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Something’s wrong.

Had Infernari found him? It was possible, but then again, I would’ve known, right? They would’ve come for me too. And they would have left the car.

Asher abandoned you.

I had to lean against the wall of the shower as the most terrifying possibility of all slipped its way in.

I wouldn’t believe it. Couldn’t. He knew what he was doing last night. We both did. Most of all, he wasloyal. Loyal to his core. He wouldn’t leave me like a coward.

And then, amidst all my worrying, I heard the front door slam shut. I turned off the water and hurriedly dried. If it wasn’t Asher, I didn’t want to be caught naked in the shower. And if it was him, then...

Then what?

I didn’t have a good answer.

I drew in a shaky breath and left the bathroom, heading downstairs.

I found him in the dining room, unholstering his gun, his back to me.

I paused on the railing. More than ever, he took my breath away.

“Asher?” I breathed.

He paused in his work, his head half turning toward me. “Hey... I didn’t want to wake you,” he said. Then he returned his attention back to his weapon.

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’tthis.

“Where’d you go?” I asked as Asher picked up his gun.

His body twitched at the question, as if I’d cursed at him.

“Nothing, just... had to grab some things,” he said, unloading the ammunition from his gun.

I forced myself to take a step down, my hand lightly resting on the railing. My legs felt like lead.

He wouldn’t look at me.

Gods,whywouldn’t he look at me?

With grim determination, Asher laid the bullets along the table, his fingers passing over them, taking stock.

“Why are you counting your bullets?” I asked.

“In case things go south,” he said, his head bowed over his work.

It took sheer willpower to keep moving down the stairs. Something felt sowrongabout this moment.

Humans deal with relationships differently, I reassured myself.

But as an Infernarus, there were things I needed.

I came up to Asher, his back still to me. I reached out to him, but then I hesitated.

He set his weapon down, and then he did turn to face me.

His expression was soft. And now he did the reaching out, pulling me into him. I almost sighed my relief as his arms encircled me and my body was pressed up against his. His lips brushed the crown of my head.

“I was worried when you were gone,” I admitted.