Chapter 33
Seph
Sy was waiting at the gate when we pulled up, back in his human form. I stepped out of the car and walked straight toward him. He immediately fell into place beside me.
I could tell he was glad I had returned safely, but his gaze lingered a little too long on Kieran as he stepped out of the car.
I didn’t react. I just walked inside.
In the shared common room by the entry, Dev sat with a book in his hand, watching the door. He lounged with the grace of a man completely at ease, his legs propped up on the table as if he had all the time in the world.
When I walked in, he went still.
He was trying so hard not to look at me. But I knew he wanted to.
I watched him for a moment, waiting for just one sign. For one moment of clarity.
But there wasn’t one.
A glitch.
I looked away from him, the hurt settling deeper. I rubbed my arms, trying to steady my breathing.
When Kieran stepped into the room, Dev met his eyes.
“Welcome home. Took you long enough,” Dev said, a little glib.
“We had a little detour,” Kieran said.
I felt both men watching me as I stepped away, steady and unmoving.
My insides felt grated raw. I was exhausted.
So I ignored them both and stalked upstairs to my room. I got there just as Sable was stepping out.
“Sable.”
She stilled. “Hey.”
“What are you doing?”
“Just checking on my patient in there.”
“And how is he?”
“Sleeping.”
I nodded. “Okay, thank you.”
“Seph, about what happened today—”
“I don’t want to talk right now, okay?” I cut her off. “I’m tired.”
“Seph—”
“I said I don’t want to talk. Goodnight, Sable.”
Sable frowned. “Goodnight, Seph.”
I slipped past her and shut the door behind me.
Ash was sprawled across my bed, sleeping like the dead.
I grabbed a blanket from the floor and pulled it over him, covering his bare skin. Then I crawled in beside him.
He shifted slightly, even in his sleep, moving closer.
I watched him for a long time. The rise and fall of his chest became a lullaby for my broken soul.
Finally, it lulled me to sleep.
And then I began to dream.
Water surrounded me, slowing my movements. My eyesight was dim, blurred.
The darkness was deep and familiar to me, like I had been here before.
Many times.
I could hear a murmuring of voices, muffled and far away. When the light returned, I could see through what looked like a warped window.
There were people there.
They were angry.
Strange tools lay scattered across benches, things I didn’t understand. Long, black, cylinders. The men held them tight against their chests.
Weapons. I didn’t know their names, but I knew what they were for.
And my creator, he had something in hand. Something that shimmered.
“Will it be ready?” someone asked.
“I can’t do it without…”
The words faded, like I was going deaf. I couldn’t hear them.
Echo!
Stay away Seph. Don’t come back here.
The connection cut off and I woke in my bed, alone.
My pillow was wet, like I had been crying in my sleep.
She must be so scared.
I had to get to her. There had to be a way.
But how could I go there when no one would help me?
She’s not a priority, Elliot had said.
She was made to control you.
It was effective in its cruelty.
I won’t give up on you, Echo. I promise.
I sat up to the sound of the shower running in the darkness.
I stood and walked toward the open door, tugging at my sleeves. I heard the shower shut off. When Ash emerged draped in a white towel, I stilled. My hand went to my mouth. I bit back a sob.
“Ash,” I whispered.
He stepped out, his eyes confused. “What? Are you okay?”
I looked at the cuts and bruises over his chest and arms. Many were still raw and angry, though thanks to Sable they were closing.
One whole side of his torso had been black with bruising earlier. Now it was fading to a sickly green.
“ Am I okay ?” I moved to him. “What about you?”
He looked down at himself, completely calm.
“I’m healing though,” he said, his voice troubled, his brow furrowing as he looked at me. “Seph, why are you crying?”
My throat tightened. I hadn’t even realized I was crying until he said it.
I slid down to the floor. Ash knelt beside me.
“Seph, what is it? I don’t understand.” He frowned.
“I’m so sorry, Ash,” I whispered.
“For what? Did you do something?” He looked genuinely perplexed.
“For that!” I gestured at his bruised side. “You got hurt because I was so stupid—”
“Hey! You aren’t stupid! Don’t listen to K. He’s a wanker. This isn’t because of you.”
“Of course it is! You wouldn’t have even been out there if it wasn’t for me—”
“Seph, this is not the first time I’ve been tortured.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “What?”
He shrugged. “It’s happened a few times. Mostly when I was a kid. After a few days I’m fine again, so don’t worry.”
“After a few days—” Something twisted hard in my chest.
“Ash, this is not okay!”
“I mean, it’s not fun, but—”
“Ash Lyconis! You listen to me right now! You don’t ever get yourself in a position to get hurt like this again for me, is that clear?”
Ash blinked. “Were you worried about me?”
“I’ve been out of my goddamn mind worried about you, you crazy loon.”
He kept watching me until a wide smile spread across his face. “You really do like me, huh?”
“Of course I like you, you fool,” I muttered, my face going red.
“A lot?” he asked, a little unsure.
I rolled my eyes at him. “Yes, a lot—are you happy now—”
He lunged forward as if to kiss me, but I stopped him. “Wait!”
He paused, his face falling.
I could feel my power churning after my dream. I took a breath. “I’m not stable right now. Just give me a minute.” I tried to ground myself.
“How about this then?”
Ash tugged the towel from his waist and dragged it between us, like he was making it up as he went. Then he leaned in and kissed me through it.
I could feel it warming me to my toes.
I pulled my hands into my sleeves and wrapped my arms around him.
It took me only a few seconds to realise he was now completely naked.
When I felt him brush against me, I froze, mortified.
“Um, I’m sorry—” I mumbled, pulling back. He didn’t let go.
“Do you like what I look like?” he asked quietly.
I looked into his eyes. For the first time, he looked a little nervous.
He swallowed, waiting for my reaction.
I glanced at his body—strong, muscular.
And below.
He was hard. Oh my god.
I caught my breath. I had never seen a man naked before.
I blinked rapidly. “Um. Yes. Um.” I lifted my hands to cover my eyes. “Very much yes.”
It was overwhelming.
He pulled my hand gently from my face. “You can look at me,” he said quietly.
I didn’t want to.
And I really, really did.
My eyes dropped before I could stop them. My breath caught.
Oh—
Heat flooded my face so fast it made me dizzy. I should’ve looked away. I knew I should’ve. But I didn’t. Not properly. Not all at once. My gaze flicked—then dragged—then stayed.
He was beautiful.
My pulse stuttered hard in my chest.
When I finally forced myself to look back up, he was already watching me.
Waiting.
“Everything I am is yours,” he said quietly, like it was the simplest thing in the world.
My breath caught. My hand twitched between us.
I didn’t even realise I’d moved until I felt it—the pull.
I snatched it back, pressing it hard into my sleeve like that would stop it. Like that would stop me.
I closed my eyes, dragging in a breath that didn’t quite work.
“Ash…”
My voice shook.
“I want to—but I can’t. I’m scared I’ll—”
Ash smiled and gently touched my hair. “It’s okay. I’m not in any hurry.”
I clenched my fists tightly and groaned. “I’m sorry!”
“You don’t have to apologise to me, Seph.” Ash said, but he stepped back and all I felt was colder. I watched him dress quickly in pants and a black T shirt. He sent me a small smirk, and I knew he meant it.
“But I do. I hate being like this. I hate all of it.”
He sat beside me. “I know. But you want to know what I think?”
I let out a deep breath. “What?”
“I think that you’re amazing, just as you are. And that together we’ll figure this out.”
“I wish I had your confidence.”
He shrugged. “It’s not confidence. I just know it. You’re mine, and I’ll have you any way I can—even if we never do anything like that.”
“That’s not fair on you.”
“Of course it is.” He stood up and walked over to the dresser, grabbing my gloves. He handed them to me.
“Come on. Time to face the firing squad.”