Page 129 of When Ashes Fall

I didn’t know if Devnair could protect me from Knox and my mother or if his brother-in-law would allow me to stay in Terra, but hopefully he could at least help me get on my feet. Knox would go to Terra first in search of me; I had no doubt about that, but I didn’t have anywhere else to go.

I studied the black tattoo on his tanned arm while we walked. His white, short-sleeved shirt emphasized the bulge of his muscles, the golden color of his skin, and the tattooed thorns that forever reminded him of the harem.

Everything about him electrified and scared me.

He was strong, powerful, ruthless… and a ticking time bomb.

“You were gone when I woke this morning,” he said as he led me through the hallway of glass windows and past the garden where the plants were steadily returning to full health.

“I enjoy helping in the kitchen,” I told him.

“I know.”

“And you needed your rest. Did you sleep at all while you were gone?”

“No.”

I waited for him to ask me how I felt about last night or if I was okay with what happened, but he didn’t. I wasn’t sure if that was because it would never occur to him to do so or if he was scared of my answer.

Instead, his thumb stroked my hand, and I shuddered as I recalled the way it felt circling my clit last night. I had to get out of here before I ended up back in his bed.

We didn’t say anything more, but I felt his gaze on my neck as he searched for the marks I’d covered. My heart thumped so fast that I knew he could hear it; I hoped he believed it was because of what passed between us last night, and not my coming treachery.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE

Briar

When we arrived in the dining hall, my knees almost gave out as relief swept through me. Lyra, Dromon, and Pierce were already seated at the table.

Knox escorted me to the chair beside his and pulled it out for me. “Thank you,” I murmured as I sat.

Taking some time to gather my composure, I opened my napkin and placed it on my lap before lifting my head. Across the table, my eyes locked on Lyra’s. She stared at me before her gaze fell to my neck.

I knew she couldn’t see the fresh marks, but when her brow furrowed, I wondered if she somehow sensed Knox’s brand on me. Plus, even after taking a shower this morning, I was sure they could still smell Knox all over me.

Five sprites flew in as Dromon and Pierce finished sharpening their knives and slid them back into their sheaths. They grinned at the plates full of pancakes as the sprites buzzed around, dropping off maple syrup and filling mugs with steaming coffee.

I tried to act nonchalant and as normal as possible, but sweat coated my palms and my pulse thundered in my ears. I lifted my mug and pretended to sip coffee before cutting up the pancakes. Instead of eating them, I took a bite of sausage and chewed what tasted like wood.

The sprites cleared out of the room, retreating to the kitchen, where they would eat their breakfast. It wouldn’t take long for the sleeping potion to work on the sprites. Their diminutive size would only require a small amount before they fell asleep. I didn’t expect to see any of them return to the dining room. If they did, then something had gone horribly wrong.

I pretended to drink more coffee as I pushed the pancakes around on my plate and ate the food I could. None of it tasted good, but I required energy to get through the rest of this day.

The shifters devoured their pancakes and poured themselves more coffee from the decanter while they discussed their plans for the day. When Knox asked what I intended to do, I chimed in with my plan to replenish more of the herbs.

“I can help you with that… if you’d like?”

The hope in his voice and the yearning in his eyes were almost more than I could stand. I shouldn’t have done this. I never should have put this plan into motion, but it was too late to turn back now.

And it’s the only way to save yourself.

That was the simple truth. He’d keep running all over me if I didn’t break free.

I managed to smile and nod. He grinned at me in return; his beautiful smile lit his face and sparkled in his eyes. I was going to tear that away from him.

I almost vomited all over the table.

Reclaiming his utensils, he cut up more pancakes as he spoke. “The tribunal meeting is next week.”