We were a mess, both of us, but we were still standing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
GAEL
SIX MONTHS LATER
The cool mountain air carried a faint scent of pine and rain as I stepped out onto the cabin’s wooden porch.
The town below was quiet this time of night, the glow of lanterns flickering against the shadows of the valley.
It was peaceful in a way I hadn’t known in years, but my thoughts weren’t quiet.
They never were, not with Asher inside, his presence both a comfort and a reminder of everything that had changed between us.
The door creaked open behind me, and I stilled.
I didn’t need to turn around to know it was him; his presence was a hum in my chest, a tether I couldn’t sever even if I wanted to.
“What are you doing out here?” Asher’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, like he was still figuring out how to talk to me without letting his emotions take over.
“Just thinking,” I said, turning to face him.
His dark hair was still damp from the shower, curling slightly at the edges.
He wore one of the plain t-shirts we’d picked up in town, and it clung to his frame in a way that made my chest tighten.
“Dangerous habit,” he muttered, stepping out onto the porch. He leaned against the railing, keeping a careful distance between us.
I gave a small laugh. “Yeah, well, I’ve got a lot to think about these days.”
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might retreat back inside. Instead, he surprised me.
“I feel restless,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
I tilted my head, studying him. “Still adjusting?”
“Something like that.” His gaze shifted to the town below. “It’s quieter here. Feels... different. Like I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.”
“It’s different because we’re not constantly looking over our shoulders,” I said softly. “No hunters. No Bram. Just us.”
His eyes flicked to mine, searching. “Is that what you want? Just... this?”
After we ended Bram, we moved quickly, ensuring we covered our tracks with precision. We couldn’t afford to leave anything behind that might lead Beric or the Guild to us.
Every detail of our escape was carefully plotted. Every step of our next move, meticulously planned.
Asher made a decision that I knew cost him more than he’d ever admit. He gave up on looking for Finn. He’d also severed all ties with Donovan.
I didn’t push him to talk about it; I could see how much it hurt him. Donovan was the last link to his old life, a piece of himself he’d chosen to leave behind for the sake of survival.
It was a mutual understanding. We needed a clean break, a fresh start, unburdened by the ghosts of what we’d lost.
For my part, I sought help in a way I never thought I would. Trusting a witch was risky under normal circumstances, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
The woman I found wasn’t the friendliest and her price steep, but she was effective. She helped me construct a mental barrier strong enough to keep Beric out of my head.
The process wasn’t easy, hours of focus and rituals that left me drained, but in the end, it worked. At least for now.
