27. Andrea
27
Andrea
D arkness fills the room, the air turning murky as this woman approaches me. The change in light is different from Ash’s shadows when they appear. Hers are everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
Her pale gray skin glistens in the moonlight. Black hair that is past her waist covers her breasts under the sheer black dress she is wearing. I stare into her dark gray eyes while an uneasiness settles in me.
“You are remarkable .” She whispers in awe. She runs a long black nail down my biceps. A chill like death is left in the wake of her touch.
“Andrea, this is Achlys, the Goddess of Misery or Death, whichever she is in the mood for.” Ash crosses his arms and smirks as Achlys rolls her eyes. A tinge of jealousy settles in my gut, but I push it down and will it away. “My father put gods and goddesses here long before archangels began ruling the Heavens. When angels took over the responsibility of humans, they rid the earth of all creatures equal to them in a fight for control. As you can see, Achlys cared little for power and kept her head low. She is the only goddess of them all left alive.”
“The males in this family only like to use me and they are too damn gorgeous for me to kill, so here I am, their pet on a leash.” Achlys sighs and walks over to the desk closest to the fireplace. “Interesting.” She picks up a large book I think I've seen before.
I glance at Ash and raise my brow, asking many questions with my facial expression.
“I brought her here because she has been teaching me a few things about your ancestry. Things I think you’d like to know.” He nods to Achlys, who is back in front of me flipping through pages.
I peek at Salem behind Ash and she only shrugs her shoulders with wide eyes and squeezes her arms that are crossed against her chest.
“Not to be offensive, but how do you know so much about Andrea’s ancestors? We have searched high and low for any kind of information but none is really documented,” Salem asks from where she is standing. Achlys’ eyes flick up from the book in her bony hands. She turns the book toward me, showing the pages she has stopped on.
There is a drawing of a girl with flamed wings behind her. I grab the book and remember that this is the picture Cyprian showed us when I first arrived about a nephilim. Shaking my head, I try to give the book back to her.
“I’m sorry, this is a nephilim like my friend Brielle.” She pushes the book back into my chest and shakes her head slowly.
“This is the first Morveaux witch, Marguerite Marveaux.” She points to the picture. “And I know because I was there when she was made.”
My head snaps to Ash as he watches me carefully, making sure this isn’t all too much for me in one evening. I don’t know how it isn’t.
“So, are you saying I’m a nephilim?” I ask with my hand over my pounding heart. A cackling laugh erupts from her.
“Gods no, Marguerite made sure the angelic powers in her blood went into the blackthorn tree you and Ash visited. She wanted it to make the Marveaux magic stronger and nothing else. She believed she was an abomination.” Those gray eyes darken. “She was a friend.” Achlys’ tone lowers at the admission.
“Why? Why would she think that if she was powerful enough to decimate three villages?” I study the black-and-white drawing. The pain in her face can be felt through the page.
“Her mother was just a common witch, servicing kings for simple astrology readings and future predictions. Until one day, something far worse than kings flew down and forced himself on her. He was too strong.” She tilts her head at her recollection. “Marguerite was born from that and with her mother’s magic and the power from the angel who sired her, her mother knew she would be hunted and slaved. She didn’t want that life for her. So Marie, Marguerite’s mother, worked harder just to keep the kings from looking too closely at her daughter. Until one day, she slipped up and read a king the wrong reading. In his fit of anger, he had her beheaded. Marguerite was only sixteen when she watched her mother die brutally. It was then she exploded, her powers blowing through more than just village after village.” Achlys swallows. “She is the reason this exists.” She waves her hands around her. “She ripped a seam in reality with her power and created the Forsaken. This was nothing but a dumping ground for centuries. Until Azra came and made it a haven for creatures who just want to live in peace. I’ve never told him this information. It felt wrong to share a secret that wasn’t mine, but her blood is running through you. You deserve to know.”
Tears sting my eyes as she continues, “After her murder rampage, she swore to never use the filthy powers of her sire again. She searched for a place to bind it to, so her and her mother’s bloodline magic could only become stronger. Marguerite heard new land had been discovered across the sea, so she set sail and planted the blackthorn, locking her powers within. It’s why it only reveals itself when it senses the bloodline nearby and anyone else leaves cursed.”
“Is that why the witch trials happened there? Because people disturbed the tree when they weren’t supposed to?” Salem asks, stepping forward. You can practically see all the puzzle pieces snap into place in her mind. Achlys only nods.
“Wow,” Salem whispers with her hand over her mouth.
I try to take a deep breath, but the pressure in my chest restricts me. For so long, I have hated my biological mother for giving me up. I never understood why. Now I know that it has been instilled in our blood to part with family to keep us all safe.
If I had the chance, I wouldn’t have chosen for my life to go any other way. I love my parents and I will choose them over and over again. But the hollow feeling, the haunting dreams of her dumping me off were painful to watch without explanation.
“You are the closest being I have ever felt to her. You are truly extraordinary.” Achlys smiles. She is a beautiful woman. Although a goddess of death, she is still a goddess in her own right.
“Thank you for this.” I hold the book close to my heart. I turn to Ash. “Thank you.” A tear escapes my eye and before it runs down my cheek, Ash wipes it away. His smile warms my mending heart.
Torin walks into the library and halts his chewing, his eyes bouncing to everyone and landing on Achlys.
“Ugh, what are you doing here except sucking the life out of everyone.” He rolls his eyes and approaches us again.
“Sadly, you’ll never know of my sucking habits until it’s you I am killing.” She smiles sarcastically and looks at Ash. “Is our history lesson over? I have other things to do.”
“Like rot?” Torin takes another bite out of the pear in his hand with a smug expression on his face.
I see he can get on anyone's nerves.
“You are such an overgrown toddler.” Achlys sighs and folds her arms over her frail body.
“I’ll be back shortly,” Ash mutters to me before taking Achlys' arm and vanishing. Salem and I glance at each other at the same time. Her eyes soften and a kind smile spreads across her face. Her hand rests on my bicep.
“Time to go, red.” Torin makes the pear disappear and reaches his hand out to Salem. She only rolls her eyes, dropping her hand from me and placing it into Torin's large palm. His fingers curl over hers.
“See you tomorrow?” she says and I nod.
I squint at Torin because of how he is holding her hand. He shakes his head before vanishing and a smirk pulls at my lips.
He likes her and he will die on the denial hill. I can’t wait to tease him at our next training session.
My cheeks balloon out as I blow out a long breath. I stare over to the melted candles still in the large U shape. My brows furrow as I try to remember exactly what happened.
Shadows swirl in front of me and Ash’s baby blue eyes slowly get brighter. His small smile drops when he sees me. My legs are suddenly weak.
“You’re bleeding, Andrea.” He rushes over. I press my fingers to the cool sensation running from my nose. Blood coats my fingertips.
My vision becomes tunneled. I frantically peer up at Ash for only a moment before my gaze turns completely black.
I gasp and sit up in the unfamiliar dark room. I blink until my vision clears and I realize I am in Ash’s room in the manor. I grab the silk blanket, pull it up to my chest, and study my surroundings.
I’m here alone.
Looking down, I notice I’m in one of his T-shirts and nothing else.
I jump when the door clicks open. Ash walks in with a platter of food. When our eyes meet, he smiles and my body relaxes. He is gorgeous even in a white t-shirt and dark gray sweatpants. I actually prefer this attire to his normal black-on-black button-down and trousers.
“Brought you food.” He sets the platter of sandwiches and fruit beside me on the bed.
“What happened?” My memories are foggy.
“You passed out after the ritual. You’ve been out for about a day.”
“A day!” I shout and clutch the blanket tighter.
“Don’t worry, Brielle is still out, and I took care of you. I bathed you and put you in fresh clothes.” Ash sits beside the platter on the bed.
“You bathed me?” I ask, my cheeks heat at the thought of him seeing all of me like that. I don’t have the most perfect flawless body in the world. I have stretch marks and hip dips. I’m sure he has seen better in his life.
“Stop that,” he mutters, his hand resting on my cheek from where he is sitting.
“I didn’t say anything.” I swallow and pick up a piece of cantaloupe from the plate next to the sandwiches. I pluck the fruit into my mouth to give me something to do rather than suffer in my thoughts of my body image.
“You didn’t have to. Your face said it all.” He grabs my chin and pulls me until our noses barely touch. “If my father has gotten anything right, it’s you, little bird.” His smile turns me into putty in his hand. His words cause an ache between my legs immediately.
He chuckles, leaning over and kissing my forehead.
“Eat first,” he demands as he stands up from the bed and walks over to his dresser.
“I’m actually not even that hungry anymore.” I smile and bat my lashes when he turns around and squints his eyes. I push the blanket down and lift my knees. “I think I won’t be able to eat until I get rid of this ache.” I slowly spread my legs. The cool air hits my center from my lack of underwear.
His fault.
He doesn’t say anything as his eyes linger on my exposure. His tongue darts out to wet his lips and a tinge of electricity shoots through my body.
Without taking his eyes off my center, he begins to slide his rings off his fingers one by one. His teeth sink into his bottom lip as he prowls closer. Leaving a trail of metal in his pursuit.
He collapses on the bed and crawls until his head is in between my legs. His tongue darts out and just slightly runs the tip of it through my slit. My nipples harden at the tingle traveling around my body.
A moan of approval vibrates my clit as his lips close around it and he sucks. My head falls back and thumps against the headboard. The pain is minimal compared to the arousal coursing through my veins as he eats me like a starved man.
My eyes flutter open to the large mirror I remember seeing the first time I wandered in here. I watch Ash’s muscles ripple under his white shirt. His wings flicker from being concealed as he focuses all of his attention on me.
His fingers slip into me while he still has my clit completely in his mouth. He sinks them deep now that his rings aren’t in the way and curls them upward, hitting that perfect spot.
A loud moan echoes around the room and I cover my mouth. His head lifts from me and he sits up on his knees.
“I have just the thing for that.” His hushed voice has a whimper nearly escaping. Ash holds his empty hand out and a black silk ribbon appears in his palm.
I sink my teeth into my lip and squeeze my thighs together, chasing that release that was so close. His large hands grab my knees and force them open.
“You have to put it on if you want to come, little bird.” He smirks. I look at the ribbon and him once more and nod. “Good girl.”
Ash leans forward and I open my mouth as he places the silk upon my tongue and reaches behind me to tie it in a knot. I watch as he pulls back and lowers back between my legs. The silk doesn’t hurt my skin, but the corners of my mouth are stretched from how tight he tied it.
The pain only intensifies the exhilaration.
Ash sinks his fingers into me once again, hooking them and pressing that spot while gently lapping my clit. My body tenses as my orgasm builds and builds until it explodes. My stifled moans fill the room. My body arches from pleasure.
Once the rippling of bliss stops, I lunge forward and pull his shirt off. As he is undoing his pants, I reach behind me to untie the ribbon, but he grabs my wrist.
“What makes you think you will be quieter while I fuck you?” He sets my hands in my lap and grabs the collar of his shirt I’m wearing and rips it down the middle. I am completely naked in front of him. “Fucking heavenly,” he mutters as his eyes devour me.
Ash pulls his pants down and his cock springs free. It seems even bigger in the moonlight.
He grabs behind my thighs and pulls me to him until I am lying flat on the bed. A muffled squeal escaped through the silk.
“Are you ready?” he asks, his tip pressing where it needs to go. Before I can fully nod, he gently slides into me.
“ Fuck, ” I mumble through the fabric in my mouth.
His head drops. He sucks my nipple into his mouth and twirls his tongue around it. My body arches as he thrusts into me faster and harder this time.
Minutes or hours pass—I’m not quite sure—of him kissing and sucking and stroking me with an abundance of affection.
His praises and compliments caused at least two more orgasms to rack my body. If I wasn’t exhausted before, I am now.
He fed me two sandwiches and half a small plate of strawberries. He insisted he feed me when I told him I have hands to feed myself.
I sigh and lean against the headboard, the corners of my mouth sore from the tied silk. Ash stands. I watch his muscles ripple under his tattooed skin as he walks to my side of the bed. His arms scoop me up.
“What are you doing?” I laugh and wrap my arms around his neck while he carries me to a full-length mirror in the corner of his large room. He sets me down in front of it. I made him go across the hall and get me a tank top and a pair of my underwear for me after we were finished having sex. Thankfully, I’m not staring at my naked body in this unforgiving mirror.
“Stay right there.” Ash holds his finger up and walks over to his dresser, pulling out a familiar wooden box. My heart drops as he gets closer and opens it behind me.
He pulls out the gold locket with the engraved C and intricate floral detail I found all those nights ago.
“I don’t know if I should—” I began to protest.
“Shh, it’s yours.” He turns me back around, placing the locket on my chest and clasps it. I close my eyes, expecting the visions again, but nothing. Nothing happens. I open one eye and see Ash smirking behind me, then open the other.
I run my hand over it, the cool gold against my fingertips feels right.
“It’s so beautiful,” I whisper, and smile at his reflection behind me.
“Just as the new owner.” He kisses the top of my head before spinning me around. “Now, have you seen how big my shower is?”