“I’m so sorry, Rev," Zuri says, her voice cracking. “That came out so, so wrong. I love you, I didn’t mean to hurt you and I didn’t mean what I said.”
“I know," Reverie whispers, but doesn’t move from her spot.
“Can I lay with you?” Zuri is crouched by the bed, and Reverie nods, so she gently drapes herself on the side opposite me. Not touching either of us, but still close enough that we can all take comfort in each other.
“I hate being small. I hate being unseen, treated like I don’t matter, that I can’t have friends,” Reverie whispers. My heart cracks again.
“I can’t believe I did that. Reverie, I’m so sorry. I wish I could take it back. Can I explain what I meant? Because what I said…” she shakes her head, “it was all wrong.”
“Okay.”
“I meant that he shouldn’t come here because it wouldn’t be safe for you. I care about you so much, the problem isn’t you, it’s him. I don’t trust that family, and having both of you here is dangerous. You are perfect, you belong here, with us, but I’m not willing to put your safety at risk like that," Zuri says, her voice strained.
Reverie and I are both quiet after she finishes speaking, and I wait for Rev to decide if she wants to say something for herself before I do.
“That’s not your decision to make,” Reverie replies, her voice small but mighty.
Zuri draws back, and I worry she’ll get defensive again, but then she slumps against the bed.
“It’s not. You’re right.” She pinches her lips as she stares up at the ceiling.
“I trust him, Z. He’s not like his family, and I know you don’t trust him, but do you trust me? I would never,neverput Reverie at risk. I think you know that," I say.
She nods, her eyes glassy. “I do, Raya. I do know that. It’s just hard, I’ve hated him and his family my whole life. It’s hard to set that aside.”
“I get that, but please. You have to try," I say.
Reverie reaches out and snags a lock of Zuri’s hair, stroking it, and Zuri turns her head to look at us.
“I will. I’ll do better, I promise,” she says.
28
THERE’S MORE?
RAYA
I decideto give Zuri some space to come to terms with our arrangement, so Asher and I go for a quick hike at one of my favorite local trails this morning. It gives me some extra time to think things over, and I decide low key card games are probably the safest route for our ‘get to know and hope the vampires don’t kill each other’ game day.
I text Zuri a two hour heads up when we get back to the car, having already planned to shower back at Asher’s place. I’ve still got my head in the clouds, thinking through plans and backup scenarios, when we walk through his front door and he tugs me toward the bathroom.
“What—” I start to question what he’s doing when his lips cut me off.
His soft lips are warm on mine, and he pulls me against him. I instantly melt into his embrace, parting my lips when his tongue brushes over them, and letting out a soft whimper when his hand squeezes my backside.
“Your ass in those leggings. Were you trying to murder me with that hike, little shifter? Because you nearly succeeded.”He groans out the words, still kissing me in between speaking them.
I don’t have the mental capacity to answer, though some part of me preens smugly at the compliment because yes, I did pick these specific leggings because of how they accentuate my curves.
His strong hands grip under my thighs and he lifts me onto the bathroom counter, stepping between my legs and parting them further as he continues to devour my mouth with his. I fist my hands in his shirt when leans us both to the side, lips not leaving mine as he turns the shower on, then his hands return to me.
Asher cups my jaw, tilting my face with his thumb under my chin, then sliding his fingers to tangle in my hair as he pulls my head back and angles me the way he wants. Tingles start shooting up and down my spine, and I focus on the cool counter beneath me for a moment to hold back the shift.
When Asher’s mouth moves down my neck, my pulse jumps under his lips and he nips at it with a tortured groan, then pulls away. His breathing is heavy, chest rising and falling inches in front of me, fangs on full display. My breath catches at the sight and my heart skips a beat; his eyes fall to my pulse point before he wrenches them away and focuses on my clothing instead.
“Up,” he demands, pulling my shirt and sports bra off before yanking his own shirt over his head with one hand.
The other pulls me off the counter and before I know it, he’s sucked my nipple into his mouth while his hands roll the leggings down my legs until I clumsily slip my feet out. Ash’s fangs graze my hardened nipple as he lets go of one and switches to the other, and I gulp in lungfuls of air, certain I’m the one in danger of perishing now.
