Page 31 of Awakened Ash and Alchemy

Helviti! The blade had damaged him more than he’d realized.

“Come on.” She gently pulled him from the car, then guided him to the front door. Her keys rattled with worried urgency.

But at the open front door, he stopped. He couldn’t move forward.

“The house is protected.” He couldn’t get past the barrier that wrapped itself around the house, like an invisible line that stretched to the perimeter of her house and front yard, skipping the back entirely.

“What?”

“I can’t go inside.” He panted from the pain tightening his chest as the poison made its way through his system, combined with the energy it took to resist this house’s wards. “Not unless you say it.”

She frowned. “Say what?”

“Welcome me in.”

She arched an eyebrow at him. “Are you like a vampire who needs to be invited in?”

“I am not a vampire,” Zarek snapped, offended. “I don’t drink blood. It’s the protection on your home.”

“Are you saying Aunt Claudine’s protection wards actually work?” Angela peered at her house as if for the first time.

He scowled at her. “It’s magic. A spell of sorts.”

“Pfft. As if.”

She really did not believe in magic?

“I can’t get past.” Obviously, because he wasn’t moving. He must have looked like a mime pressing his hand against the invisible wall. “Angela, please?” If he could get inside, behind this warded barrier, he’d be a lot safer than stuck on the streets at the mercy of the Black Cloaks while in this condition.

“Fine. What do I do?”

“Welcome me in.”

“Seriously?”

“Just say it.”

She muttered, half-embarrassed, “Welcome, Zarek. As my guest.”

And just like that, the wards shifted. The barrier parted the same way the veyll between the realms shifted, easing the pressure against his chest, back, and shoulders so that he could breathe again. Only for the pain to claim his attention.

“Thank you.” He then crossed the threshold into her domain.

FOURTEEN

“I don’t believe that worked.” Angela blinked at Zarek, with his heavy boots, walking inside her house. Aunt Claudine would have a field day knowing her wards kept out the warrior in black leather, bleeding on the front doormat. And her aunt would demand a better excuse than I found this injured… stray?

Angela moved down the hallway to her bedroom, turning on all the lights, pulling back the covers of her bed, then raced back to the front door.

“You can lie down in the bedroom.” She helped him cross the room, holding him up as they lurched down the corridor to her bed.

“I shouldn’t, I’d—” His hand pressed to his wound, her second scarf seeping now with a dark patch of blood. “I’d dirty your bed.”

Aww, bless him. “It’s okay. I’m sure it’ll just wash out.” Not that she cared when his health mattered more.

She helped him lie down, where he swamped her bed with leather and muscle, black hair, and those teal-blue eyes.

Never did she ever picture someone like Zarek lying on her light linens. She just had to drink in the sight.