Page 97 of Winterfall Destiny

"Well, I do have one thought." I tip Maeve's face upwards with my thumb beneath her chin. "I killed Anastasia. She's out of the picture now."

"Ash... I didn't think." Maeve steps back. "Crap. Hearing Anastasia's name must be hard for you."

"I've accepted what I did to her, and Ione, and I'll kill again. Dragons protect what's precious. That's one reason I wanted to leave the house tonight," I admit, looking back. "I struggle when I see you like this, especially if I know that the person responsible is nearby."

Maeve bites her lip and falls silent at my admission. "What do you think about Tobias and Anastasia?" she asks a few moments later.

I drag a hand down my face, worried I'll say the wrong thing. "Anastasia helped plot your family's... that night… and her Blackwood blood's influence partly explains how Tobias managed to kill that many witches so fast." I wince at the words, but Maeve doesn't react. "I don't know what to say, apart from the dumb bastard shouldn't have kept that secret from you, or at least kept his mouth shut about it when we're in the middle of this bullshit." She watches my face, tears brimming her eyes. "Shit, Maeve, you know that I don't always say the right thing."

"That's why I ask you."

I warily press on. "There's nobody left from the Blackwood family. Nobody could influence Tobias again, if that's what worries you." She looks away. "Or are you upset because you're imagining him and her together?"

"I never think too hard about what Tobias did in the past. I can't go there. But I never imagined this." She squeezes her eyes closed. "Can we stop talking about him now?"

"Sure. We're taking a walk, remember?" I pull on her hand, relieved the conversation ends, and we continue along the path by the river.

She pauses, and amongst the people passing by, beneath the stars that look down on both worlds, I turn Maeve to me and lean down to kiss her. I've no magic to take away the emotional struggles or calm Maeve's mind, and I've probably said the wrong thing in response to her questions. But the girl whose heart holds part of mine knows the promise held in this kiss. That I'll love and keep her safe until the world no longer threatens us. As her small fingers run across the nape of my neck and she returns the soft kiss, Maeve silently understands.

She looks up at me with another smile that I placed on her lips. "I love you, Ash."

"And you know I love you. Fiercely. Forever."

"How else would a dragon love but fiercely?" replies Maeve and laughs when I fake growl at her. "We could go back to the house?"

"Already?" I frown until I see the glint in her eye. "Ah."

Maeve digs her hands into my jeans back pockets. "I'd like some Ash time. To forget about everything else from tonight."

"And avoid awkward conversations with Andrei and Jamie about Tobias, if you come to bed with me?" I raise a brow.

"Like I said, Ash time." She smiles. "I want to wipe away tonight with something better."

I switch direction and tug Maeve behind me. "I'll happily make sure you forget everything if you're in my bed." My lips twitch into a smile. "Even your own name."

She hugs my arm and rests her head against me. "Promise?"

35

TOBIAS

Earlier, I could've suggested to Maeve we hang around and follow the kids from the club, but after the evening's disaster that option never arose.

After I watched Ash leave with Maeve, I made a snap decision. I'll focus on something that'll help us and get my thoughts away from my fuck up with Maeve. Go back to the club. These new Dominion aren't particularly powerful—yet—and I've no worries that the kids will attack me. If they did, none of them would survive to report back to Gabriella.

I'm disorientated again when I walk back into the place, heart racing with the hope the four stuck around for the night. I'm also on alert for Silas—he's one person I do not want to see. If I do, I've prepared magic to block me from his memories, as I won't be stunned and unable to influence him like earlier. Silas won't know who I am if he looks at me.

I struggle to spot the group at first, as they're no longer loitering in the hall outside the bathrooms, but a quick scout around leads me to the four lounging on one of the dirty, velour sofas on the mezzanine floor. Settling myself at a nearby table, I sip the much-needed whiskey I bought and keep an eye on them—and an eye out for my old friend.

A couple approach and I tense until the guy gestures at the end of the sofa and asks if they can sit. I smile and nod; more camouflage for me.

My glass empties before the group leave, and I tap the side in frustration. I can't buy another; the kids might disappear when I'm at the bar. Did I make the right decision coming back here? Nobody saw me leave the house ten minutes after our debrief finished. Head fucked, I left.

Temporarily.

But will Maeve think I've run if she discovers I'm missing? Blowing air into my cheeks, I pull out my phone to send a text—to Andrei since I can't engage with Maeve right now.

hey I'm out for the evening but will be back tomorrow

---