“Come on, there had to be at least once.” Ash huffed, already backing away from us. “Plus, man, you are kind of stuck here for the moment.” He winked at us. “Maybe a good time to work your shit out.”
“Ash...” Warwick warned, starting to step toward him, dragging me with him.
Ash grinned wider, giving us a salute before jogging up the dozen steps and out the church door, disappearing into the night.
“Ash!” Warwick bellowed, but only silence responded until we heard the firing of a motorcycle engine, the sound of it rumbling away. “Stupid asshole!”
He ran his free hand through his hair. It was down and hung loosely around his face. His aqua eyes rose until they met mine.
The air shifted in the room with the realization we were alone, with no buffer and no immediate threat to deal with.
Just us.
Every wall slammed up between us, pushing us the farthest we could be from each other and still be touching.
Resentment. Anger. Hatred. Desire.
And an unwanted connection.
I had so much to say, but nothing would leave my mouth. I would not ask for his help dealing with the ghosts. I wouldn’t ask him for anything.
A growl reverberated from Warwick’s throat. He pulled me in, his jaw clenching.
“What?” I snapped.
“You were supposed to stay in thefuckinghouse with Ash.” He gritted through his teeth. “Was that sofuckinghard?”
“Excuse me?” My shoulders rose, moving away.
“You heard me.” He took back the space between us, using his height to loom over me. “But even that you couldn’t seem to do.”
“Because I don’t take orders from you.” I sneered back. “Don’t you dare treat me like I’m some helpless woman who will bend to your will, bat my lashes, and swoon. If that’s what you want, you’re looking at the wrong girl, you misogynistic asshole.”
“Fucking hell, woman.” He pinched his nose, a snarl rolling underneath. “This has nothing to do with the fact you are a woman. Faedon’t think women are less; fae women are brutal warriors. We think ofhumansas less.”
“Coming from a guy who’s half human.”
He grunted, annoyance rolling his head back. “I’d askanyonewho was beinghuntedby various groups to stay fucking indoors.”
“Not sure why you give a shit.” I hated how bitterness and jealousy sprouted in my tone. “You looked perfectly content. She’s beautiful... and he looks just like you, by the way. Thought you were against marriage?”
“Who said I was married?”
“Ahhh... so she’s a woman you got pregnant and abandoned, so you can be free to fuck everything else?”
Warwick’s jaw rolled, anger rolling over him so intensely, then he stilled. Any normal person would be terrified, but I continued to needle him.
“Are they why you turned me over to Killian?” I tried to keep my voice steady. Unaffected. “For your child and... what would you call her?” I didn’t know what she was to him, except she stared at him like he was her whole world.
He yanked me into him, our bodies fully lining up, the jolt of adrenaline zinging down my veins.
“You have no fucking clue what you’re talking about,” he growled, fury firing in his features. “So, for once, do what I say, and shut the hell up.”
My lids lowered at his demand. A dark smile hinted on my lips as I went up on my toes, my lips brushing the shell of his ear. I could feel him inhale, his fingers pressing harder into my arm.
I nipped at his skin, my breath heavy in his ear. I felt his desire curling around me, making my lips twitch.
My breath raked down his neck. “No.” I stepped back, my phantom self was punching a fist into his abdomen with all the force I could muster, using his as well.
