Page 27 of Ash
ChapterTwenty-One
Lainey
“Here.” Ace was suddenly there, his face hovering over mine. “Let's get you out of all these clothes and have a look at that pretty neck of yours, hey.” Ash’s commander tugged the thick hoodie down so he could take a closer look at my throat which was being squeezed mercilessly by Ash. I wanted to tell them both that I was fine and that it was just a little blood but no words would come. Mostly Because the grip Ash had on me made it hard to breathe let alone talk.
A low rumbling vibrated through my back and my eyes bugged. I threw a frantic glance at Ace who didn't seem startled by the fact that one of his men was growling at him at all.
“Stand down soldier,” Ace said quietly.
Ash took no notice whatsoever. Pulling me closer, he increased his grip.
“I said stand the fuck down ash.” Ace finally raised his voice. “I can't do anything to help her if you don't. Hell, you're going to kill her yourself if you carry on gripping her neck like you are.” Ace’s voice dipped. “You need to get back in control.”
Ash let go of me so suddenly that I fell, only to be caught back into his arms. Only this time they were gentle. A soft caress and that somehow was worse.
“I am sorry, I am so sorry.” He whispered over and over again.
“Let me look.'' Ace, like he was talking to a child, finally calmed Ash enough to prise his hand away from my bleeding throat.
Fresh hot blood spurted out, but it seemed to be slowing. It didn't feel like I couldn't breathe anymore, even the fear was abating. I felt oddly ok for someone who had just had their throat slit by a giant claw.
“Well, that's not bad.'' Ace gave me a small smile before his eyes darted to Ash. “Nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.”
Something passed between them. Some unspoken thing that I didn't have a hope of deciphering.
“You gave her-” Ace asked.
“Just a little, she was in a bad way when I found her.”
Scrambling out of Ace's arms I sat up, glancing daggers at both of them in turn. “What did you give me?” My eyes fell on Ash and stayed there. “What did you give me, Ash?” Anger was making what blood I had left boil in my veins. If he had drugged me with some weird shit I would never forgive him. Hell, I wasn't sure i could forgive him anyway, Ash had been lying to me for months and so had all the others. Maybe even Laura as well.
Still, I hadn't shared any of their beds. I had Ash and he wasn't human. He was… the only way I could describe him was … dragon.
Ash had turned into a dragon and there was nothing any of them could say that would make me doubt what I had seen. The remnants of his humongous size were all about us. The trees cracked like twigs, the giant footprints in the snow.
There could be no denying it.
“Will someone tell me?”
“You may as well now Ash.” gently Ace pulled my hand back away from my throat, his fingers probing the cuts there. “Tell her whilst I patch her up and then-”
“I did it to help you heal,” Ash’s voice dripped with his need for me to understand. “You were in so much pain.”
“What did you do to me, Ash?” I whispered, Deep down I knew it was going to be bad. I knew it but I wanted to know anyway. He stayed silent. His eyes downcast as Ace wrapped a clean white bandage around my throat.
“I gave you my blood.” Ash finally admitted. Lifting his eyes to meet mine he tried to smile. I didn't return it. He had done what? Given me his blood? Without knowing my blood type or being in a hospital.
“You could have killed me,” I whispered.
“No.” He shook his head, reaching for my hand. I let him squeeze my fingers for a second before pulling my hand away.
“No Lainey,” He dropped his hand into his lap. “My blood isn't like yours, it can only do…”
“Of course, your blood isn't like mine.” I screeched. Scooting backwards in the snow on my ass I held out my hand to stop him coming towards me. “You're not human, you're not- hell I don't know what you are.”
“A dragon,” Ash said softly.
Between us, Ace watched us without saying a word. His face was full of sadness.
