“I’ll be,” he muttered. “You learn something shocking every day.”
“Life is too serious and tough for anything more than fun escapism during those few times I get to relax.”
“That’s true. What about your parents? Do you have any siblings?”
Brie closed her eyes against the memories assaulting her as the past rushed back to her. She pulled her hand away from his as she turned toward the window. She’d already shared too much with him, and there were some things she never revealed.
Asher knew he’d pushed too far when the color drained from her face and she turned away. He almost asked another question but decided it was best not to nudge. She’d given him his ounce; he would not try to turn it into a pile of gold.
Instead, he decided to try a new approach to getting her to talk. The more they talked, the more she would grow to trust him, but more than that, he enjoyed the sound of her voice.
“This is going to be an unpopular statement,” he said, “but I hate the Beatles. Their music grates on my nerves.”
Brie turned to look at him again as his words broke through her memories. It took her a few seconds to process his statement, and when she did, she couldn’t help smiling again. She didn’t know how he did it, but he could make the worst times a little better.
“I’m not a fan either,” she told him.
Asher grinned at her.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Brie triedto sit as far away as possible from Asher once they were in the van, but she couldn’t sit against the back wall and try to talk to Cabo and Zina without looking ridiculous. There was no way she could pull off an “everything is perfectly normal” attitude when she was plastered against the back wall while Asher remained near them.
“Do we have to worry about them plastering your faces all over the TV?” Zina inquired as she traversed another back road.
“My face was plastered years ago thanks to the demons and Savages,” Asher said and proceeded to tell them what happened to him and Declan while they were shopping for supplies for Lucien and Elyse years ago. “That’s how the officer found me.”
“It’s disturbing they have vamps working for them in places of authority like that,” Cabo muttered.
“And there might be more in positions of greater power,” Asher said.
“That’s a terrifying possibility,” Zina said.
“They shouldn’t be looking for us now,” Brie assured them. “Some of the officers will remember what we look like, but the best they’ll be able to do is a sketch artist. Besides, they’re going to be pretty busy trying to figure out how three of their police officers suddenly developed amnesia.”
“That could create more questions and give them more determination to find you,” Cabo said.
“It probably will,” Brie admitted. “But we didn’t have any alternatives, especially once Asher was attacked. We couldn’t take the chance more Savages were coming for us.”
“True,” Zina agreed.
Brie rested her head against the doorway and glanced at Asher sitting in the corner, watching her. For a minute, their gazes held, and as she stared into his striking eyes, she was bombarded by memories of every touch, sensation, and sound of their joining.
When a flush crept up her neck, she tore her attention away, tipped her head back, and closed her eyes. She shouldnotstill be craving him after how many times she’d orgasmed earlier, but it was impossible not to want him.
Asher studied Brie as she remained unmoving in the center of the van. He’d expected her to go out of her way to avoid him and prepared for it, but he wouldn’t allow it. She could have her space here, but she wouldn’t shut him out.
“What about the next stone?” he asked.
“I know what state it’s in. Hopefully, I’ll receive more premonitions about it sometime soon,” Brie replied without opening her eyes. “Usually, once I find one stone, the visions for the next one start to come faster.”
“Can I bring the Alliance in on this now?”
This time, she opened her eyes. “Not until I’m ready.”
“Okay, and we do have someone who has visions too. They’re nowhere near as in-depth and detailed as yours, but she’s found things before and discovered people. Maybe she could help you find the final two stones if she knew about them.”
Brie contemplated his words before responding. “I’m not ready to have that many vampires involved in this, especially not ones who are such targets for the demons. They could attract the attention of the demons hunting them. As of now, no one knows we exist, and we have to keep it that way.”
