Page 130 of Ashes

I was quickly learning that here at Chapel Crest.

The fact Sully had just let us leave after everything put me on edge. I hadn’t been able to walk out on my own. They’d given Asylum a wheelchair to use for me. He hadn’t hesitated. He’d lifted me easily and placed me in it before bringing me back here.

I needed a shower and a decent meal.

My body was refusing to cooperate though. I felt like I was made of lead, and my head felt fuzzy and weird.

Static.

That was what my insides felt like.

“Like an old TV,” Asylum murmured.

I locked gazes with him, feeling my cheeks flush. He’d been forced to fuck me for the sick pleasures of whoever the hell was behind that mirror. Nausea twisted like a snake in my guts at the memory.

I hadn’t wanted that.

I hadn’t wanted him to do that to me, but I knew. . . I knew worse would happen if I hadn’t just taken it.

On the other hand, hewasgentle and didn’t hurt me. In fact, through my fuzzy, scattered recollection, I recalled some pleasure.

But I was so out of it, who knew.

A lot of those ugly moments were blank spaces in my mind.

Stitches’s arms around me. Him begging me to breathe.

I couldn’t recall much past that. In fact, I felt like sleeping a million years. Everything within my body just felt so. . .heavy.

Seth.

“Asylum,” he said softly, offering me the cookie once more after breaking off a small piece. “I’m not Seth. Seth isn’t here, firefly. We don’t like it when you mix us up. Him for more obvious reasons than me.”

I frowned. I had no idea what he was talking about.

He sighed and raised his brows at me. “Seth isn’t the one who beat you with a shovel and tried to kill you. That was me. Asylum. Seth would never harm a hair on your head.”

I trembled slightly beneath his confession.

“Open,” he whispered.

I parted my lips and let him drop the cookie into my mouth.

“Chew.”

I chewed, my gaze on him.

“Seth is the one you’ve always loved, but I think you can love me too if you give me a chance.” He cocked his head at me. “I won’t ever hurt you again. I’ve learned my lesson. It really fucking hurt to not have you in our lives. We all suffered so very much.”

I swallowed and parted my lips as he offered me more of the cookie.

“This isn’t an adequate meal for you,” he murmured, watching me chew. “What do you want to eat? I’ll make it happen.”

I was far too tired to eat. I wasn’t even able to feed myself.

“Then I’ll feed you,” he said, like he was inside my head.

I crinkled my brows at him.

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