Page 73 of Ash

Both Sarah and Emily stared at Dani with dawning horror. They had narrowly escaped being force-mated to an alpha.

Dani hadn’t been so lucky.

Shards.The rage that surged through Tyrez almost caused his wings to erupt from his back, something that hadn’t happened since he was an adolescent.

It was the ultimate loss of control—but the thought of what had been done to Dani infuriated him. It was all he could do to keep them buried. His entire body trembled with the power of his reaction.

Dani’s face had gone pale, and she focused on the muffin in front of her.

“Dani.” Cara’s voice was calm and gentle. “Can you tell us where they kept you?”

The thin fingers trembled as Dani began to butter her muffin. “It was the basement of a house out near the university.”

Sarah nodded briskly. “That’s where they had me, too. Carlos held me down, and bit me.”

Dani stared at her. The trembling grew much worse. Then, before anyone could say anything more, she rose, her chair crashing backward. Her eyes were huge, and she wrapped her arms around her torso as her gaze sought and held Tyrez’s. There was a world of torment deep within them.

“I need air,” she gasped. “Now.”

19

Sarah’s words echoed through Dani.Carlos held me down, and bit me.

They’d done that to her too. Only Remy had sunk much more into her than his teeth.

Pain and terror and rage washed through her as she sat at the table. Despite all her attempts to quash it, the anxiety exploded and swept over her like a tidal wave.

Rindek. And above all, Remy. How could she hate him so much, yet have his loss leave such a gaping hole?

Her chair crashed to the ground as she stood. Her mind was at war with her body. Melting down showed vulnerability. Intolerable when surrounded by people she couldn’t trust.

She needed to bolt, but Tyrez stood in her way.

“I need air,” she stated, but her eyes pleaded with him.Let me go. Please.“Now.”

Cara stood as well. “I can help—”

“No.” She didn’t know this woman. They’d all fought against her beneath those giant trees. She waved Cara back. But she knew they wouldn’t let her go, not alone...

Her eyes rose to meet Tyrez’s. “Only him.”

The assertion shocked her as much as anyone else. But the Dragon was the only one whose motives she understood, and there was a simple trust inherent in that.

His jaw tightened, and his turquoise eyes gleamed at her. But then he stepped aside.

Dani swept past him and out the door. She staggered down the path, and he followed, striding evenly along behind her. When she reached the bench, her legs gave out. She huddled on it, turned sideways with her knees drawn up and arms wrapped tightly around them.

She shook all over.

Tyrez slowed, and then stopped by the arbor post. After a moment, he spoke.

“Cara is a healer. She might be able to help you.”

“No one can help me.” Her voice broke, and she swallowed before continuing. “I don’t even know what the hell is wrong with me. That man was a monster. I should have rejoiced when I felt him die, yet ever since—I have these attacks. They almost got me killed, out there on the street.”

Tyrez was silent for a few moments. “Dragons work by different rules. But my Sabre friends have experienced powerful mating bonds, and I’ve heard Dires are the same. Remy may have been a bastard, but his death has affected you”

Dani’s heart hammered and jumped. “I hated him. For how he lied to me. For what he did to me.”

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