Page 127 of When Ashes Fall

Those words drove another dagger into my heart, but they didn’t evoke my anger. I was too content for that.

“I left to protect you after leaving those bruises on you,” I told her.

“You know, you really should stop assuming things and exerting your will over me. Those bruises didn’t bother me. You didn’t go any further than I willingly let you go.”

“And now I know that.”

And now, maybe we can play a little bit more.

Briar stared at me before her shoulders slumped and she crawled onto the bed. She curled onto her side and propped her hands beneath her head. Her rigid body told me she’d prefer to be anywhere else, but when I lay down behind her, she closed her eyes and nestled into me.

She fit so perfectly against me. She may not like it, but her body couldn’t resist mine.

“I’ll always keep you safe,” I told her as I brushed the hair back from her face. “I’m never letting you go again.”

Her lashes fluttered, and she didn’t speak. An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach as her eyes closed once more. She’d forgive me; she had to… but for the first time, I wasn’t so certain she would.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

Briar

I’d taken to spending a lot of time in the castle’s kitchen, so no one questioned me when I arrived to help the sprites prepare breakfast. I set a cauldron full of growing potion on a spit to boil, which was something they’d also gotten used to me doing since discovering the gorman.

Despite Zephyr’s knowledge of how to make the potion, I would ensure they had plenty of it after I left. The cabinets were already overflowing with vials, but guilt was chewing at my insides, and I couldn’t leave without making one final batch for them.

And I was leaving… today.

Last night had only solidified my determination to escape this place. Not only had Knox done exactly what I’d told him not to, but he hadn’t bothered to apologize for it or any of the other numerous things he’d done since taking me from the harem.

I was tired of being his toy, tired of being pushed around, and sick of having my feelings completely disregarded. If I stayed here, he would forever run all over me, and I refused to let him push me around anymore.

Knox and the beast could fuck off as far as I was concerned.

While I helped prepare the meal, it was easy enough to slip the sleeping potion into the tea and coffee the sprites brewed. They were in two separate cauldrons, both near the one containing my potion. I helped the sprites by stirring both pots while they gathered ingredients.

I’d fallen into the easy flow of their mornings as they bustled around the kitchen and halls. I was one more set of trusted, helping hands. That didn’t ease my guilt.

When Merribell asked me to add water to her pancake batter, I poured more sleeping potion into it instead. No one said no to Merribell’s pancakes.

I forced a smile and laughter as I moved about the kitchen; it was what the sprites expected from me—before the plants started dying—but a growing ball of dread was forming in my stomach. The sprites were my friends, and I was about to put them all to sleep. I hoped they could forgive me one day.

But that wasn’t my only cause for concern. My gaze drifted to the cuckoo clock on the wall. It was nearly breakfast time, but there’d been no sign of Knox.

He was sound asleep when I crept from his bed this morning. I was certain I’d wake him while I dressed, but he’d remained lying on his back with his arm draped over his head and his face turned toward me.

In sleep, he looked peaceful in a way I had never seen when he was awake. His carved features were relaxed, his full mouth slightly parted on his breaths as his chest rose and fell steadily. Black stubble lined his carved jaw, and for a second, I itched to crawl back into that bed with him, kiss him awake, and lose myself to him again, but I’d never leave if I did.

And if I didn’t leave Wildwood, he’d destroy me. He’d beat down my spirit beneath his domineering soul until nothing of me remained.

With a knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat, I’d tiptoed from his bedroom and across his large sitting room. The maroon curtains on the windows were all open, revealing the gray sky beyond the balcony overlooking the land.

A grandfather clock steadily ticked away the seconds as I crept across the room. I kept waiting for Knox to wake up and stop me, but he didn’t. I doubted he’d slept the entire time he was gone; he was making up for that now.

But if he stays asleep now, he won’t be here to eat breakfast, and if he wakes to find everyone asleep…

I gulped at the possibility. That would be so BAD.

If Knox didn’t wake soon, I’d find a way to spill the coffee and tea all over the pancakes before they left this room.