Page 16 of Ashes

“Who is this asshole?” she asked. “Another one of your fucked-up friends?”

“This is Sin.” Church jerked his thumb in my direction as he stomped back to siren’s bedside. “He reallyisan asshole. Sin, Cady.”

She rolled her eyes and returned to sit on the edge of siren’s bed.

“I can’t believe Rina made so many friends,” she said, her iciness sliding away for a moment as she looked at siren in bed. “All dickheads, but still.”

“Then you’ll like Bryce if you think we’re dicks,” Stitches said. “He’s sweet as pie. He was angel’s boyfriend before she realized she loved us.”

“I doubt that,” Cady huffed. “Isn’t it time for your meds?”

“Already took them,” Stitches shot back.

She sighed and looked at me. I was still standing in the center of the room, staring at siren in bed. Her eyes were glassy as she gazed someplace faraway.

My heart cracked as I took her in, the memory of that night rushing back to me.

The fear in her eyes. Me pushing the pill into her mouth to knock her out. How her soft lips had tasted as I pressed my mouth to hers. The remorse I’d felt as I stared down at her perfect form in that cold coffin. The worries and fear I’d struggled with the entire night as I thought about what was happening to her alone with Asylum.

How I’d prayed she wouldn’t die, and that someone would find her before it was too late.

How I’d wished I were a better man and had run back to save her. She’d trusted me, and I’d betrayed her. I’d betrayed my family.

It was over now though. All of it. She’d never be mine. Never be ours. Asylum would make sure of it. That much I knew.

“So what’s your deal? Delusional fuckwit who thinks my sister belongs to him?” Cady called out.

“She’s not mine,” I said softly. “She never was and never will be.”

“Not fucking now, Sinclair,” Church snapped, glaring over his shoulder at me.

Cady grunted and focused back on her sister, ignoring me.

“Come see her,” Ashes said to me. “You can sit in my spot.”

Knowing if I refused it would cause a scene I didn’t want, I stepped forward and settled in Ashes’s seat and stared at siren. Her face was slightly puffy.

“Talk to her,” Stitches demanded.

I cleared my throat. “Hey, siren.”

“Sinful,” she whispered, her voice sending chills down my spine.

My heart clenched despite it. She had a beautiful voice. And it was my name. Sort of.

“Uh, yeah. It’s me,” I mumbled.

“Sinful. Sinful. Sinful,” she repeated softly in a monotone. Her voice rose, “Sinful. Sinful!”

I looked quickly around at everyone, all wearing various looks of concern on their faces.

“Shh,” I pleaded, reaching out and taking her small, cold hand in mine. “Shh, siren. Please. Stop.”

“Sinful! Sinful!”

I couldn’t take it. I released her hand and nearly fell getting out of my seat.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Church shouted at me as I rushed to the door, desperate to get her voice out of my head.

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