29. Dani

I awake to the sound of screaming.

My eyes fly open in a panic and I jolt upright, raising my arms to fend off the harpies' attack. Cotton sheets twist around my ankles as I lurch to the side and I find myself falling with a soft thud! to the carpet below.

Carpet?

I blink the sleep from my eyes and glance around. I was in a bedroom. An upstairs bedroom judging by the staircase off to the left. But where was the road and the trees? Where were the demons that were chasing us like a flock of angry birds?

Where was Ashe?

Another scream echoes from somewhere downstairs and like a splash of ice water to the face everything comes rushing back.

Oh God, I saw her topless last night.

I had tried not to stare, or to not make it obvious that I was staring, but her beauty was captivating despite the spatters of blood on her skin and the painted chains that curled around her arms and torso like a silver boa constrictor. It was a constant reminder of the burdens she carried and yet she wore them with such fortitude that it was hard not to admire her for it. And, regardless of the death that they symbolized or the commitments that she was bound to as a Reaper, I found it strangely sexy all the same.

A heat flushes my cheeks as I recall the feel of her soft skin beneath my palms, the flawless alabaster like smooth marble under my touch. Her body had radiated heat like a furnace, drawing me in and begging me to touch more of her.

If only she would let me.

I don't think I've ever wanted someone so badly. I couldn't fully explain the attraction I had for her and, if anything, the distance she's been keeping me at should be enough to turn me off completely. And yet I craved her attention, her touch, her warmth. It ignited my insides like the spark of an old flame. I could go crazy trying to rationalize it.

Or maybe I already am crazy. Never in my life did I think I'd be running through the woods to escape a bunch of harpies, let alone with a magically-chained demon at my side who stirred up the kind of feelings that I haven't felt since Monica. A demon who could just as easily kill me herself as she could get me killed for simply knowing about her.

But regardless of the imminent danger, we had made it out of the woods. We made it back to Marco's in one piece. We were safe. Rose was safe—

“Rose.”

My heart leaps to my throat as I scramble to my feet and make my way to the living room. If she was waking up then I needed to be there for her. Marco might end up frightening her and I highly doubt that Ashe would have the patience for the questions she was sure to ask. Hell, that woman barely had patience for me on most days.

“Calm down!” I hear Marco growl over a muffled scream. “We're here to help you. You're safe now!”

As I round the corner I come to an abrupt stop at the sight unfolding before me.

Rose was curled up on the couch, her back pressed against the armrest and silver chains wrapped around her body like rope. Her blue eyes flared as she thrashed against the restraints, her cries stifled by the chain that gagged her mouth.

Goddammit, Ashe! “What the hell is going on?”

The redhead glances over her shoulder, her brow furrowed as she holds her arms out in front of her. The chains gleam in the light as they snake out from her skin and I repress a shiver. I'll never get used to seeing that.

“She took one look at Marco's ugly mug and panicked.” From his position behind the couch the ursing rolls his eyes and crosses his arms with a huff.

Seriously? “So your solution was to restrain her?”

“She's still reeling from the effects of the toxins in her blood.”

“Toxins?” Ashe had mentioned the other night something about a vampire's bite being poisonous. Did that mean—?

“Relax, Dani,” Marco cuts in as if to quell my fears. “It's not fatal, it just alters her thinking for a bit. It'll wear off soon enough.”

“The feeding process was interrupted,” Ashe adds. “His venom didn't have a chance to fully infect her mind so her memories of last night will return. She'll need you more when she comes down from the high and reality sets in, but right now she needs to calm the fuck down!”

How can she expect Rose to be calm when she's chained up like some kind of animal? And yelling at her sure as hell wasn't helping!

“Ashe, let her go!” I realize too late that I let another command slip and I clamp a hand over my mouth. Dammit, it was so easy to do that! What if I told her to do the wrong thing? What if I told her to kill again?

Ashe grits her teeth as the chains uncoil themselves from Rose's body and dissolve back into her skin, once more becoming a tattoo. “I told you never to do that again!”

In a fit of nerves I lick my lips, but I stand my ground all the same. She can yell at me for this some other time. Right now my friend needed me. “Well this isn't helping!”

Freed from her bindings Rose lunges, lashing out at Ashe like a wild animal as Marco grabs her by the shoulders and pins her back on the couch. The blonde pants heavily as she screams out a slew of obscenities, her rage focused on the redhead standing beside me, and I take a step back. This version of Rose, this wild and crazed maniac, it wasn't her. I didn't recognize this person.

I place a hand on Ashe's arm, which seems to infuriate Rose even more. “What's wrong with her?”

“She's been a junkie for who knows how long now. The fog lifting from her mind is probably disorienting her.” Ashe grimaces and I feel her muscles tense under my touch. “She called me a devil bitch.”

“She didn't mean it.” At least, I'm mostly sure she didn't. But a junkie? I frown. “Rose doesn't do drugs.”

Rose had finally ceased her struggling and sat stiff-backed against the armrest, her chest rising and falling as her breathing slowed. Carefully, Marco releases his hold on her and she slumps forward, her eyes trained on the cushion in front of her. She looked dazed, lost in her own little world, and my insides twist with concern. What did that bastard do to her?

“The toxins those vampires secrete basically act as a drug,” Marco explains, disgust coloring his tone. “Their victims crave its effects, which makes it easier for repeat feedings. But when the process gets interrupted, like hers was, their bodies can go into shock.”

“It can be a painful experience for junkies when that happens,” Ashe adds. “She's lucky she was unconscious for most of it.”

“Dani?” I turn my focus to the blonde, watching her wide eyes dart between the three of us as she weighs the severity of her situation, and my heart nearly breaks for her. This couldn't be easy right now and it'll only get worse as she slowly remembers everything that's happened. “Dani, what's going on? Where's James?”

Oh boy. “Honey, I'm so sorry. James is—”

“Dead.” I snap my gaze to the redhead, who merely returns my glower with a shrug. “What? No use in sugarcoating anything now.”

Did she have to be so callous about it, though?

Rose narrows her eyes, locking her icy glare on me and my blood runs cold. Ice Rose was starting to show. “Where the hell am I? Why did your crazy sex cult kidnap me?”

Marco quirks a brow and I inwardly groan under his amused gaze. “Why does she keep calling us a sex cult?”

I can practically feel the quizzical stare of hazel eyes as they bore holes in the side of my head and my face goes red. Thanks a lot, Rose!

“Her words, not mine.” As if that made it any better. With a sigh I lower myself onto the other side of the couch and take her hand in mine. She had just experienced a supernatural withdrawal, of all things. I needed to break this news to her delicately. “And they didn't kidnap you, Rose. They saved you.”

“From James?”

“He was a—”

“Ashe, please!” I cut her a look, hoping she would sense my agitation and take the hint. She was the last person who should be explaining any of this right now, if my own introduction to the supernatural was anything to go by. She was about as delicate as a rock in a glass house. “Let me handle this!”

The redhead holds up her hands in surrender and I turn my attention back to Rose. Her blue eyes have shifted their focus to Ashe and the air surrounding her became frigid. The blonde looked like she was ready to kill.

“Rose?”

“That bitch knocked me unconscious,” she seethes.

“She was trying to save you.”

“She beheaded my date.”

I cringe. “You remember that?”

“Of course I do!” she snaps. “I remember everything!”

“Then you must remember that James was trying to kill you!”

“Don't pull me into your insanity, Dani. We were on a freaking date when that crazy bitch showed up and attacked us!”

My insanity? I never asked for any of this! I know I shouldn't be angry, that I should be more understanding about her situation, but she was making it so goddamn difficult. I was trying to help her, here! And Ashe had saved her life! Why can't she see that?

“Well maybe next time don't go on a date with a vampire! You were having unprotected sex, Rose. With a vampire who drugged you. What if he impregnated you?”

“Impossible,” Ashe snorts. “Vampires are infertile. The only way to become one is by choice, and they're highly selective on who they choose.”

Not the time, Ashe! My nostrils flare as I pinch the bridge of my nose. “My point is that you could've died, hun. If it wasn't for Ashe then you probably would have.”

“You don't know how dangerous that devil is, Dani.”

Her eyes haven't left Ashe, who was returning the blonde's glare with equal intensity. Jesus Christ, it was like fire and ice in here. But Rose had no idea what I knew.

In a desperate attempt to steer this conversation back on track, I hold up my hand. “Remember this?”

The metal band glints in the morning light, catching her eye, and Rose glances at the ring. “What of it?”

“Well this is the reason why Ashe and I have been hanging out a lot lately. It bound me to her when I put it on and now we're kind of stuck together.”

Rose parts her lips and then closes them, as if recalculating her response. Then, with a sigh, she says, “I told you to let me take it off your hands.”

“And I'm glad you didn't! I've been through so much, Rose, you have no idea. It was killing me not to tell you about it all but please, believe me when I say that you were better off not knowing.”

She grunts dismissively, but I can see the fury in her eyes grow dim and with a huff she tilts her chin. “And what about the lumberjack? What is he, a werewolf in this delusional fantasy of yours?”

“Bjørnekriger,” Marco bristles. “Don't compare me to those dogs.”

“Gesundheit, Paul Bunyan,” Rose sniggers and I roll my eyes. This was going so well; at least her sense of humor was returning, though. Her eyes then flick down to the bandage wrapped around my arm and she raises her eyebrows in concern. “Oh my God! Dani, did they hurt you?”

“What? No! No, this was from a . . .” What the hell do I say? “A bird attack.” Now that I say it, it sounds kind of pathetic. But Rose just found out that werewolves and vampires exist, and that she's been a living buffet for one of them. Adding in the fact that demons were also hiding among us might be a bit much for one morning.

With another huff Rose slumps back on the couch. “This is a lot to digest without coffee.”

“Tell me about it.” I glance up at Marco. “Do you think you could brew us a pot? I'd like to talk with my friend”—I turn my head in Ashe's direction and shoot her a pointed stare—“alone, please.” All this hovering was starting to grate on my nerves.

Marco clears his throat and Ashe reluctantly follows him into the kitchen, a scowl twisting her mouth as they disappear behind a wall. She may be on edge about this whole situation, but Rose needed some room to breathe while she absorbed this new world she's been dragged into. After all the lying, I owe my friend that much.

“So James was a vampire, huh?” Rose smirks as I look back at her. “Funny. I always imagined they'd look scarier.”

“Well you've met Catalina already. I don't think they get any scarier than her.”

“She's one, too?” At my nod Rose purses her lips. “That actually explains a lot. I always knew there was something off about that woman. She's too sexy.”

“That's not the word I'd use to describe her,” I grumble under my breath. But I didn't want to talk about that devil if I could help it. I raise my arms and spread them wide in dramatic flair. “Anyway, this has been my life ever since I put on Ashe's ring. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, hun, but even if I could have I didn't think you'd believe me. Hell, I still have trouble believing that this is all real, that all those legends and movies are true.”

“How'd you even know where to find me?”

“I'm not sure, really.” How was I supposed to answer that? I don't think I could explain it even if I tried, but Rose deserved at least that much. “It was like I was seeing everything play out through your eyes. I saw the club, the woods, him, and I just, I felt . . .” I let out a frustrated huff at how nonsensical I sound. ”Intuition, I guess?”

“You and your gut feelings.”

“Better than weird dreams, right?” I offer her a small smile. “Anyway, be glad I listened to them this time.”

Rose draws her eyebrows together as she studies my face, her ice blue eyes flicking over my features as the gears turn and crank in her mind. I squirm uncomfortably under her scrutiny but finally, with a sigh, she leans over and grabs my hand. “I'm still mad that you didn't trust me enough to fill me in on what's been going on with you,” she says, her words tugging at the guilt that weighed in my chest. “But I'm also just glad that you're okay.”

I give her hand a gentle squeeze. “I'm glad you're okay, too, hun. And I'm sorry you had to get involved in all of this.”

“Well I'm not happy to learn that I was some bloodsucker's buffet without knowing it,” she laughs, shaking her head. “That's the last time I go on a date with a rando from a club. Vampires and werewolves . . .” Her words trail off as she glances in the direction that Ashe and Marco disappeared to. “So what's that make Red, then?”

Dammit! I really wanted to avoid this subject, but I also didn't want to lie to her. Again. And she was already this far in. What was the harm in pulling her into my 'insanity' a little further?

“A demon, but it's not as bad as it sounds! She's actually really nice once you get to know her.”

“A demon, huh?” She pauses, considering, and a small laugh rumbles in her throat. “That seems fitting. A devil with red hair.”

“She really isn't all that bad, Rose. And her ring, the one you told me to put on”—I affix her with my best glare but it falls flat against her exaggerated eye roll—“it keeps her from hurting me.”

Rose scoffs as she playfully flips the ends of my hair over a shoulder. “She'd have to go through me before she harms a hair on your precious head.”

There's the Rose I knew and loved.

“You don't have to worry about that.” I sigh, taking a moment to allow these revelations to fully settle before turning once more to the blonde. “So are you okay? I mean with everything. I know it's a lot to take in, but I'm so glad I can finally share it with you.”

“Well I was almost vampire chow, so I'm still coming to terms with that realization. And you apparently went from dating a bitch to fucking a demon. I'm still trying to decide which is worse.”

My cheeks burn at her blunt tone. Yeah, Rose was definitely in her right mindset now. “She's only half demon.” And we definitely aren't sleeping together!

“Well at least she isn't all bitch, so I guess she has that going for her.”

She had such a way with words.

“I really like her.” The admission escapes my lips before I can stop it and Rose furrows her brow.

“Do you even know her, Dani?”

Before I can retort, Marco appears with two ceramic mugs in hand. The smell of coffee wafts deliciously between us and I happily take his offering.

“Where's Ashe?” I ask absently as I sip on the steaming beverage. I can tell by the overabundance of French Vanilla coffee creamer that Ashe wasn't the one who made our cups and I'm instantly thankful for that. Although she tried on most mornings and I appreciated her efforts at being thoughtful, I didn't exactly share in her taste for bitter and neither would Rose.

“She's on the phone.”

This early? I peek at the time on my watch and frown. “Is it . . . work related?”

If she was being called in to work, does that mean that our impending trip to see Nadia would be canceled? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thrilled at the prospect of that. I still wasn't looking forward to this trip, or traveling with Catalina of all people, and I found myself wondering if being bound to Ashe for the rest of my life would be such a bad thing. At least then we'd be forced to confront this strange tension that's developed between us in the last week instead of her just pushing me away and avoiding it entirely.

Then again, with the ring no longer holding me hostage I could finally have my life back. A life without werewolves and charming vampires and demons trying to kill me. If I wanted a normal life again, I knew in my gut that Ashe couldn't be a part of it. That notion hurt much more than I thought it would. After six months of pining after Ashe, if by some miracle this Nadia person was able to unbind us from the soul ring's magic, was I really prepared to let her go?

Marco opens his mouth to speak when the redhead rounds the corner. “Change of plans. Catalina expects to meet us at Tri-Sun Regional in three hours before we depart.”

“Tri-Sun?” I quirk a brow. “Ashe, that's a corporate airport.”

“It's owned by the Tribunal.” She flips her phone closed and slips it into her pocket. “Cat has a private jet stationed out there. She never drives anywhere if she can help it.”

“Of course she does,” I mumble, but the redhead cocks a brow all the same.

“When you've lived for as long as she has, you develop a taste for traveling in style.”

I crinkle my nose. “It seems excessive for such a short trip.”

Ashe's lips lift into a smirk, one that always seems to be reserved only for me, and I can't help but bask in its glow. It's been too long since I've seen her sun shine and I was determined to enjoy the sight of it, even if the topic was anything but pleasant.

“That's usually Cat's style. And this isn't a request.” And just like that her sun is gone, eclipsed by that gloomy dark cloud in stilettos that seems to constantly hang over our heads.

Next to me, Rose shifts her position as she places her mug on the coffee table. “Is this your road trip to Houston that you were telling me about yesterday?” At my nod she purses her lips and her eyes regard me with silent accusations. “Going to see your sick aunt, huh?”

“Well what was I supposed to say, Rose? That I was traveling with a shifter and a vampire to see if I could remove a demon's magic ring from my hand?” David would have laughed me right out of his office if I told him that!

At this the blonde leans forward, her eyes zeroing in on the band around my finger with renewed interest. “You found a way to remove it?”

“Maybe.” I see Ashe glower at us in my peripheral and I slowly exhale. No doubt she was preparing a lecture for me on why I shouldn't talk about her ring to anyone, but this was Rose. I trusted her with my life; surely I could trust her with Ashe's secret, too. “I'll tell you all about it when I get back. Right now we need to get you home so we can—”

“No ma'am.” Rose cuts me off with a wave of her hand. “After all this, you can bet your ass I'm going with you.”

Ashe snaps her gaze to the blonde. “Like hell you're going.”

Rose returns her stare with equal fervor. “Like hell I'm not! You've been keeping my best friend from me and I finally feel like I just got her back. I'm going with you freaks and that's final.”

“Rose, what about David?” Being without one of us for a few days was one thing, but to have two of his baristas out at the same time would stretch him thin for sure. “He can't run the café with both of us gone.”

“He'll survive. Like it or not I'm going with you, Dani girl. I left you alone for one night and you went and got yourself mixed up in all this supernatural shit. You better believe I won't be making that mistake again.” She flicks her eyes to me and her brow softens. “I wouldn't forgive myself if you got hurt.”

A ball of guilt sinks to the pit of my stomach. How the hell was I supposed to say no to that?

“Okay.”

I feel Ashe's hazel eyes burning a hole in the back of my head and for a millisecond I fear that I'll spontaneously combust from the intensity. “I strongly advise against that stupidity.”

Obviously, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't please everyone. But I haven't felt like I've made any decisions for myself since I was pulled into this secret world. If I was going to take back control over my own life, even over a decision as small as this one, I had to start now.

“Rose is going and that's final,” I hiss despite the slight quiver in my tone. “I owe her that much and you owe this to me for lying.” I was so sick of all the lies.

“Getting your friend involved was not part of the plan. All you're doing is putting her life in just as much danger!”

“None of this was part of the plan, Ashe!” I press the heel of my palms against my head with a groan. “But she knows about the supernatural now and you yourself said that was a death sentence for any mortal. She'll be safer with us!”

An awkward silence descends over us, thickening the air in Marco's living room as I keep my hands pressed against my forehead. I didn't want to look at her, I didn't want to see if she was glowing with anger. I knew she wouldn't hurt me, but the ring's protection didn't extend to Rose. If she made a move to harm her then I'd be forced to command her again, but could I really keep doing that to her?

Finally, Marco clears his throat, shattering the quiet. “I'll, uh, I'll drive her home to pack. We'll meet up with you two at the airfield.”

I look over at the bear and nod, mouthing to him a silent 'thank you' as I give the blonde's hand one last squeeze. Although I was glad to have my best friend on board this crazy train, I knew deep down that Ashe was right—her life was in just as much danger as mine was now. If Nadia is able to unbind me from the ring, at least then Rose would be safe and we could return to normalcy.

But after everything we've been through, after getting to know her and finding what felt like a piece that I had been missing for so long, could I really go back to a life without Ashe?

“Right,” Rose huffs, pushing herself to her feet. “Then let's get this freak show on the road.”

A groan rattles in my throat. This was going to be a very long trip.

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A/N: This is going to get interesting! What could possibly go wrong? 🤔

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