Page 177 of Born of Blood and Ash

Fear.

And it was so godsdamn ridiculous.I had no reason to feel it. Ash had taken my blood at my lake. He hadn’t hurtme. He never had. And I hadn’t thought about my time in Dalosthen or what had been done to me. There was no reason to assume I would now.

Ash smoothed his hand up my back. “No, liessa.”

I swallowed, barely tasting him anymore. “I took a lot ofblood from you when I awakened. And this wasn’t a little bit either.”

“My body will quickly make up for it,” he told me.

I stared at him, uncertain. I knew that as long as he wasn’tinjured, consumed food, and rested, he would replenish what was lost. But Ialso knew that his body was still playing catch-up—and I knew that because I’dseen it before when Veses fed on him. I just hadn’tknown the cause then.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes, liessa.”

I didn’t move as a different kind of need filled me andurged me to prove that I was being silly. That I wasn’t afraid. That my time inDalos wouldn’t have any lasting effects on me.

That I was right.

Nothing had really happened to me.

My mouth felt dry. “Ash?”

“Mmm?” His eyes were closed.

My heart thundered as I touched his chin. “I want to do foryou what you did for me.”

“I know, liessa.” Hetilted his head and kissed the tip of the finger that had been on his chin.“But if I drink from you, I’m going to fuck you again.”

Desire fisted deep inside me. “Sounds like a good plan tome.”

A deep rumble radiated from him as he hooked his arm aroundme and pulled me back down to his chest. “If that happens, we’ll end upbreaking this couch, and I’d hate to have to explain how that happened.”

Well, that would be awkward.

“We could always move to our bedchamber, where there is avery nice large bed,” I suggested, unwilling to give in quite yet. “And maybeyou could, you know, control yourself.”

“Like you just did?”

“Touché,” I murmured. “Sorry about that.”

He chuckled. “Don’t apologize, liessa.I love that greedy pussy of yours.”

I choked on a laugh.

One side of his lips curled. “Plus, if I feed, we’ll nevermake it to the Thyia Plains.”

I nodded. “You’re right.

“Always.”

I laughed, but I didn’t feel it as my stomach churned withthe guilt that flared to life the moment I felt relief at Ash’s refusal tofeed.

We planned to leave for the ThyiaPlains after sharing a quick meal.

But that didn’t happen.

Attes arrived in the Shadowlandsinstead.

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