Page 39 of Thorn & Ash

Her Evander.

She felt suddenly ashamed and nervous, worried her voice wouldn’t be as smooth as before. That what they’d shared earlier was an anomaly that couldn’t be repeated. Mona wasn’t a singer, after all. She joined in with the coven songs occasionally, but her voice wasn’t anything to be admired.

And after what had happened between her and Evander, how could she find the courage to do this with him again? To expose this raw part of herself? Before, she had just been a soul, and he had just been a guardian. But now? They were something else to each other. And Mona barely had the strength to speak to him, let alone do anything else.

“Please, Mona,” Evander repeated, his expression tense with desperation. “I don’t like whatever darkness is creeping into these waters. I fear it might harm you.”

The concern in his voice melted away a portion of her anxiety. She took a deep breath and nodded slowly. “You go first. I—I don’t know if I remember the melody.”

This was a lie. The tune had stuck with her so permanently she knew she would remember it for years. But her insides were too frozen and stiff to respond immediately. If Evander started, perhaps she could find her courage.

You are not a coward, Prue had once told her.

Oh, but I am, Mona thought sadly. I’m such a coward that I can’t even sing in front of this beautiful man.

Evander opened his mouth, and the sweet, sad melody poured from his lips, embracing Mona with all its potent grief and longing. She closed her eyes, swept away in the sound of it, the tension in her chest loosening from the thrill of the song. In seconds, she joined in, her voice echoing along with his. He found a harmony to compliment her melody, the strands of music flowing up and down, twining and twisting within one another.

Just as our bodies did in the woods, Mona thought, the image of them pressed against each other rising unbidden in her mind.

Her voice stuttered and faltered as she lost her grip on the melody for the briefest of moments. Then, something solid and warm gripped her fingers, giving her strength. She focused on that warmth, bringing her voice back to the song. The heat of Evander’s touch spread through her fingers, up to her wrist and forearm, and then all the way to her shoulder. And still, she kept singing with him. His voice drew nearer, but she kept her eyes shut tight, worried if she looked at him, he would unravel her completely.

The song continued for what felt like hours, but Mona’s voice never grew tired. The haunting melody seemed to fuel her, feeding her strength with every note she sang. The energy coursing and swelling through her was so similar to her own magic that Mona found herself aching for it, yearning for her earth magic.

Mona wasn’t sure how much time had passed—days, perhaps? It felt like an eternity, but she couldn’t bring herself to stop. Finally, at long last, she felt something yank her forward. Her feet splashed into the water, and she fell against Evander’s hard chest with a grunt.

Her eyes snapped open, and she looked up at him with wide eyes. His arms came around her easily, pressing her body to his, his gaze soft as he looked down at her.

Behind him, wide and magnificent, were his dark red leathery wings. They had been out earlier, but Mona hadn’t realized how long they were when completely stretched out like this. Evander’s wingspan seemed longer than his entire body—perhaps even twice as long.

Goddess above, he was breathtaking. Dark power emanated from him in rippling waves, making her skin tingle and her blood sing. She found herself leaning closer to him, drawn in by the sheer force of the energy pulsing through him. She wanted to feel his skin against hers, to drink in the power quivering from him.

What the hell is the matter with me? Mona wanted to smack herself. It must’ve been the shock and overwhelming thrill of being in her body once more. Before, she had nearly taken Evander inside her, right there in the woods. Now, she felt a tingling awareness everywhere he touched her, her skin buzzing with life.

She wanted him. She couldn’t deny it. Perhaps it was a temporary lust that would fade eventually, but right here and now, she wanted to rip his clothes from him and discover what it would be like to have the full weight of his cock inside her.

She imagined it would be the most exhilarating and intoxicating feeling in the world. And she had never wanted anything more in her life.

“Mona,” Evander said, his voice a soft groan. Desire ignited in his gaze, and his wings flared slightly.

Mona’s lips parted, her mouth turning dry. His power, brutal and magnificent, would be her undoing.

But she didn’t care. She wanted to come undone. She wanted him to do this to her.

“We—we need to leave,” he said, his voice low and husky. But he didn’t move. His arms still trapped her against him, his face a mere breath away from hers. And Goddess, his scent… Pine and freshwater and that musky man scent that made Mona’s skin heat.

“Yes,” Mona whispered, though she made no move to leave, either.

A scream pierced the air, jolting Mona from the hazy fog of her mind. She jerked, glancing around wildly for the source.

Evander’s face drained of color. “That came from farther up the river. In Acheron. Whatever is happening to these waters, it’s hurting the souls.” Urgency and clarity burned in his gaze. “Mona. Come with me now. We have to get back to Cocytus.” He withdrew from her, and Mona suppressed a shiver at the sudden coldness from his absence. Instead, Evander extended his hand to her, and Mona laced her fingers with his, relishing the small, subtle touch. Not nearly as thrilling as being pressed flush against his chest, but her skin still hummed from the contact.

Evander met her gaze and nodded encouragingly. Then, he led her out of the water and downhill, away from the howling screams echoing behind them.

TRUTH

EVANDER

Before Mona’s Resurrection