Page 111 of Of Mercury and Mist

“Am I in trouble?” I asked. His eyes glittered with swirling mercury. “What will he do to you?”

“You already know you’re in trouble,” he warned. The air was heavy with his unspoken threat as he stalked toward me. “I have a desk you fit under perfectly where you’ll make it up to me.”

Licking my lips, I asked, “So what’s next?” He’d put on black jeans and left his torso bare. I’d never seen him dressed so casually and it was highly distracting. The least dressed I’d ever seen him was dress pants and a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a couple buttons undone. I could definitely get behind this new look. Or under.

Micha nodded toward the bathroom. “Get yourself cleaned up and meet me in the living room.”

I didn’t move, caught up in the sight before me. He smirked, seeming to read my thoughts. “Go,” he ordered.

THIRTY-NINE

Ashley

Josiah’s house was beautiful, and Della looked like a princess sitting on the couch, her hands in her lap. I’d missed her like crazy. Before, I was worried she was in an abusive relationship, but it was very obvious she wasn’t. Not because she had every material comfort a girl could ever want, but because Josiah was absolutely smitten. While we were waiting for Micha to finish a phone call with Matthew, he waited on her hand and foot and had his hands all over her every chance he got.

To me, it seemed like a bit much and I would’ve been swatting the touch away, but she was happy and that was all I cared about.

“I missed you,” I said to her quietly.

“I missed you too. I was so mad. Josiah wouldn’t even let me talk to you,” she said, casting him a disgusted look.

His eyes sought the ceiling as his shoulders slumped slightly. “We talked about this.”

“She’s my best friend; you know this. She would never steal from you guys.” Della’s eyes softened. “This all could’ve been avoided if one of you had bothered to truly listen.”

“Ashley, please accept my apologies,” Josiah looked at me. “Our laws are harsh for a reason, but you were judged unfairly.”

For Della’s sake, I wanted to forgive him. I would have to forgive both of them if I wanted to be around my best friend without their previous treatment of me rankling. “I accept,” I answered.

“Very well,” he replied.

Micha joined us, coming to a stop right behind the chair I was sitting in. He planted his hands on my shoulder before one wound its way up to wrap my neck, sending a shiver along my spine. I tilted my head back to glance up at him, noting he remained shirtless. He was staring off into the distance as if deep in thought.

“Ashley,” Josiah began, and Micha snapped to attention. “You’ll be coming back to Ipomoea as Micha’s assistant.”

“What about Angels?” I asked. I was pretty sure I wasn’t allowed to work anywhere else while employed there. Micha’s grip on my neck tightened the moment I mentioned the club.

Josiah waved his hand. “It's been dealt with.”

“How’s that?”

He glanced at me before answering. “I can be very persuasive when I need to be.” Della scoffed and he pursed his lips at the sound.

Micha leaned down, angling his head above my ear. “If you think you’re going to be dancing for anyone but me, you’re sorely mistaken. Besides, I already told you I need you in office.”

I felt my cheeks turn red. “It was just acting; it didn’t mean anything.”

“Do you not want to return to work with me?” Micha’s voice held an uncharacteristic hint of vulnerability, and my heart twitched.

“It's not an option or an offer—it's an order,” Josiah stated.

My pulse picked up. I was trapped. The strings that now bound me were irrevocable and the thought scared me. Yes, I wanted Micha, and I wanted to be with Della but the finality of it all was overwhelming, I’d been through so much. The smart decision was to dive into what was before me; and it was what my heart wanted.

“Stop overanalyzing,” Della said to me. “Can you really go back to normal life after everything? Since when do you prefer normal?” She laughed at her own words while Josiah studied me.

“She can’t,” Micha said. “Why are we even discussing this? It is done.”

“True. Ashley’s already made her decision.” Josiah stood and poured himself a drink, offering the bottle of blood to Micha after.

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