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Yeah, right. Maybe if I kept telling myself that, I would end up believing it, too.
ChapterEleven
Lorraine
We sat in front of the hearth in silence, eating the food I’d made. Of all the food I’d had, this makeshift toast—which I’d made with a strange oil I’d found and a pan on the stove—was the best food I’d eaten in a long time.
Maybe it was because I was hungry.
Or maybe it was because everything about this place was strangely enticing.
“You should tell me if you need anything,” Ash said. He took another bite of toast and talked around the food in his mouth. “Whatever you need, I can get it to you.”
“I don’t need anything here…” I began.
He frowned at me.
“I could really use a phone. I need to call my sister to find out if she’s okay. Even if those men haven’t gone back for her, I’m worried about her, and not knowing is driving me crazy.”
Ash hesitated. “I don’t know if I can do that.”
“Isn’t there a village nearby? A small town, or even a city? Where did you find the food?”
“Nowhere there’s a line to your world,” Ash said.
“What?” I blinked at him. “What does that mean?”
Ash shook his head quickly. “There’s no contact around here. It’s very… medieval.” He grinned at me. “That’s the word you used, right?”
I smiled and shook my head. “I guess so.” My smile faded. “I just wish I knew if she was okay. I wish this was all over.” My lip trembled, and a lump rose in my throat. Dammit! I didn’t want to cry in front of him.
Ash was everything—big and strong and fearless. He’d saved me, and he protected me. I didn’t want to look weak in front of him. He’d been a hero, but I didn’t want to look like someone who couldn’t take care of herself.
I’d been the one to escape from the truck, after all. But if it hadn’t been for Ash, I wouldn’t have been here. I didn’t doubt that.
I sniffed, trying to swallow my tears.
“It’s okay,” Ash said, shifting closer to me. He moved carefully, as if he didn’t want to get too close. Or didn’t want to startle me. He stopped an inch or two away. “You’re going to be fine.”
“I’m not worried about being here right now,” I said. “I’m worried about going back.”
“Why?” Ash asked. He looked confused.
“I just don’t know what will happen when I do.”
Ash looked at me, his blue eyes growing lighter until they were the color of ice. “Becausehe’sback there, isn’t he?” he asked.
I stilled. “Who?”
“The guy who sold you.”
My chest tightened, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. “I don’t know what he’ll do if he knows I got away.”
“I won’t let him do anything to you,” Ash growled, his voice low and animalistic.
I shook my head.
Ash leaned in closer, and his eyes locked on mine. It felt like he was staring into my soul. “Do you hear me?” he said. “I won’t let him touch you.”
