That night, Asher and I ate dinner at the small two-person table in our room. Unlike most times before, we sat in terrible, awkward quiet, entirely silent except for the sound of our chewing or the scrape of silverware against the ceramic plates. Asher speared the final bit of food on his plate, b
His eyebrows went high up on his forehead. “Following me? What? Why?” I worried my hands together. Embarrassed, I dropped my gaze to watch my fingers hook together. “You’ve been distant lately. You’re going out every night and then not telling me where you’ve been. I’ve been worried about you, a
“You have to take me with you,” I said. “Absolutely not,” Asher replied. “Well, you can’t expect me to let you go off looking for him by yourself.” “That’s what I’ve been doing…” I crossed my arms and frowned at him. “It’s too dangerous, Cyn.” “It’s dangerous for you, too. It will be fin
Nodding, Asher rose from his seat and came to stand beside me at mine. He was protecting me, even as we sat in the relative safety of our stakeout spot inside the mostly-empty café. He placed his hand on my shoulder. His fingers curled, not so much to hurt, but enough for me to feel his presence.
“Over my dead body,” Asher snapped. “That sounds like a great idea,” Joseph said, flashing his teeth. He jumped forward with the knife. “Asher!” I gasped. Asher jumped out of the way, snatched Joseph by the wrist, and disarmed him. The knife clattered away against the concrete sidewalk. Jose
The real Asher was safely behind the line of fake wolves. He glanced back at me in concern. I understood his worry. Holding this many projections was a strain. But I was done running. I was done standing back. Joseph would lose. And I would help bring him down. In the circle, Joseph started to
Asher’s words stole my breath away. For a long moment, I simply stared at him, desire coiling inside of me. He stared back, his blue eyes deep as the ocean. I swallowed thickly. I couldn’t wait to go home with him and see all of his promises in action. Nancy cleared her throat from the doorway.
“I… um…” I had no idea how to answer Dylan. Panic set in, sending my heart into overdrive. Should I admit to Asher being beside me? It was getting late at night. Surely Dylan would have follow-up questions. Like, why was Asher in my room after dark. “Oh, shit, I have to go,” Dylan said suddenly.