Page 84 of When Ashes Fall

If I forced myself on her, I’d be more like the casters than she was, and their blood ran through her veins.

That decided it for me… I hated myself the most. There was no competition.

I couldn’t be like those monsters; I wouldn’t allow it, but being near Briar would gradually destroy me, which brought me back to the same dilemma of having nowhere for her to go.

I’d never send her back to Nightshade, even I wasn’t that much of an asshole. And I didn’t trust the elves, especially Devnair. I knew what he wanted from her, and while she was better off away from me, I’d never let another man touch her.

I was an asshole for denying her the chance at a better life with a better man, and I didn’t care. While I lived, I’d kill any man who touched her, and even if I died, I’d find a way to stop another from having her.

But casters didn’t have mates. Until Briar, I wasn’t sure the fuckers could even love, but she was truly capable of it, and the others were too, although they loved themselves the most.

That meant Briar would stay here. It was the only safe place for her… mostly. I was proving to be a bigger threat than I’d anticipated.

I could be the one to leave. The shadow dragon kept invaders away while I was in the harem, but if the night casters learned I’d left, they’d see it as a chance to come for Briar. Her mother would do everything in her power to reclaim her.

Turning onto my back, I stared at the gray sky while floating on the lake. Fish bumped against me, and some rubbed their backs against my fingertips, but I ignored them.

Dromon, Pierce, and Lyra would protect her, as would the shadow dragon. Even that rat was a weapon. The sprites would fight for her too; they were little but mighty.

But if I left, the not knowing where she was, what was going on with her, and with Wildwood would drive me as mad as losing her. I didn’t kid myself into thinking I could stay away.

So I couldn’t leave, which meant I’d have to keep my hands to myself when it came to her.

I issued a small bark of laughter. Even I knew that wouldn’t be possible. Now that I’d been inside Briar again and felt the ecstasy of her cunt gripping me while she came, I wasn’t going to give it up.

She was the only woman I’d willingly been with in ten years, and the first one as a man again; she would be the last.

I had to figure out a way to better control myself around her. I could do it.

The beast grumbled as it rolled over inside me, sulking about my determination to keep myself restrained. That meant it couldn’t come out to play, but it would have to get used to it.

I also had to figure out a way to gain her trust. I would have access to her secrets.

Maybe you should start by not being such an asshole to her.

That little inner voice was correct, but I wasn’t sure I knew how to be anything other than an abrasive asshole anymore. I hated this shit.

Maybe I could get to know her again and do things with her that didn’t end in sex or a fight. I wasn’t sure if either was possible, but I was willing to give it a try.

I could take her for a walk; she’d love to see the waterfall near the castle. It was a beautiful spot and within walking distance. Afterward, I’d take her back to the castle and say goodbye. I wouldn’t kiss her or lose my temper… hopefully.

A loud caw broke the tranquility as two ravens flew overhead. Their wings flapped before they glided across the sky.

Birds were rare in Wildwood now. While they were once an abundant species, and some still had things to feed on, they, like so many other creatures, basked in the sun and went to the other kingdoms to find it.

Like the bees, they might be returning to the kingdom… because of Briar.

She’d strengthened the roses and some of the trees, and she attracted the bees and possibly the birds. How could I let that go?

Turning over in the water, I treaded for a minute before diving down to skim my fingers over the rocks again. I emerged at the edge of the lake and walked out to stand beside the dragon as he bent his head to drink.

I rested my hand against its neck to rub over the scales covering it. The dragon consisted of shadows, and I shouldn’t be able to feel them, but his scales were smooth beneath my palm. Edges marked the start and end of one from another.

I didn’t know this creature for the first seven years of its existence, but we were both forged on the same day. The animal I never met was twisted into a beast that only this dragon had seen. I’d revealed my secret to it, and it would keep it forever.

I suspected the reason we shared this strange bond was because we were both created by the night casters. Neither of us was supposed to exist, yet we did.

Retreating from the edge of the lake, I settled on the rocky shoreline to let the warmer, spring air melt the ice from my veins. Briar’s bite had stopped bleeding and throbbing, but the perfect imprint of her teeth remained.