Page 86 of When Ashes Fall

“I knew it!”

He bared his fangs. That was a little better, but not much.

Forcing myself not to run, I headed for my workroom. I acted casual as the page felt like it was burning a hole through my pocket. The longer it remained there, the better chance I had of getting caught with it.

I had no idea where Knox was, but if he came across us, I was sure he’d see the guilt all over my face. When we finally reached my workroom with all its familiar scents, bottles, herbs, spices, cauldrons, and other assorted tools, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Gizzi stopped being terrifying and scrambled up to perch on one of the black marble counters. His nose twitched as he watched me.

“What are you going to do with it?” he asked.

“Burn it.”

“Have you considered that Knox already knew it was there, or one of the other shifters? They might become suspicious if they discover it’s gone?”

My fingers clenched on the paper. No, I hadn’t considered that.

Frozen with indecision, I stood before the dwindling fire burning in the hearth. Knox used to love to read, and he still might; he might have already discovered the book and the page tucked inside. He might have forgotten about it… or he might not have.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it,” Gizzi said. “I think you’re better off getting rid of it, but you should be aware of the possibility.”

He was right. I was better off getting rid of it, even if Knox knew of its existence. If he discovered it and didn’t know anything about necromancers, he’d learn about the forbidden power.

If he already knew of its existence and had forgotten about it, but suddenly remembered, I’d be in the same position I was now. I’d rather get rid of it.

Without any more hesitation, I removed the paper from my pocket and threw it on the fire. The knot of foreboding in my chest eased as the edges of the paper browned before the flames devoured it.

I’d either just freed myself… or condemned myself.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Briar

I tossed the last of my mushrooms into the cauldron and stirred it as Zephyr flew back and forth, his wings buzzing while he did the sprites’ equivalent of pacing through the air. I’d have to ask Knox to take me out to harvest more mushrooms soon, but I wasn’t in a rush to be anywhere alone with him.

Throughout the day and my work on the potions, I’d decided to hate him. Never again would I give in to him; I was determined to make sure of that, but my traitorous body burned for his touch.

No matter how different last night was between us, he’d awakened the part of me that had gone dormant without him. It was rearing its ugly head in demand for more.

But my body would have to catch up with my mind. It would learn that it wasn’t allowed to have sex with an overbearing, inconsiderate asshole.

“Can you believe he said that to me?” Zephyr demanded.

“Hmm, what?” I asked as I stirred the potion.

He stopped fluttering back and forth, turned to face me, and planted his hands on his hips. “Haven’t you been listening to me?”

“I’m sorry, but no,” I admitted.

“You’re lucky,” Gizzi muttered.

“Atlas! Can you believe he said that to me?”

Now I felt really bad, because I had no idea who Atlas was. “Who’s Atlas?”

Zephyr threw his hands in the air. “He’s a sprite!”

“Well, there are a lot of you. I haven’t learned all your names yet.”