Page 96 of Ashes

Ifelt her. She was scared.

I rushed down the hall to get to her, my soul knowing the way. When I reached the door I knew she was behind, I pounded on it hard, my breathing heavy.

“Let me in!” I shouted. “Fucking let me in!”

The door creaked open, and Sully peered back at me.

“Seth. Good. You’re here.” He opened the door wider so I could come in.

I didn’t hesitate to shove past him into the dim room. I’d run the entire way here, the urge to be at her side overwhelming me.

And there she was.

In bed. Strapped down with leather bands, her black hair a wild mess around her. Her pretty eyes were wild and wide as she struggled against the restraints, her entire body quaking.

“What the fuck?” I snarled, darting to her side.

Two wards stepped forward to bar me from her, but Sully gave a slight shake of his head, allowing me to get close.

“What did you do to her?” I demanded. “Why is she strapped down? Why is she shaking like that?”

“We tried a new medicine on her to see if it would help. It’s causing some mild side effects. It’ll pass soon though. She just needs time,” Sully said.

“Fucking unstrap her! Get this shit off her!” I reached out and undid her wrists as fast as I could, surprised I wasn’t being stopped.

Not that it mattered. I wouldn’t fucking stop. I’d kill someone if they tried to make me. Fuck the plan. Fuck fate.

I managed to get her legs undone then reached for her, tugging her into my arms. She struggled against me, bucking and kicking, but I held tight.

Her mouth came down hard on my shoulder, her teeth sinking deeply into my skin. I let out a snarl of pain, but it was fine. I deserved it. She could pay me back in small increments if that was what it took. Bite by bite. I’d offer my flesh at will to my Rinny. She could devour me whole if it meant she was fighting.

I ground my teeth as her bite tightened. When she released me, her nails dragged down my arms. Across my face. Down my neck. I knew she wasn’t in her right mind, and I knew she was drawing blood.

Good.

I wanted to bleed with her.

I bit her back, sinking my teeth into her shoulder. A gasp fell from her lips as she quivered against me, the fight finally leaving her.

I withdrew my teeth, tasting her sweet blood on my tongue and whispered in her ear, “Relax, Rinny. Me and you. We’ll suffer together.”

Sully let out a soft laugh behind me, making me want to tear intohisflesh with my teeth. Only I wouldn’t be kind to him. I’d rip him apart without batting a lash. Opting to hold it together, I breathed out, willing myself to relax.

I raked my fingers through Sirena’s hair as she sagged against me. Her body still trembled, but I’d hold her through it. It was the biggest reaction I’d seen from her.

“Lie down with me,” I murmured in her ear before I lifted her small body easily into my arms and placed her back in bed. I crawled in behind her, spooning her, as she shivered.

She curled into a tight fetal position, and I matched it, drawing her into my arms.

I tried to steady my breathing as Sully moved to stand behind me.

“You have only days left to work your magic,” he said. “And then we will move on to the next part. Bring her back. There’s a lot of money riding on her cure. Her stepfather is paying to see results. So far, we have none. I have no problem shifting to other means.”

I said nothing as he left the room with the wards.

When he was finally gone, I gave her a squeeze, noting the smear of blood on her bare shoulder I’d left behind. A beautiful rose-colored bruise was forming around my teeth marks on her pale skin.

“Rinny,” I whispered. “We’re in a lot of trouble here. I need you to come back, OK?”

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