Page 57 of Ash and Roses

Nothing.

No sign of movement in the trees or sounds from the forest. Somehow, though, I know he’s listening. If what Tess said about the bond was true, shouldn’t I feel him?

I let my eyes fall closed and reach deep within myself, searching for something that shouldn’t be there. “Please come back.” I think the words as much as I say them, feeling them in every part of myself.

I can almost swear the breeze itself sighs.

Before I can bring myself to walk away, I spot him moving through the forest in my direction. He’s dressed now, so either my theory of a cache of clothing was correct, or Ruben went back into the forest last night or this morning to bring him some. That’s a small mercy, as this conversation will be difficult enough without him hanging free.

He comes to a stop about ten feet from me, eyes cast down and refusing to meet my stare. His expression is utterly unreadable, but I can sense the swirling unease within him. He stays like that in total silence, evidently leaving all the talking to me.

“Have you been there this whole time?” He doesn’t answer, so apparently this is going to be a one-sided conversation. Nevertheless, I want to avoid prying ears, if at all possible. “Take me somewhere we can have some measure of privacy.”

His jaw ticks, and that’s the only sign that he heard me. A moment later, he turns on his heel and moves back towards the trees. He doesn’t tell me to follow him, but doesn’t object to it when I do. After a few minutes of walking and wondering if he’s doing as I’d asked or just trying to get away from me, we come to a swift-flowing river. A few minutes more of following it upstream, and he comes to a stop beside a towering waterfall.

A cold wind blows and I wonder if this waterfall will freeze in the heart of winter. I can just imagine how breathtaking it would look, covered in icicles and sparkling in a winter sun.

“The waterfall will mask our voices,” he says, keeping his own devoid of emotion. “Unless you mean to shout again. If so, I can’t make any guarantees.” He offers me what could be a sheepish smile, but it falls flat. There’s an awkwardness between us now that has never been there before, and neither of us seems to know how to navigate it.

I wanted to speak with him more than anything, but now that we’re face to face, the words elude me. “Can we just sit for a minute? I need to get my thoughts in order.”

Without a word or any show of judgement or annoyance, he claims a spot on a thick patch of grass and lies down. He stares up at the treetops and small cracks of sky, one leg bent upright at the knee and hands behind his head. He stays like that, silent and unmoving and I envy how relaxed he looks.

Seeing him that way sparks something in me. “You look very relaxed for someone who just killed two men.”

He doesn’t move, but his eyes shift to meet mine. “How didyousleep last night?”

His answer only infuriates me more because he has me pegged. I’d woken this morning with such peace at the knowledge that Morgan was dead… and that I’d been the one to make sure of that. Quinn gave me that gift. He allowed me to slay my own monster so that there would never be a question in my mind or soul that I was safe from him.

“If you expect me to thank you, it’s not going to happen. I’m a murderer because of you.” Ishouldthank him. Why can’t I say it?

He sits up, giving me his full attention now with a slight tilt to his head. “You’re free because of me. But that’s not what you want to talk about, is it?”

“Are you genuinely asking, or did you read my mind?”

He runs a hand through tangled hair, but doesn’t seem to mind when his fingers pull at knotted strands. “I can’t read your mind, just as you can’t read mine.”

“But you’ve heard my voice in your head.” It’s not a question. I know it’s the truth.

‘Yes.’I startle because he didn’t say the word, but I heard it all the same.

“So Tess was right. You and I are…”

“Mates?” He makes himself comfortable again. “No. Not unless we accept the bond.”

“And have you accepted the bond?” This is the most pressing question. I can’t begin to process what he might be to me without knowing what I am to him. The rage and fear I’d seen in him yesterday at the thought of losing me has to be more than just magic flowing between us.

He watches the waterfall for a long moment, and I allow him the time to choose his words. This isn’t a conversation that should be rushed. “I’m honestly not sure if I can.” He glances at me before adding, “You’re angry I didn’t tell you.”

“I am.”

“You would have been angry if I told you.”

“Probably.”Definitely.

“There’s a lot you can blame me for, but this one thing has nothing to do with me. I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t want it.”

That may be true, but his curse is the reason for all of this. “I thought only non-humans can trigger a bond. Since I’m human, I think I can blame you for this.” I’d meant it as a joke to lighten the tension in the air around us, but he doesn’t so much as crack a smile. Instead, he pulls his knees up to his chest and hugs his legs to him.

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