Page 41 of Raising the Sun

“But now you do?”

He nodded. “I had an inkling you weren’t dishonest the day you told me you wouldn’t ever try to control me, but now, after spending each day with you, I know for certain. You are… a bewildering creature. Truly.”

“Thanks? I think.”

He laughed, and there was a moment when we just stared at each other. It felt charged, like he’d told me something he’d never intended to, but had decided I was worthy. That I deserved to know every part of him. It made me feel special, as if I mattered on a deeper level than just sex, but I could also have been projecting. I’d realised my crush, and now my brain had decided to analyse every word he said, fixate on his actions over the last eight weeks, and imagine they had some hidden meaning.

I’d ignore it.

I had to.

Ash shifted as if uncomfortable. “Now, do not expect any more confessions or compliments. I am quite spent for the evening.”

To offset my wayward emotions, I smirked. Teasing was easy. Teasing was familiar. Teasing was the way to go. “Whatever you say,Amadeus.”

His shoulders stiffened, and his cock twitched against my thigh. “Hm, I like that,” he purred, his eyes flooding brighter orange. “Once I am recovered, you must let me hear how it sounds when you’re begging me to let you come.”

“Of course you must.” I rolled my eyes and laughed, distracting myself from the thought that if my heart beat any louder it might actually combust. “Should I stop calling you Ash, then? Since you brought it up, I assume—”

“There is no need to upend routine,” he cut in. “I had thought it would be my preference to hear you address me by my given name, but I’ve grown rather accustomed to ‘Ash.’ Perhaps we’ll keep Amadeus for rare andspecialoccasions.”

I pretended to contemplate it. “Like when I’m mad at you?”

Ash gasped, affronted. “I am the epitome of perfection, my dear. I see no reason for your ire to ever be directed toward me.”

I smiled widely in amusement, leaning in to brush my nose against his. “It’s a good thing you’re so humble.”

With a soft kiss, he pulled back, but only far enough to scan my face—and he did so with alarming accuracy. “You know, I used to believe that nothing could bring me more joy than torturing pitiful souls,” he mused, trailing a finger over my cheek. “But I do rather favour seeing you smile.”

As far as cutesy pillow talk went, that was pretty low on the scale, but it made my treacherous heart skip, all the same. “It’s because of you.” I cleared my throat. “What you’ve done for me, I mean.”

“Not entirely, my dear. I do, of course, take some credit, but your success in the last few months is to do with the confidence you’ve grown.”

“And your magic,” I added, but he shook his head in denial.

“As I’ve said before, it has nothing to do with magic. All you needed was a nudge in the right direction, someone to guide you and help you realise your worth, which I was happy to provide.” He tapped my nose. “The rest was. All.You.”

‘Guide you.’

Ash’s words had a lightbulb sparking in my head, a memory hitting me like an epiphany—“He will guide you through your struggles, resurrect that which you have lost, and help you on the path to success.”

The final puzzle pieces slotted into place.

I’d already figured out that Ash had landed on my doorstep at exactly the right time with the purpose of assisting me, but the shopkeeper had said there was a lesson to be learned. My struggle wasn’t the shop, not directly. It was my lack of hope and confidence—what I hadlost—which in turn had shrouded my route to success.

All of Ash’s attention and care had lifted me up and made me forget all the people who’d ever told me I wasn’t good enough—namely myself. I’d seen concrete proof of the difference those small changes had made, but there was one crucial part missing...

I still had to believe it all myself, right?

I could’ve laughed at how simple it was. Of course the key was going to be one of those corny fairy-tale finales, where love conquered all and broke the curse, but in this case, it wasself-love. I had to trust that I could do this on my own. Not because Ash said so, but becauseIbelieved it possible.

And honestly? I think I did.

Or, at least, I could now truly see myself getting there.

I’d made it this far through sheer stubbornness and force of will. I’d dug my heels in against whatever was thrown at me and that had to mean part of me—not just the spiteful part—always believed I had as much chance as anyone. That giving up wasn’t for me because Iknewit would get better becauseIwas capable of making it happen.

I’d just needed someone—a mythical being from another realm—to remind me.

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