Page 35 of Hounded: Ashes to Ashes

His lips parted with the beginnings of a protest, but I kept on.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m sorry I led you into danger in the first place. I’m sorry…”

I can’t stay clean.

I didn’t remember until now.

Most of all, I was so damn sorry for making him hurt because he loved me.

I couldn’t say anything else, and neither could Loren, so we stood in the bathroom, him half-dressed and me trying not to count the scars that marred his skin and made me feel so horribly, hideously guilty. I hadn’t wounded him—not physically—but I knew his heart was battered.

I hoped he would trust me with it one more time, and that I could do right by him, by us, once and for all.

Indy

An hour later,Loren and I emerged from Sully’s bathroom. They must have thought we were fucking like rabbits in there but, honestly, I just wanted to hold him. After he got dressed, we sat on the closed toilet lid, facing each other with me in his lap and only the sound of our breathing to punctuate the silence. I realized then how tired I was, how exhausted I’d been chasing highs and lows and losing sleep for weeks.

I could have slept there, draped on him and perfectly content, but he eased me up with kisses and a nudge toward the door, and I reluctantly exited into the living area.

Sully and Whitney made for an odd pair drinking tea at the kitchen island. Sully was in all her bohemian glory, barefoot with harem pants and a bandeau top and leaning against the counter while the blond hellhound sat bolt upright on his barstool. He had an almost regal air about him, enhanced by the stuffy British accent.

When Loren and I ambled into the open, Sully sprang into action. She went to Loren and tugged him away from me. Holding him by the forearms, she fixed him with teary eyes.

“Good to see you, old man,” she said. Her voice was thick as she added, “You all right?”

I felt immediately guilty for not asking the same, especially when I noticed Loren’s hesitation and curt nod. He was lying.

Sully seemed to buy it, though, and responded with a nod of her own. Reaching into her pants pocket, she pulled out a knotted strip of leather and held it aloft.

“First things first,” she said. “I have some new jewelry for you. It’s not as colorful as Indy’s, but I figured you’d prefer it that way.”

Watching her double knot the bracelet around Loren’s wrist prompted me to touch the sweater thread and strand of rainbow beads I wore. Magic seemed so mundane at times, like ordinary items had power all their own, and they were just waiting for someone to tap into it.

“Now the hounds can’t sniff you out,” Sully explained. “And luckily, I made a spare, so I gave it to Whitney.” She chuckled before declaring, “Wards for everyone.”

Loren studied his new accessory until I clasped his hand and gave it a squeeze. He squeezed back while glancing from Whitney holding his post at the kitchen island to Sully as she made her way to one of the library shelves.

Grabbing a stack of loose papers and a pen from a cut glass cup, she returned with both and offered them to Loren.

“We need to talk,” she began. “Or in your case, write, about what’s been going on out there. Whitney mentioned a demon named Nero. Said he’s high-ranking in Hell.”

Nero being the bastard who cut out Loren’s tongue. The thought made me shudder, and I pressed tighter to Loren’s side as he took the papers from Sully. As much as I wanted to know what had happened during the time we’d been apart, I had a feeling I would hate every bit of it.

Loren rolled the pen between his fingers before giving Sully yet another nod.

“Might as well get comfortable.” Sully motioned toward the cushions littering the floor, and we made our way there. Whitney remained at the bar, overseeing the proceedings.

I waited for Loren to settle in, then took a spot behind him where I could slide my legs around his hips and get in easy reach of his hair. I needed to do something with my hands, and braiding soothed us both. I had a feeling we would need it.

No sooner had he sat than did Loren start filling the page with flowing lines of cursive. I read along at first and quickly realized I was right about not liking it. So, I turned my attention to his ebony tresses and started sectioning them across his back.

After the page was crowded with text, front and back, Loren passed it to Sully. Her eyes flicked rapidly over it, and the concern on her face stole the bliss of my ignorance.

“Another witch?” she asked.

Loren nodded, pulling a bit on the strands of hair I was weaving.

Sully looked at the paper again, and her brows dipped lower. “Why would she be helping a demon?”

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