Page 323 of Born of Blood and Ash

I could only stare at him.

He walked in, eyeing the tub and then the space around us.“What happened?”

“Nothing.” Clasping my hands together, I turned as hebrushed past me, checking behind the short wall where the privy was. “No one isin here.”

He faced me. “Then what caused you to feel this?”

“Why is your hair so messy?” I asked instead, willing myheart to slow.

“I was on the Rise near the Black Bay.” He paused. “As youknow.”

I did know that.

Godsdamnit.

His eyes narrowed. “What’s going on, Sera?”

A laugh crawled its way up my throat. One I knew would soundcrazed if I allowed it any sort of freedom. I clamped my mouth shut.

“I’m starting to become worried.” Ash crossed the distancebetween us, cupping my cheek. His forehead creased. “Why is your face damp andcold?”

“I just washed it.” I forced my voice to be light, knowing Ineeded to calm down. There was no way I was telling him what I was thinking,causing him to—oh, gods, how would he even react? He’d likely be as panicked asme.

Maybe he’d vomit, too. I would if I were him.

“Liessa?” His thumb sweptacross my cheek. “I hoped we were beyond this.”

“We are.”

“Then talk to me.”

Fuck. Shit. Damn.

None of that was helping. “I don’t know why you felt that,”I blurted out, thoughts racing. “I might have had a nightmare.”

His brows shot up. “A nightmare?”

I nodded. I didn’t want to lie, not after finally opening mydumb mouth and talking, but I also didn’t want to say anything until I knew.And especially not right before I summoned the freaking Primalsto basically tell them to join us or die.

What in the fuck kind of bad timing was this?

“Do you often have them while awake?” Ash asked.

“Not normally.” Realizing that had been the stupidestexcuse, I quickly added, “But I dozed off pretty quickly after you and Attes left. And before you ask, no, I don’t know what I wasdreaming about, but I do have a distinctive feeling I was having a nightmare.”

His brow furrowed. A moment passed, and then another.

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Are youokay?”

“I was,” he stated, lowering his hand.

I started to ask what he meant, but then it occurred to methat he likely believed I’d had a nightmare about Kolis and that I was keepingit from him. Again.

Shit. Damn. Fuuuck.

“It wasn’t that,” I assured him. “I wasn’t having anightmare about Kolis.” My hands curled at my sides. “I swear, Ash. I’m fine,and I’m sorry I worried you.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” He exhaled heavily. Some ofthe tension eased from his jaw.

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