Page 51 of When Ashes Fall

“Then that will stop.”

Bertie’s eyes widened, but I didn’t wait to hear her argument as to why that was a bad idea. As I strode toward Briar, Bertie floated out of my way; the thud of my boots drew Briar’s attention back to me.

“Come with me,” I told her.

Despite her exhausted appearance, her shoulders went back and fire flashed through her eyes. “I’m helping the sprites right now.”

“Someone else will take your place.”

“Knox—”

“You’re coming with me, Briar.”

“And if I don’t want to?”

The beast wasn’t at all pleased by this response as the turncoat finally stopped purring. Fuck you, I told it.

“Then I’ll carry you out of here,” I told her.

I’d come back with every intention of not fighting with her anymore and trying to figure out how to move on with her in my life. I couldn’t dump her off somewhere, and the kingdom needed her, which meant I had to learn to live with her.

But she made it so damn difficult to get along with her sometimes. We never used to fight; we’d spent years together playing, laughing, running through the tunnels, and locked in each other’s arms and never once fought.

Now, every time we saw each other, it was a constant battle of wills.

She never fought with Seth, and you’re not Seth anymore.

That stark truth was a dagger to the chest. It pierced through my ribs and straight into my heart, even though I was the one who’d repeatedly told her that.

I wasn’t Seth anymore, I never would be again, and we’d never be the same. Of course we’d fight; we didn’t know each other.

When she remained rigid, I softened a little and extended my hand. “I’m going to take you into town. Pierce said you asked to go.”

She stared warily at my hand before glancing toward Zephyr; then she slid her hand into mine. The knot that had encased my heart eased a little; my next breath was much easier to inhale.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Knox

Her delicate hand was warm in mine. For a second, all I could do was marvel at the small blue veins and the fragile bones in the back of it. And then I closed my hand around hers and met her sea green eyes.

“Are we really going into town?” she asked.

“Yes.” I looked around as I realized she was missing her companion. “Where’s your rodent?”

Her mouth pursed. “Gizzi is not a rodent.”

“Fine, where is your shoulder friend?”

Briar looked around before shrugging. “He’s probably in the pantry scrounging fruit from the sprites. They like feeding him.”

“We love animals,” Twist said with a pointed look at me. Apparently, he didn’t approve of my rodent comment.

I glowered at the sprite who grinned in return. Had everyone in this castle fallen in love with her while I was gone?

Briar whistled, and a second later, the lowleeto poked his head out from the pantry. His front paws held the doorframe as he stood on his hind legs. Food stuffed his puffed-out cheeks.

His eyes narrowed when he spotted me before going to all fours. His claws clicked against the floor as he scampered across it.