Page 115 of Ashes

“You can do anything you want. As long as it’s by my side, I’ll make sure it’s safe. It’s my promise to you. I owe you that much and more. As for Sully. . . we can gut him together if you’d like then fuck in his blood.”

My breath hitched at his words.

He leaned in suddenly, a smirk on his lips, darkness dancing in his eyes.

“Trust me when I say it’ll be the time of your life. Now dance with me.”

I swallowed and let him help me to my feet. I was like a newborn fawn on my feet, all wobbly and weak from not standing in what seemed like forever. If it bothered him, he made no mention of it as he placed his hand on my waist and took my other hand in his.

Our song spilled from his lips in a sweet hum as he guided us around the room, his pace increasing as I got my bearings about me.

A smile teased my lips as his eyes sparkled, the room whipping wildly around us.

We made several rotations around the space before I became breathless with a grin on my face.

I wasn’t sure what had come over me, but I finally felt free. Like having Seth back was changing me. The dark clouds which had been blanketing me for nearly a decade were giving way to sunshine again.

To us.

“To us,” he whispered as he slowed us to a stop. Without hesitation, he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. “Forever my girl.”

I stared up at him with parted lips, my heart racing.

“Mine,” he murmured, running his nose along my jaw. “Ours.” He inhaled deeply and dragged me tightly against his hard body. “And Iwillfuck you in the blood of our enemies, my little firefly. That’s a promise.”

And then we were dancing again as if nothing in the world was wrong.

And maybe nothing was.

Maybe it was right.

Maybe this was how it was supposed to be.

Seth.

“Asylum,” he whispered in my ear before dipping me low and staring down at me in my thin hospital gown, his dark hair a wild mess and a gleam in his eyes that made me realize who he really was. “I’m Asylum, and I’m yours.”

Asylum.

My Asylum.

He hauled me back upright against him, and we moved through the room again, slower this time.

I clung to him when we slowed to a stop.

He had a lot of make-up work to do. Forgiving him wasn’t easy, but. . . I was losing my mind. I felt like I was slipping. Like I needed this. Like it was fate. Like it could work. . .

“Fate has a funny way about her, doesn’t she?” he asked, swaying with me gently. “If this is how it’s supposed to be, then I regret nothing.”

Funnily enough, I was beginning to regret a lot less too.

He smirked. “That’s why we dance. To prove we’re still alive. That we’re still fucking screaming inside. That we’re fighters. That we’llneverlet them take that from us. So keep fighting. For all of us. Promise me?”

Promise.

“Good girl,” he murmured. “And I promise the same. Now, we need to see Stitches. He’s coming.”

Stitches.

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