Page 37 of Those That Defy the Realm

PART TWO

CRUEL SUMMER

CHAPTER 14

CLAIRE

Imust’ve misheard. Ash didn’t just stride in here and proposition both me and Henry.

Did he?

“What?” Henry regains the ability to speak first, beating me to the question.

“A summer fling. We could hook up as much as we like over the next month. With an end date, it takes all the pressure off and keeps it casual. No feelings.”

“Were you listening outside?” Henry stands, his face a blank slate. I cannot get a read on what he thinks of Ash's crazy idea. His voice remains calm and annoyingly collected.

“I wasn’t meaning to but—” Ash starts to say but Henry crosses his arms over his chest. “Okay, yes. I was listening. I’m sorry. After what you said last night, I couldn’t help myself.”

“What happened last night?” I find myself blurting. Had Henry been discussing me with Ash after I told him that we had to keep this under wraps.

Both of them turn so they’re including me more fully in their conversation. Henry wipes a hand over his face as Ash tucks his into his jeans pockets.

“Henry?” I press.

“I may have confided in Ash. I know you said we needed to keep it quiet, and I agree with you. But Ash needed to know.”

“Why?” I can’t think of a single reason.

“Because…” he hesitates.

“Because I tried to come on to him last night. He stroked my fur after I saved his life, and he came looking for me, and I thought I was reading the situation correctly,” Ash replies, making me even more confused than I was before.

“I feel I’m missing something.”

“Ash and I slept together last Solstice,” Henry supplies and finally the puzzle pieces start falling into place. It slightly surprises me as Henry hasn’t expressed to me that he’s bisexual, but whilst we messaged a lot I guess we didn’t delve that deeply into sexual preferences.

“What does that have to do with me? If you two want to hook up again, I’m not stopping you. In fact that seems ideal.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Henry perches back on my bed. “I don’t care what you say, you were disappointed that we got interrupted the other day.”

“Fine, I was disappointed. Doesn’t mean we should do it again.”

“But wouldn’t it be fun?” Ash chimes in, reminding me that he is proposing something wholly different.

“What you’re suggesting is ludicrous,” Henry says.

“Is it?” Ash raises an eyebrow and his lips lift on one side, giving him a playful look, a look which says I dare you. “The way I see it, you two get to finish what you started.” He points between Henry and I. “And I get to play with you some more.” He switches so his index finger waggles between his own chest and Henry’s. “And I’m sure we can have some fun.” The heat in his eyes as he looks at me says he’s thought about it, that he’s had enough time to imagine us all, together.

You have no sense of adventure. His voice pops into my head. I didn’t have you pegged for a boring copycat of every other sheep on this island, but I guess I was wrong.

“Fuck it, it’ll be fun,” I say with conviction, clapping my palms to my thighs. “But we tell nobody. And it ends when Ash has to leave. Zero attachments.”

Henry looks more shocked now than when Ash burst into the room.

Ash winks like he knew I’d be the first one to get on board with his plan.

“So, we’d be all together, each time?” Henry asks a valid question.