Page 40 of Demise

My hand slides into Asher’s, squeezing harder than necessary as we shake. He does the same to me before we release and rest our hands back by our sides.

“I’ll let you guys get some sleep. See you in the morning,” Asher says as he leans down and places a kiss against Skyla’s cheek.

“Stay,” she says as she catches his hand.

Asher’s eyes come to me before bouncing back to hers.

“Are you sure? We haven’t gotten to talk about the whole…dinner situation.”

Skyla shakes her head.

“And we don’t need to, not tonight. Tonight, I just want you, both of you. Please.”

“Of course,” I answer for the both of us.

What my siren wants, my siren gets.

Asher and Skyla move to the bed as I kick my shoes to the side and shrug my leather jacket off. I slide in on the other side of Skyla and wrap my arms around her waist. She presses her assagainst me as her head rests on Asher’s chest, a soft, content sigh escaping her lips.

Chapter Sixteen

Ronan

“You’ve delayed long enough. It’s happening; I’d suggest you make peace with it,” Christopher snarls through the phone.

My jaw hardens as I stare out the kitchen window, staring off into the backyard.

“All I was saying is that it isn’t the best time. Asher’s initiation, the rest are following close behind. Why take the spotlight from them?”

“Because I deem it so! The engagement party is happening; it’s already planned. You will be happy. You will be charming, and you will make it down that goddamn aisle this time.”

Something twinges inside me at the way he says this time. It’s not exactly hurt; my trauma from Madi’s death took a while to heal, but slowly, it did. Instead, it’s the reminder of all that I’ve lost, all that I have yet to lose, and all that has been stolen before I could even properly savor it.

Speaking of, my only beacon of hope these days strides into the kitchen, hair mussed and a sleepy smile on her face as shecrosses the room and wraps her arms around my waist. I smile back at her, resting my hand over hers.

“Do I make myself fucking clear?” Christopher snaps.

“Crystal,” I say stiffly.

Skyla’s eyes watch me carefully, concern shifting in them as she takes in my expression.

My brother huffs, and with that, he’s ending our call. I lower my phone away from my ear, pocketing it before fully turning to face Skyla.

“What’s wrong?” she asks.

I shake my head and force a smile.

“Nothing, baby. I’m good.”

“No, you aren’t, and now you’re lying to me. What’s going on?”

A heavy sigh escapes me as I lift my hand up, cupping her jaw tenderly as my thumb glides across her silky skin. My fingers move, tangling into the back of her head and holding her hair tight as I pull her into me. She meets me easily and just with one simple touch of her lips, all of my worries melt away. Nothing can trouble me. Nothing can harm me. Not when I have her in my arms. With Skyla, things just…fit; they make sense.

When we break apart, she looks up at me breathlessly, her eyes flicking back and forth between mine.

“You’re scaring me,” she admits, anxiety heavy in her tone.

A million things run through my mind, but something completely unrelated spills from my lips instead.

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