Ash(76)

“I will organize a security detail for you also,” he bit out at the end of my story. “I know Ryder will be on top of it, but I have to do whatever I can to keep you safe.”

I started to shake my head. I didn’t want a security detail, I didn’t want to be followed and watched every second of the day. It was bad enough being stuck in here, and I wanted to be able to go back to college soon. I couldn’t let them stop me.

I quickly changed the subject to Tessa, hoping Lucas would forget about his plans to sic his guards on me. “You have to do something to stop it, she’s not thinking straight.” I got louder and angrier with each sentence. “Blake has her all wrapped up in love, and she misses me. She would do anything so we can live together and be in the same world again.”

Tessa was lonely. Her family was rich but not really warm or caring. She always preferred my mom and spent a lot of her younger years in our house.

The silver in Lucas’ eyes swirled, and some green lit up the iris. “I’ll do what I can, but of course this decision does not rest with me alone. I can definitely talk to Blake though, but I cannot stop him either. Any vampire has the right to petition the council to turn a human. But rarely are they granted, so your friend should be fine. She will remain a human, and soon realize that the life of a feeder is no life for her. It is a phase many humans go through. Most come out the other side and walk away from us.”

He wasn’t exactly that reassuring. It wasn’t the “No way, I’ll totally stop Blake” I’d hoped for, but it would do for now. There was nothing more I could do except continue smashing Tessa’s email inbox with my heartfelt pleas to stop being a dumbass.

We chatted for the next little while about this and that. Nothing and everything. It was nice to have someone to unload my feelings with, especially the heart-wrenching fear of seeing my best friend tied down and with a gun to his head.

“I’m not sure he’s going to forgive me,” I whispered to Lucas. “It’s my fault he ended up like that. He could have died. Oliver could have died. I feel so guilty and responsible.”

Lucas moved around my side of the bench then, sliding in next to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “None of this is your fault, Charlie. You have a big heart. You care too much and you love too deeply. Our world, it’s harsh. It’s kill or be killed much of the time. Jayden understands this. He’ll forgive you, mostly because there’s nothing to forgive. So come on, let’s head back to your apartment.”

Lucas helped me up. “Also, I have a surprise for you.”

He draped his arm around me again for the walk back to my room. Oliver was probably still there, but it didn’t matter. I needed to clear the air with Jayden.

Lucas left me at the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said as he dropped a light kiss on my cheek and left. I realized once he was gone that he’d never showed me his surprise. He’d probably forgotten.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the door, eyes fluttering as I stepped inside, hoping like hell that my best friend didn’t hate me. I already had one of them ignoring me. I needed Jayden.

Shouts enveloped me, followed by strong arms that wrapped around me and lifted me up into a hard chest. “Holy shit, Charlie, why didn’t you tell us Lucas had blood wine! This is the best mutha-effing thing I have ever tasted.”

Oliver spun me around once, before setting me back on my shaky legs. I realized then what Lucas’ surprise must have been. He’d finally come through on the cartons of wine for me surviving the culling, and Oliver and Jayden had cracked open the first bottle. Or finished it actually, judging by the inch I could see left in the bottom.

I took a second to stare at the enforcer. He looked so much better, his injuries healed up and vitality back in his face. The olive-skinned ash had been looking mighty pale when he’d first dragged himself into our room after the Sanctum took off. Now he was all drunk and happy.

I turned my attention to Jayden, who was looking his normal gorgeous black self on the couch. He sat a little straighter and held out his arms to me. I didn’t hesitate running across the room and throwing myself into his arms. “Missed you, bitch,” he said as his muscled arms enfolded around me. “Don’t you ever do anything like that again.”

I pulled back to see him better, arching one eyebrow as I did.

Jayden grinned, before leaning in and resting his forehead against mine. “I don’t care who the fuck has me and how many guns are pointed at my head, if you ever try and trade yourself for me, I will kick your ass so hard it will make Sanctum look like freakin’ Care Bears.”