Page 38 of Ascension of the Pack

Esme let me cry, even though she didn’t understand why I was so upset. She pressed her fur close to me in silent comfort and I appreciated it. She didn’t need to understand me to love me.

‘Lucy?’ Greg called; his voice alarmed. I looked up, and that was when I realised I’d slumped to the floor at some point during my crying jag. I was sitting at the bottom of the shower cubicle and the water was ice cold. I hadn’t even noticed.

‘Oh baby,’ he murmured. He reached in, turned off the water, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me. Then he picked me up as if I weighed nothing and carried me into my room.

I was shivering and his hands were rubbing me up and down over the towel as he tried to warm me. He threw my dressing gown over me as well, then towel dried my wet hair before gently brushing it. He plugged in my hair dryer, put it on a gentle setting and passed its warmth over both my hair and my robe to warm me until the shivering and shuddering had stopped.

Finally he turned it off. ‘I’m okay,’ I said, somewhat unconvincingly.

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. ‘No, you’re not, but that’s okay.’

‘I’m never going to pipe anyone again.’

‘Lucy, you haven’t done anything wrong.’ I started to disagree but he held up a hand and I closed my mouth. ‘Your powers are part of you. Your enemies have faced the consequences of their actions and that’s on them, not you.’

‘Isn’t that what all dictators say?’ I asked bitterly.

‘You’re not a dictator. You’re a kind and loving leader who will defend her pack with all her strength and with every power at her disposal. You’re a good person, Lucy.’

The plaintive cry ripped from me. ‘So why do I feel like the bad guy?’

He smiled ruefully. ‘Because you’re thegoodguy. Trust me, the bad guys rarely see themselves as evil. They don’t question their actions, they justify them.’ He kissed me quickly. ‘Now, let me take care of you. Do you want me to get you something to eat?’

I thought about it for a second, but all I really wanted was absolution. Failing that, a shit tonne of Ben & Jerry’s would have to do; I’d devoured one pot but it would take dozens of them to satisfy me after a shift. Still, the thought of actually eating turned my stomach so I shook my head despite thehunger gnawing at my guts. ‘No. No food.’ Besides, I didn’t want him to leave me even for a moment.

Greg’s lips pressed into a thin line but he didn’t argue. Instead he peeled me out of the dressing gown and damp towel and hustled me into bed. He stripped naked and slid in next to me, pulling me close.

‘You wanna have sex?’ I offered, like the seductive temptress that I was.

He kissed my forehead. ‘Sometimes we can just cuddle. I’m here for you, Lucy, in all things and in all ways.’

‘Good,’ I said firmly, pulling his lips down to mine. ‘Then make me forget, please.’

‘Forget what?’

‘Everything.’

He nodded and smiled a little, but his eyes were still sombre and seeing too much. I slid mine closed so I didn’t have to look into them. ‘Make me forget my own name,’ I ordered.

‘Your wish is my command,’ he murmured. He snaked his way down my body and proceeded to do exactly that.

Chapter 24

I awoke feeling clear headed and with my stomach growling to be fed. To my surprise, Greg was still tangled up in bed with me; usually when I awoke he was already gone, gone to protect us all in one way or another.

That morning he enjoyed a leisurely shower with me – significantly warmer than the one I’d ended up in last night. ‘You okay?’ he asked, checking me over.

I smiled. ‘Better,’ I admitted and it was true. I wasn’t okay but I was better than yesterday when I’d slipped into the pit of despair.

‘Good.’ He hesitated. ‘I got some good news last night.’

‘Oh? Do tell.’

‘The dragons have reinstated Emory as Prime Elite.’

Yes!Esme shrieked in our head, whirling around and chasing her tail in happiness.

My forehead creased with confusion. ‘They reinstated him? BecauseI killed Geneve?’

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