Page 21 of Winterfall Destiny

"Hey, I was just being supportive and taking your mind off things." He grins at the memory, then smiles as he sees the same in my eyes. "Super kind of me, right?"

Suddenly, the sunshine feels right, that the day can fill with what's always been natural, this Ash who'd never change, however much this scares him.

Turning his face gently to mine, I press my mouth to his. Ash seems to sense I need tenderness not passion, his lips gentle as he draws me to him. My fingers rest on his cheeks as we kiss. Ash. My rock, almost literally, his body hard and muscles unyielding, and where I’ll always find safety and reassurance in his arms.

"I feel shit about our London plans, Maeve. We agreed to always work together and now two of us will be missing," he says, running a finger along my lips as he pulls away.

Andrei and Ash. We can't leave Andrei here alone and when I point blank refused to stay, eager for my vengeance against Andrei's mother, we jointly decided that Jamie needs to be with me. We're planning to meet up with Dorian and at least one of the others in the city, but not all together. Even in a place like London, where multiple supes walk amongst humans, Gabriella's people will search for us as we look for them. We can't allow the Dominion any advantage.

"If Gabriella's planning to leave the UK, we can't wait," I say, the words filling me with guilt again. We should wait for Andrei, but if we do and miss our only chance to end Gabriella before she disappears, he'd hate that more. "We're not leaving until tomorrow. Maybe today will be the day Andrei comes back?"

Ash stares into his mug, thoughts matching mine. A week and Andrei still hasn't moved. There'd surely be a sign if something's changing. "Yeah." He looks up again. "You told Lex about London?"

"No. Not yet. I will if we find something concrete."

"Did you tell him about Andrei yet?" he asks cautiously.

"Yes." I've a clearer idea how Lex must feel about Astrid now. But at least she's walking around, oblivious yet happy.

Linking my arm through Ash's, I rest my head on his shoulder, and he turns to plant a kiss on the top of my hair. "I'm taking time out in the summerhouse this morning. Tell Tobias and Jamie in case they panic."

"Your bolthole?" he asks and chuckles. "Sure."

"And that I don't want disturbing for a couple of hours unless something changes with Andrei. I'll come straight into the house if it does."

"Understood." Ash pulls away and pokes my nose. "Maeve needs her 'me' time."

"Because I won't have any once we're in London." I stand and hand Ash the mug before leaning down to kiss him softly, Ash tipping his head upwards and cupping the back of my head.

"But after that? All the time in the world," he replies and touches my lips.

"I hope so."

10

MAEVE

At the summerhouse, I'm disconnected from the main house, the claustrophobia from too much time indoors, and the fussing by the guys. I'm coping better with Andrei's state, now holding Dorian's words in my heart. Andrei's stronger than we think. He will come back to me.

The other reason I come here is a double-edged sword, part of which cuts into that hopeful heart. I'm reminded of the stolen moments here with Andrei, the closeness, how his whole demeanour changed when I mentioned Lex could help him daywalk.

Now the desire for daywalking is part of the reason he isn't here.

Andrei lingers in the summerhouse with the memories as I tuck myself into the cushioned reading nook. For one last way to torture myself, I've started reading Dracula.

Not before I'd googled the real Dracula to confirm Dorian and Ash told the truth. If that monster's blood runs through Andrei's veins, what if this Tepes side emerges when Andrei returns?

No. That would never happen.

Halfway through reading, I place the book down, cross with myself for placing extra ideas in my head and wander outside. Half-circled by trees, the summerhouse perches on the edge of a slope. The view from the edge resembles a picture postcard on days like these, as the autumn tapestry spreads colour against the grey. Literally, since the local town sells postcards featuring the scenery.

My human world. How long can I stay out here before I'm dragged back into the one I'm hiding from?

The uplifting calm from soaking in nature after a night in the stuffy house drops away as a familiar heartbeat sneaks into my mind. Quietly at first, as the creature always is, but louder the more I focus, like ears ringing after a night of loud music.

The First. Come to gloat? At the thought of the thing touching Andrei again, a new cold runs across my skin as if someone snuffed out the sun.

The creature always moves softly but never silently in its human form, but I'll always know when the First's close because of that damn heartbeat. I don't need to hear the footfalls on the trodden path through the trees to be aware what approaches me. Teeth clenched, I stay focused on the view, eyes watering from not blinking. Running back to the house might make more sense, but it doesn't matter where I run if the creature wants to harm me.

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