Page 133 of A Time of Witches

“When you arrived, I never expected this,” Asher confessed.

Lilith’s lips lifted in a sad smile. “That makes two of us.”

“I’m glad you came,” Asher said softly.

“Me too,” Lilith replied, her voice thick.

“When you’re visible again, I’d like to take you out…if you’d like—”

“I’d love that.” Lilith smiled to herself. “Not just being visible. I mean going out with you.”

“I’d love that, too.”

“Come on the couch with me.” She used the couch to sit up slightly to make room for him, careful not to disturb Dragon.

Asher sat on the couch and Lilith leaned back against him, secure in his embrace. From the floor, Toby grumbled at being left out.

The quiet reassurance of Asher’s body against her, the rhythmic purr from Dragon, and surviving being slingshot between the past and present was more than she could bear. Her eyelids were too heavy to keep from closing.

“I’m tired, but I don’t want to sleep,” she murmured.

A hand gently brushed over Lilith’s brow, sweeping away a lock of hair. “I’m not leaving you.”

Despite his words, his fingers trembled as he touched her face. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Asher spoke so quietly, Lilith almost didn’t hear him.

With the last of her energy, Lilith replied, “I really hope so.”

Chapter Sixty-Six

Lilith

“Asher?”

Aunt Jacqueline’s voice startled Lilith awake from where she lay against him. Sunlight streamed in through the window, nearly blinding her.

“Asher, why on earth were you sleeping on the couch?” Aunt Jacqueline asked.

Lilith sat up and looked back at him, her strength restored.

Asher frowned, his brow furrowed as he examined the room around him.

“That’s my fault,” Lilith said quickly. “I was too—”

“I don’t remember.” Asher blinked and sat up, accidentally upsetting Lilith’s balance, so she had to catch herself to keep from rolling off the couch.

She stared up at him in horror.

Had she disappeared already?

Had Jacinda failed?

“Asher,” Lilith whispered.

He continued to look around the room in utter confusion.

“Asher,” she said again, louder this time, her voice pricked with panic. “Asher, you were with me. With Lilith.”

He didn’t respond. He frowned once more and turned away like she wasn’t there.