Page 98 of Of Vows and War: Special Edition
Stassi was first to let her shoulders relax, her lips pursing as she took in Asher.
“You’re not so bad I guess. You have a shitty punch but you’re quick. I can work with that,” she offered, flicking her long pink hair back. Asher looked down at the high demon in distaste, letting her eyes roam over the small and infuriating creature.
“Who and what are you?” Asher demanded, crossing her arms. “Are you a goddess? Is that how you have that dragon? And why are you here?”
“Awe, did your pet prince not tell you that I’ve been sleeping in his bed?” Stassi asked, smirking at Asher before sending me a wink.
Asher let out the most blood curdling scream before jumping at Stassi again. This time, she portaled, appearing before Stassi and smacking her so hard that she crumpled to the ground. I walked slowly to them, more reluctant to stop Asher when it felt so damn good to watch her attempt murder in my honor.
Jealousy lookeddeliciouson her.
But I did eventually get Asher off, which resulted in her rounding on me.
“You have five seconds to explain!” she screamed into my face. I smiled, feeling uncontrollably horny.
“She is the goddess of Sin and Virtue. Well, not a goddess. She and that male who has been stalking your dreams are actually called high demons. I can explain more if we go somewhere private. As for my bed, the bitch stole it and I was forced to sleep amongst Henry’s filth.” And then, because I genuinely could not help myself, I grabbed her face and brought her lips to mine.
“Okay, sickos, let’s focus. We need to train and—” Stassi abruptly cut herself off. I released Asher, the two of us turning to find Stassi staring at…Sterling. She was gawking at him really. He looked back at her with a slight bit of confusion, but I also noted the way his eyes swiftly took in her pink-clad body, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. Ew. “My creature.”
“Your what?” Sterling asked, furrowing his brows. The three children were slightly behind him, peeking around his body in interest. Stassi’s mouth fell open, her jaw slack. It was as if what Sterling said was so absurd she could not compute it.
“There is absolutely no way you’ve forgotten me already.” Her tone was biting—condemning. As if something clicked in her head, Asher stilled at my side and let out a loud gasp.
“Sterling, you told me in the cells you had met the goddess of Sin and Virtue. Youknowher.” All of our heads whipped back towards a visibly uncomfortable Sterling as he shifted his weight from foot to foot.
“I—I do not—”
“He had his memories taken. We are not sure how, but I am working on a way to get them back.” Asher’s voice was surprisingly soothing as she spoke, her need to protect Sterling overshadowing her clear dislike for Stassi.
Noe appeared at my side then, smiling widely. “I love gossip.”
“Too much is going on all the time, this is exhausting,” Asher responded, nudging Noe.
Stassi seemed to consider the man before her, her nose twitching. She appeared ready to pounce on him. Then, abruptly, her eyes went wide. She turned towards me as she said, “That forest of yours, does it have creatures who can do something like this?”
“Navalom,” Noe and I said in unison.
Chapter Forty-Two
Asher
“Thank you for the…um…gift,but no thank you,” Sterling said as he held the dagger between his pointer finger and thumb. His face was scrunched as he eyed the blade, as if it were dirty or offensive.
“He doesn’t need that anyways, I’ll be protecting him,” Stassi said. She was doing wonders for my patience, really testing it. Not only that, but she had been unnecessarily possessive with Sterling. Clearly, he had not been fully honest with me in the dungeons, because she looked as if she was ready to strip him naked and fuck him until he died.
It did not help that he was fully receptive to her affection. Last night when she had arrived, he had immediately fawnedover her. Now, as she twirled one of his curls around her finger and placed a hand on his chest, he openly invited her advances. His hand went to her hip, his eyes twinkling with mischief. I was in no way interested in ruining his fun, but I was nervous about what she might do to him. She seemed dangerous.
The only bright spot was watching Genevieve turn deep red when Sterling insisted he stay to retrieve his memories. She had shouted and argued until, finally, she agreed to another day. Both Lian and I had laughed at the sight of Henry practically lighting up. Damon and Cyprus, who had been standing on either side of Henry, seemed to catch on too, because they immediately began whispering to him in what could have only been teasing tones based on the way he tackled them after.
“You do not strike me as the type to protect anyone but yourself,” I scoffed. Stassi peered at me over her shoulder, winking my way.
“Keeping this one alive is in my best interest at the moment.” Annoying, stupid high demon.
Bellamy had spent quite some time the previous night explaining to me what he had gleaned, including that Stassi was on a council that Padon led. I learned more about what happened to Asta and Stella, my ancestors—a fact that was still quite jarring. All in all, it had been one of the most overwhelming days of my entire life.
While I had fallen asleep against Bellamy’s naked body, basking in his heat, I had awoken three times terrified that it had all been a lie. He thought the events of the day had caused them, but I worried that new nightmares were simply replacing old.
So, with very little sleep and a burning hatred for the pink-haired female before me, I turned and stormed away. Genevieve was nearby, practically fuming as she watched her brother and Stassi flirt. Henry was at her side, periodically looking down at her from the corner of his eye. I had given the princess a set ofmy leathers for the occasion and eagerly agreed to let her help, much to pumpkin’s eternal joy. Coming to her side, I crossed my arms and watched the show as well.
