I want Lukas to be happy, he deserves it."He's a great person, and I'm so glad he has you to protect him. Can I ask you something though? It's kind of personal."
Ashe nods, my eyelids feel like they have stainless steel anchors tying them back down, so, I waste no time second guessing whether I should ask him. "You've been super nice to me, so I hope this doesn't offend you. Are you here to stay?"
His smirk grows as he talks of Ruby Alice. "Yes, it appears we've fallen in love with the same girl, good thing we already know how to share."
Yawning again, I stretch to get comfortable. These meds are making me so sleepy. "Thank you for talking to me, I'm sorry if it's been too much. It just helps to keep my mind from other things. I know that you and Lukas both share an aversion to long conversations."
Ashe looks at me in earnest. "A friend to Lukas is a friend to me, if you need anything please reach out, even if it's somethingyou don't want the brothers to know. I will help you free of charge."
They'd love that. But his words move me. "Thank you, that means a lot."
"May I ask you something personal now?"
"Of course." I reply with a half hooded gaze.
He sighs. "Lukas and I have been talking, what did Queen Sierra mean when she spoke to you at Tea Time the other day."
My mind is fuzzy with the details. "Honestly, I'm not sure, but shortly after I received a handwritten love letter from someone that signed his name as TKOH. He says that we are meant to be together and that he will love me forever. I haven’t received a letter in a while, but it's still creepy. Please keep it between us, they don't know."
"What do you think TKOH stands for?"
My vision blurs, and I try to stay focused. He studies my face intently. "From what I can come up with it’s The King of Hearts, which I thought was cute to begin with, but not now. Do you think Kai and Gunner would want to share me?" I'll regret this question later, but for now, I couldn't care less.
"I know you're tired, but please listen, this is bad if he's set his sights on you, Presley. I know him, and he’s evil. I will keep your secret for now, but please be careful."
I nod. "I promise. Now answer my question please, I'm desperate, and it's getting harder and harder to keep my eyes open."
"We'll talk about the other thing later when you're more lucid, but yes, I believe they will. May I remind you that they're not like me, they have a code and they've broken it just for you. Hell is coming for the person who hurt you, and I've been promised a front seat to some of the mayhem. Who knows, maybe they'll give me some creative ideas for my next kill." His laugh is dark, but Ifall fast asleep. It's not until days later that I remember that part of our conversation.
Rain fallsagainst the window of my suite at Wonderland, when I open my eyes again, the room is dark. I see a shadow at the end of my bed, but I’m not alarmed. I know Kai’s scent anywhere.
I moan softly as he rubs my feet. “When did y’all get back?”
His hand stills. “About an hour ago.”
“Where’s Gunner?”
A bright light pops on from the bedside table, and I scream. Kai laughs, and when I try to bolt off the bed Gunner stops me. “Please, you need to rest.”
I scowl at both of them. “Why do you have that freaking Jason mask on, Kai? You know I hate him, and all things horror movies!”
Gunner laughs. “I told you she was going to be pissed.”
Kai takes off his mask. “How can you hate Friday the 13th, and love murder podcasts?”
I flip him off. “It’s not murder podcasts weirdo, it’s true crime podcasts. There’s a difference.”
“How is it different?” He looks perplexed which would make me laugh if he wasn’t calling me out.
“If they were called murder podcasts that would mean every single person was murdered. And I’m not having this conversation with you again. Gunner punch him in the face. Oh, and by the way, Jason is fake!”
Gunner smirks, and Kai scowls but I’m not sure which one is my favorite. Why do they both have to be total smoke shows.
“How are you?” Gunner moves a piece of my hair out of my eyes.
My throat thickens with his emotion. His eyes are etched withworry. “I’m tired, but I’m okay. So many girls never get away, but I did.”
“We’ll never let anyone hurt you again.” Kai growls.
