Page 13

Asher suddenly burst into laughter, his sharp fangs peeking from behind his lips.

I sucked in a breath.

Jax didn’t seem to find the humor in the situation like Asher. He hissed and rubbed the back of his hand across his face, sneering angrily.

“Ungrateful whore.”

My heart stuttered and tears flooded my eyes. I’d been trying to hold them back this entire time, but his hateful words unraveled me.

I was a whore. I’d given in to their bite when I knew better.

Asher stiffened while I lay limp under him.

“Out,” Asher hissed, his weight lifting off me. They volleyed insults back and forth in their language.

Swiping at the tears that trickled free, I gulped in breaths, but nothing abated the pressure that settled on my chest.

The door slammed, but I didn’t move.

“Catalina.” Asher’s voice held a gentleness that destroyed the progress I had made with my tears. The bed dipped and hisarms slipped under my body. He lifted me with ease, settling me higher on the bed.

I leaned against the headboard, squeezing my eyes shut, counting back from ten. Asher hovered near my face, so close that his nose grazed mine. I jerked back so fast, the back of my head hit wood.

Wincing, I swallowed hard.

He cupped the back of my head gently and pulled me towards him.

“If you drank more, you wouldn’t need these.” His knuckles rapped against my arm cast.

I winced. It still hurt, but I couldn’t deny the insufferable agony had abated slightly.

“What happened to you?”

“You think I betrayed you, so why are you trying to take care of me?”

Asher went quiet and he moved to the edge of the bed. The mattress was clearly good quality because it didn’t dip under his massive body. He arranged my legs straight and the movement didn’t hurt as much as before.

“I don’t know what to believe, Catalina,” he murmured. “You admitted that Calliope sent you to us.”

I pursed my lips.

“You didn’t hear me out.” My voice cracked and I paused to clear my throat. “She asked me to bring it to her, but I wouldn’t have.”

“I want to believe you,” he murmured with his gaze unfocused. “Everything would be simple if I could compel you. Then there would be no doubt.”

He may as well kill me now if he thought this way.

“I get you have trust issues, but your vote of confidence is really appreciated,” I said sarcastically.

“I’ve seen too much to believe without questioning.”

I clamped my lips shut. Even after I explained, he didn’t believe me. Sure, it didn’t look good that I’d been snooping around, but hadn’t I garnered a little consideration?

His fingers wrapped around my good wrist and then something soft tickled my skin. My eyes rounded on the fuzzy cuffs leading to the other side that he held.

“Don’t worry, Pet, they’re brand new, just for you.” He lifted his arm, taking mine with his, pulling as he hooked it around the sturdy headboard bar.

I jerked against it, but the wood wasn’t fazed.