Page 114 of Ash

As she shook in the throes of her anxiety attack, her mind whispered at her,would that be so bad?Dani remembered the dream. The sensation of being whole for the first time in her life. Could Tyrez be part of her future? Was that dream more than just a dream?

Even if it really was a living dream, like what the Dires experienced—she’d felt the sheer power of what connected Tyrez to Ash. She had no right to interfere with that, even if she wanted to.

No testicles, she told herself, shutting down her traitorous aching heart. Tyrez had bitten her, it was done. No going back. Her heart and soul clamored at her, but she squelched them, brutally. Shoved everything into a room in her mind, and slammed the door closed.

With a soft knock on the wall beside the open door, Cara poked her head in. “Welcome back to the land of the living,” she said with a smile.

Dani pushed the covers off. She was dressed in a tee shirt and sweats—neither were familiar. The fit indicated they’d been purchased for someone much larger.

When she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, the world swam. Her entire body still shook like a leaf.

“Easy, there,” Cara coached.

“I’m sorry. It’s these damned attacks.”

“Well, that and the fact that you’ve had quite the journey.” Cara sat down beside her and placed a warm hand on her shoulder. The warmth penetrated through her, easing the tightness, relaxing her from the inside out. Immediately, the shaking abated, and it took most of her anger with it.

Cara held up a vial of shining powder. “I need you to take this.”

“What is it?”

“Crystal dust. It is enabling you to heal. I’ve been injecting it into you, but I think you’d rather eat it now that you are up.”

Dani swallowed the powder. It tingled all the way down, and joined something else. “I need to use the washroom.”

“Here. Lean on me.”

The process was far more exhausting than it should be. But when Cara guided her back toward the bedroom, Dani dug in her heels. She had a craving for sunlight.

“Is there a sunny spot in the garden where I can sit?”

Cara nodded. “Yes, of course. Here. Put your hand on the rail, that’s it.”

They negotiated the stairs. When they reached the kitchen, Dani half expected to see Tyrez, but it was empty.

“Did Tyrez leave?” she asked. Now that her anger had cooled, she was possessed with a desire to see him. To talk to him. To ask him, once again,why?

Tyrez isn’t like Remy, her heart insisted. But he’d still bitten her, dammit . . .

They walked out the back door before she realized Cara hadn’t answered her.

“Did he go home?” she repeated.

Cara’s brows drew down. “Here, sit down on the bench. It’s a bit shaded, but if you take a seat on the end—that’s it.”

Dani turned her face into the sun. It felt amazing on her skin, but an uneasy knot was twisting in her gut and the door in her mind rattled as though something wanted out. “Why aren’t you answering me?”

Cara sighed. “Apparently, it’s not my story to tell.”

A slim figure appeared on the trail to the Dragon gateway, the familiar Phoenix sitting on his shoulder. Cara’s face altered in an instant with a smile that Dani could have sworn appeared relieved.

Dani glanced from her to the new arrival. “Jacques!” she exclaimed.

“Mademoiselle, I am so happy to see you up!” The Satyr hurried toward her with a wide smile and sparkling dark eyes.

“I will get us tea and something to eat.” Cara fixed the Satyr with a stern look. “Behave yourself.”

“I was actually here to see Tyrez,” the Satyr said.

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