all sunshine and roses, but I hadn’t been through anything like that, and I found myself hurting for him. I remembered the pain and fury that had been in his gaze when I’d grabbed his tail just nights ago, and cold dread swept over me.Holy Mother Falia.Had his mother done something to cause the trauma? I couldn’t bring myself to ask, and in any case, it wasn’t my place.
I fumbled as I tried to think of something appropriate to say. “I’m sorry” didn’t seem like it would cut it. My thoughts then went to the voices I’d heard in my head. Of the thousands of howls and screams. It occurred to me then that I could be going crazy like Asher’s mother.Oh, Goddess.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have shielded me,” I said, swallowing. I didn’t want to die, but I couldn’t stop thinking about those voices. About their screams and wails. That couldn’t be normal. “You’re only guessing that you’ll die when I die. I could be turning into something truly horrific,” I said quietly. I could still feel the Silver Sand loosening my tongue, but I meant what I’d said.
My response had Asher’s gaze sliding back my way, but instead of agreeing with me, he tightened his arms around my body. “I know monsters, Sharachi, and you’re not one of them, but it’ll be safer for you if you turn. I’d take you back to that damn island if I could, but the Taratun council wouldn’t allow it. They’d hunt and kill you before you shared our secrets with the humans on your island.”
He heaved a heavy sigh, and I found myself speechless again.He’d take me back to the island?Despite what I wanted to believe about the monster, I could tell he meant what he said, and that left me… confused.
“I’m sorry for stabbing you again,” I said with a weak smile as I gestured with my head to the bloodied dagger discarded on the floor.
His mouth quirked up at the sides, and his eyes crinkled. “Don’t be. I like my females a little feisty.”
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “You like being stabbed?” I asked skeptically.
“Depends on the one who’s stabbing me,” he replied, and the sound of his deep chuckle warmed my insides. I thought then of how he held me like I actually meant something to him, and my heart rate picked up again.
Do not eventhinkof getting involved with any more monsters,I said to myself internally as the urge to do something stupid like kiss the horned demon started to grip me.
To distract myself, I peered at the room around us and winced at the destruction. The room was a mess with tables and chairs splintered and broken in heaps, weapons scattered around the space, goblets, platters, and jugs everywhere, and torn tapestries hanging from the walls. “Do you think Kade and Locke will be angry?”
Asher grinned, a mischievous glint shining in his eyes again. “We could tell them Darian took the Silver Sand, and his power caused havoc, so I had to bring him down. Could be funny to see how that played out.”
I laughed at his suggestion but shook my head. “I think I’ve put Darian through enough.” Lifting from the settee, I slowly walked around the room, and my smile fell as I stepped over broken wood and bent blades. Biting my lip, I said quietly, “What the fuck is going on?”
I’d been talking to myself, but Asher came up behind me. “Even though the Silver Sand didn’t turn you into a monster, it could have unleashed somethin’ inside you. I don’t know of any monsters who can conjure and control the wind, but we’ll figure it all out.”
Unleashed something inside of me?As much as I wanted to turn, a sickening feeling went through me at the idea that my body was gaining some strange power.What if I can’t control it?Before my worry could spiral, I closed off my thoughts and bent to pick up a splintered chair leg.
“Leave it,” Asher said as my fingers brushed the wood. “Locke will be able to organize someone to help us discard the broken furniture and refurnish the room. We might not be part of a monster house, but his family has money, and Locke has connections.”
Frowning, I left the chair leg where it was. I didn’t like the idea of leaving my mess for someone else to clean up, but exhaustion was dragging at me, especially now that the effects of the Silver Sand had worn off, so I nodded and settled back onto the only piece of furniture that was still standing. Resting my head back on the settee, I closed my eyes and hardly noticed when Asher dropped down beside me.
CHAPTER 7
~ Asher ~
Rainefellasleepsoonafter settling back onto the chair, and I waited a little while before lifting her into my arms. I’d intended to take her straight to Kade’s room, but as her head buried into my clothing, snuggling against my chest while she slept, I hesitated.
For a long moment, I stood there like a fool, staring at my bedroom door and wondering what she’d think if she awoke in my bed instead. It wasn’t that I was hoping to get anything from her—she was asleep, and I wasn’t the kind of male to take advantage of an unsuspecting female—but she’d been staying in Kade’s room for the past few nights, and I had the odd desire to have her in mine as well. To have her somewhere I could be close to her and watch over her.
The need to protect her was like an itch that never left me, a constant annoying sensation under my skin, and it seemed to grow worse with every passing night. Fuck, after I saw how the Silver Sand had affected her, I’d wanted to pull her onto my lap and stroke my fingers through her hair until I’d managed to banish whatever horrible memories the drug had unearthed. But I’d had to settle with an arm around her shoulders and instead had just burdened her with my secrets. I wasn’t even sure why I’d told her about my mother. Maybe because I could tell she had her own demons, and I wanted to make her feel less alone.
I knew the bond between us was responsible for my constant need to protect her, but even if we hadn’t been linked, I was starting to see that the female was someone worth protecting. If Raine was a sign we could be human again, I would protect her with my life. And if she was a sign that bad things were going to come our way, then we fuckin’ deserved it.
Finally moving forward, I strode to Kade’s room and placed Raine carefully on his bed. Pulling up the blanket, I made sure it covered her, then I went back to the common room.
As I went to disappear into the washroom, the door to the common room opened, and Locke entered the room, followed by Kade. Their gazes swept over the destroyed space, and their entire demeanors changed, their postures hardening. Before I could even utter a greeting, Kade was before me.
“Where the fuck is she, Ash?” he shouted, snarling in my face, his spit flying onto my cheek.
I lifted my hands in the air, my palms facing outward. “Take a breath. She’s fine,” I said, indicating with my head toward his room. “We weren’t attacked if that’s what you’re thinkin’. She’s sleepin’ it off in your room.”
Kade went to storm toward his room door, but I moved to block him. “Leave her be, Kade. She’s exhausted.”
