Page 53 of Ashes

“How? I’m right here—”

“You love her,” he said softly. “And she’s hurt.”

I frowned. “What does that have to do with me and the guys leaving? We’re in this together. You know that. We’re not going anywhere. We love you, Sinclair. I know you think you’re not worthy of love, but you are. If we, by some miracle, get her back, that doesn’t change our group. We’restillin this together.” I studied him as he continued to look at the floor. “Let a little love in.”

“Look where love got me last time.”

“Right here,” I said gently. “Right on the cusp of falling in love with someone wonderful and perfect for us. It wasn’t a mistake to love Isabella, Sin. She was a light guiding you to these moments.”

“We’re monsters, Ashes.” He peered at me, his eyes filled with sorrow. “It doesn’t matter if we’re capable of feeling love. At the end of the day, a monster loves his meal. He loves to feast, and Sirena is a fucking delicious meal we’d devour and tear apart. You know we would.”

I swallowed hard at his words.

“At least, I know I would.” He got up and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m going for a walk. Don’t burn the damn house down. Church will be pissed.”

I didn’t try to stop him. I let him stomp out of my room. Moments later, I heard the front door open and close with his departure.

Sighing, I flopped back onto my bed, his words on repeat in my head.

Yeah, we were monsters.

But even monsters deserved to be loved.

Maybe Sirena was a different kind of monster, one who could save us.

A good monster.

“The best kind of monster,” I murmured.

I’d cling to that thought.

SIN

Ihated being home. I hated being away. I just fucking hated everything.

I raked my fingers through my long blond hair and tied it up into a bun atop my head then pulled my hood up around my ears as I marched across campus.

Coming home and smelling smoke let me know we were all fucking spiraling. It wasn’t just Stitches. Ashes was losing it too.

I wasn’t watching where I was going as I walked, my mind on my friends. I crashed against a hard body.

“S-sorry, Sin,” Bryce Andrews said, trying to right himself as he stumbled back.

Instinctively, I reached out and snatched him upright. “My fault,” I muttered, noting his eyes widening as I released him.

Bryce was Sirena’s best friend here. Her ex-boyfriend or some shit as well. They seemed to have had a clean break, although I did notice him moping around after it had ended. Of course, they’d also hung out afterward as well, which had pissed off Church.

Hell, it had pissed me off too.

He said nothing as I stared him down.

“H-how’s Sirena?” he finally asked.

“Not good.”

“Will…I mean…is she going to be OK? I can’t get in to see her. I’ve tried. I asked Church about her, But he didn’t really tell me much.”

“I don’t know,” I said. “But it’s best if you don’t go around her. She’s with Asylum now.”

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