Page 28 of When Ashes Fall

No, he looked as if movement might break him because he’d been in a room with my mother, sister, and the other casters again. He’d faced demons he far preferred to slaughter, and now those demons were haunting him.

An ache bloomed in my chest as I yearned to go to him, hug him, and chase away those demons. If I tried, he might slaughter me in their place, but I hated the suffering radiating from him and longed to ease it.

He’d called me a stupid girl, believed I was helpless, and was far from the man I’d loved with every fiber of my being, but I still desired him. No one should endure what he and everyone else did in the harem. Unfortunately, I could never take that experience from him.

I didn’t make a sound or move as they crossed the hall, and neither did Zephyr or Gizzi, but Knox’s nostrils flared, and his head turned stiffly toward me. He didn’t search the tree for me; he knew exactly where I was as our gazes locked instantly.

Maybe he realized I was perched here, waiting for him to return because I was concerned about him, or maybe he didn’t. Despite him being a giant asshole, I was happy to see him safely return home. When he turned away from me, my fingers bit into the bark as I restrained myself from jumping down and going closer.

No one spoke as they climbed the stairs and went their separate ways. I remained in the tree for a little longer before descending and trudging back toward the healer’s workroom. I’d taken over the space to create my potions.

Zephyr and Gizzi followed, but neither spoke as I set to work. Gizzi was often quiet, but Zephyr was usually a fountain of continuous speech, sometimes inappropriate and often irrelevant. I knew far too much about his sex life, which was extremely active.

I was glad for the peace as I worked on my newest potion.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Knox

I ran my hand over the stubble lining my head as I stalked toward the healer’s workroom. I’d just taken my seventh shower since yesterday, and my skin was still raw from the scrub brush I’d used to scour it.

With the mood I was in, I should stay away from Briar, but I had no idea where she’d gone since yesterday. I worried the elf might have tried to hatch some escape plan with her.

Plus, she was determined to harvest more mushrooms, and I didn’t trust her not to attempt going out there on her own again. The sweet scent of something brewing wafted down the hall before the healer’s workroom came into view.

Metal clattered against metal as fire crackled and smoke drifted through the air. If Briar wasn’t in the workroom, then someone was.

When I stepped into the open doorway, I froze when I spotted Briar standing before the black, marble island, her head bent and her brown hair swept into a knot at her nape. The crackling fire and boiling cauldron made the room almost intolerably hot, but there she was, chopping mushrooms.

An enticing sheen of sweat shimmered on her ivory skin. Her damp clothes clung to her, emphasizing her lush curves.

I’d spent most of the morning trying to bury memories, but a new one emerged of me standing behind her, holding her, as I ran my tongue along her nape. I’d savored the saltiness of her skin while her strawberry and eucalyptus scent entwined its way around me.

My cock was inside her while we lay on our sides, moving together as she bowed her head and issued the most delicious sounds. Her full breasts lay against my arm as her pussy gripped me tight, drawing me deeper.

Her body was a paradise I’d reveled in. She’d made me feel pleasure in ways I’d never dreamed possible. I hadn’t experienced it again since her.

The beast had always come in the harem when the casters forced themselves on him. As much as we hated it, we couldn’t stop the body’s natural response.

However, all those orgasms never felt like they did with her. Instead of feeling right, powerful, perfect, and so fucking good, it left us both unsettled, dirty, and full of self-loathing.

But Briar… Well, Briar had been heaven, and my love for her threw me into hell.

“How much will this make?” Zephyr asked.

When he spoke, I realized he was sitting on a stool on the other side of her. Bent forward, he had his hands on the island. He watched Briar expertly slicing mushrooms with a speed that probably would have taken pieces of my fingers.

The rodent was curled up on the windowsill, its head on its paws while it slept. The fire in the hearth and the flickering lanterns weren’t the only source of illumination. Briar had also set up dozens of candles on the counters; their small flames added a cozy air to the room.

“I’m not sure,” she replied.

Pinching a pile of lavender, she sprinkled it into another black cauldron, which sat on the counter beside her. Steam rose from the cauldron hanging over the fire; the sweet smell came from the bubbling concoction. Despite the heat, the room was inviting.

“When can I use it?” Zephyr asked.

Without looking at him, Briar lifted a glass vial from the counter and handed it to him. “Here, before you drive me crazy about it. Just a few drops at the base of each plant is more than enough. We can’t do too much at once; it could stress them out.”

Zephyr squealed as he snatched the vial from her, jumped up on the stool, and flew toward me. He was only a few feet away when he realized I blocked his exit.