Page 75 of Ash and Roses

Petra laughs as if the idea of me with a knife against her is the biggest joke she’s ever heard, but Merrick’s face holds its seriousness. “They’re free to go,” he says.

Jade takes a step closer to Quinn, but I don’t sense malice in him. He merely stares down at the ever-growing pool of blood stark against the snow. “Your dog won’t survive the journey.”

I ignore the sting in my eyes and focus on the anger swirling inside me. “Then his body will be burned and he will be reunited with his family. You can afford him that kindness.” I don’t even know if such a thing would be possible now if the garden was destroyed, and the thought of the castle engulfed in flames has my rage building. I fight to keep it under control because now isn’t the time for it.

“I can,” he agrees. “Do you want to stay with him until he—”

“No,” I say quickly. I need to get out of here. “Take me to Marein.”

Jade and Merrick share a look before he answers me. “We’re not going to Marein. We’re going to Lunae.”

Bile rises in my throat as the icy hand of fear grips me from the inside. I’d hoped the Guardians that fought for him were deserters or allies. I could handle Marein or anywhere else, but Lunae?

Quinn stares up at me with the last of his strength, and I know he would save me from this if he could. I pull in a deep breath and force the fear back down. There’s no time. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Jade scoops me up in his arms as wings sprout from the backs of his remaining friends. It’s strikingly similar to the transformation of the wolves, and yet so different. Two scars on either side of their backs split open as leather and scale erupt from bone. Someone of their kind might stand out with those scars, so being one of the Marked is the perfect cover. Not all the Marked would be these creatures, but knowing that Jade and the others are is a betrayal in itself. Jade was the first person I’d saved, but the others? They may have counted on my mercy and taken advantage of it so that they could hide in plain sight.

I can’t bring myself to look back as I leave Quinn behind for the second time tonight. I can only hope that his people will be able to get him back to Rosewood in time.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE

ABBY

TWO WEEKS LATER

Aknock sounds on my door. Normally Teagan would answer it, but she’s barely looked at me since my return. The damage to her throat had been severe, and although she somehow managed to survive the attack, her vocal cords were severed. She’s a ghost of the person she was before, and the absence of her songs and laughter weighs on her deeply. She may have survived, but a part of her died that day.

When the knock comes again, I tuck the book of dragons I’d been flipping through yet again under my pillow and move to answer the door. When I see Jade on the other side, the only thing stopping me from slamming the door in his face is the foot he’d wedged in front of the threshold.

“Abby, stop. When are you going to talk to me?” He looks so much like the man I remember, but it’s nearly impossible not to envision the creature he becomes. I could get past the whole dragon thing, but I can’t overlook his actions.

“When are you going to realize that I don’t want to?”

There’s a genuine sadness in his eyes. “Then just listen. I promise I’ll leave you alone.”

I groan and move away from the door, allowing him to enter the only space that still feels like mine. I reclaim my spot on the bed, but refuse to meet his gaze. I’m not ready for that yet. “What are you doing here, anyway? Shouldn’t you be at the hunt?”

“Shouldn’t you?” he asks, turning the question around on me. This is the first full moon since I left Rosewood, and although I’m free to attend the Lunar Hunt as always, I can’t bring myself to do it. I don’t want to be reminded of what I’ve lost and what still might linger within those trees. I’d rather lock myself away as a willing prisoner. When I don’t respond, Jade continues. “Your father gave me permission to stay behind. Imelda and the young prince are here as well.”

I want to ask if he’s here as my guard or theirs, but I don’t want to keep this conversation running longer than necessary. “Say what you need to and get out.”

He sighs and looks as if he wants to take one of my hands in his, but thinks better of it. “I knew you were alive. When I saw him carry you off, I knew you’d be okay until I could get to you. Teagan,” he looks at her, but she doesn’t react to her name, “needed help. My people needed help. I had to make sure they survived. And you… You had your freedom. I got you away from Lunae, which was all I wanted.” He drops to his knees in front of me. “It killed me to stay away from you, but I did it so that you could live. When I heard you calling to me, I—”

“What?” I look into his eyes for the first time and see nothing but truth in them.

“I heard you through the bond between us. You begged me to come back to you.”

Confusion flutters in me for only a moment before I realize what he must be referring to. I’d called to Quinn through the bond when he was in the forest and asked him to come back. If there’s something between Jade and I still… “I wasn’t talking to you.”

He chews at his lip. “I see. That still doesn’t change the way I feel about you. I was angry at first, and for that I’m sorry, but I want to make this work for us. You mean the world the me, and—”

I interrupt him before he can take those words any further. “If you’re finished, I’d like to be alone.”

Pain flashes across his features, but he stands without argument and moves for the door. Just before he shuts it behind him, he says, “If you need anything, I’ll be right outside.”

“I don’t suppose you have any advice?” I say to Teagan once we’re alone. She has ink and parchment, but I’ve never once seen her use it. Even now, it’s as if she hadn’t heard my question or the exchange with Jade. I hope she at least speaks to Petra through their bond, but even that seems unlikely.

I move to the window and stare out over the land. The full moon is high in the sky now. If there are any wolves left, the hunt should start soon, if it hasn’t already. My father and Arabella will be there, well away from the danger. I’ve hardly spoken to my father since my return, and I haven’t spoken to Arabella at all. Or rather, she hasn’t spoken to me. She hasn’t even met my gaze since I’ve returned, and I don’t care enough to try to uncover her reasons for that now.

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