Page 37 of Midnight Whispers
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After the officersenter the cottage, I move to the space behind it and take my leave toward my own home. The mossy floor of the forest disappears as I speed through the trees, my feet practically hovering over the ground. I wasn’t expecting Parker’s body to wash up on the shore, so now the situation needs to be monitored just in case I need to do some damage control. However, I’m good about remaining in the shadows so I don’t know why I would even be on anyone's radar.
I come to a halt as I near the manor. Asher is standing on his balcony and of course, he’s naked. He’s looking around, almost as if he’s taking in the view from around the grounds. His eyes meet mine and he waves with a big smile plastered across his face.
“Put some fucking clothes on, Asher,” I say, not needing to yell because he can hear me from this distance.
“But the weather is so nice,” he groans.
I roll my eyes and finish my walk into the house. For the entirety of our life together, he has enjoyed being without clothing. That’s one of the reasons this residence is a favorite ofhis; there’s more than enough land that even our nearest neighbor can’t see him.
The darkness from the loss of sunlight begins to take over the inside of the manor, casting shadows throughout the floor of the manor. I walk up one side of the dual staircase and cross across the upper corridor before going down the hallway to my bedroom. This house is too big for us and unnecessary, but I’d never tell Asher that. For whatever reason he has a strong belief that one day we will have enough vampires in our coven to fill the entire house, all nine bedrooms worth. And maybe one day we will. I walk through my bedroom and through the closet into the bathroom. My skin is still sticky with the remnants of dirt from my altercation with Cedar.
Cedar.
My blood boils as I recall the memory from last night.
I turn the knob that controls the shower and move it all the way to hot, warming the water while stripping off my clothing. Once my clothing is all in the hamper, I step into the tile lined shower and adjust the water to the right temperature. The water floods over my cold skin and the dirt and blood washes off me, changing the tile to a dark color momentarily. Once I’m finished, I turn off the water and wrap a towel around my waist. I must have been in my own world within my mind because I failed to see Asher laying in my bed until I tossed the towel onto it. I’m just thankful he was dressed.
“Oh shit, Ash. You could warn me next time.”
“Vampires are supposed to have heightened senses, how did you not see me or at least realize I was here?” he teases.
“I must have been lost in thought,” I sigh and pull on my underwear. “What can I do for you Ash?”
“I heard someone washed up on the shore. Was that you or was it one of ourfriendsin the area?” He looks at me with a raised brow.
“It was me,” I responded in a disappointed tone.
“That’s a newly made vampire mistake, Finnian. You must be more careful! However, I went down to the coroner and was able to see that he had no bite marks. Why did you kill this one?”
“He hurt someone I care about.”
“The mortal girl?”
“Yes.”
“The one you said you feel the need to protect from Cedar?”
“Yes.”
“You love her?”
“I do,” I responded without hesitation, taking myself by surprise. I don’t even try to lie because the sire bond doesn’t allow us to lie to our makers. Asher understands the gravity of the situation, especially as I admit to him my true feelings for her. The feelings that I just announced for the first time.
His only response is, “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“If she is important to you, Finnian, then she is important to me.” He moves off the bed and stands in front of me. “But tell me, what are you truly so afraid of?”
“She’s toogoodfor me, Asher.”
“I don’t believe that. Not for one second.”
“You have not met her. You don’t see the innocence in her eyes, the trust she holds for me. The trust I can so easily ruin by letting go of the grasp I have on my instincts. Asher, I could kill her so easily.”
“But you won’t. It’s taken you far too longto evenwantto try to love again. Do you honestly believe yourself to be such a monster that you are undeserving of that love?”