Page 63 of Those That Defy the Realm

ASH: Great! I plan to keep you here all evening too, just FYI. And hopefully overnight now everyone knows.

CLAIRE: Only Rory knows! And I guess Ty, considering those two are basically one person.

ASH: Love, now those two know I’m not keeping this a secret any longer. You’re mine and it’s about time the whole bloody world knew it.

I chuckle at Ash’s presumption.

CLAIRE: Is that so? I’m yours?

ASH: Have you not gotten the memo yet? I sent it weeks ago.

CLAIRE: Hhhhmmm… I agreed to be in a relationship, and let's not forget the vampire currently asleep on your chest.

ASH: You’re both mine.

CLAIRE: So possessive.

ASH: Get used to it.

What was a joke suddenly feels like something more. A heavy weight is being put on my chest. It feels like a red flag, how domineering Ash is coming across. A logical part of my brain says it’s different this time, Ash just wants everyone to know I’m off the market. And that is fair, not that I’d be anything less than honest should anyone hit on me.

My pause in response must make Ash worry because another message comes through from him before I can sort through my feelings and send a reply.

ASH: Sorry, I think I maybe took that too far. It’s not an excuse but my wolf gets a little growly when you’re not around. It makes me get a little possessive. Like, I want to mark you so everyone knows who you belong to. So you know that I am still thinking about you even when we’re not physically in the same room.

Communication, that’s what Rory said tonight. Taking a deep breath, I force my insecurities aside and lower my barriers.

CLAIRE: Thank you for following that up with more of an explanation. The possessiveness is something I don’t know how to navigate yet. It scares me a little.

ASH: I’m sorry Claire. Thank you for being honest and I will try to keep it to a minimum. Maybe I should be more precise, because when I say you’re mine, what I’m truly saying is that I’m yours. You have me completely at your mercy. You have all the control here. I will do anything to make you happy and comfortable. I want you to shine, both of you.

My nerves completely evaporate. Ash’s response is so sweet. I willingly give up more space in my chest, not quite fearing how permanently he might be setting up residence there.

CLAIRE: I love how passionate you are. And I do, feel happy that is. You and Henry are making me so very happy.

ASH: That makes me so happy to hear, darling. I want nothing but for you both to be happy. And please keep setting me boundaries.

Now get some sleep. I don’t want you crashing out early tomorrow, like the snoring giant beside me has tonight. I want some fun. ;)

CLAIRE: I’m sure I can manage that.

Goodnight. X

ASH: Sweet dreams, beautiful. And remember, I’m yours.

CHAPTER 21

ASH

Life seems to be going too well. I’m normally a positive person but I can’t shake this little itch on my shoulder. Henry has to leave in a couple of days, ready to start the term at his university. But it’s not that.

I’m going to miss him to the moon and back, the next few months are going to be challenging. More so when our girl gets to go visit him and I can’t.

But Morris has agreed to my extended stay. She’s agreed to two months farther, which to be honest is less than I was pushing for. And my brother, his mate and Emmerson have to return.

Apparently, the authorities don’t see why I need my own pack for protection when I’m living with a bunch of vampires and I tend to travel about the city by myself anyway. The talks with the continent have also been a bit more fragile this last week, so Morris wishes to reduce the risk of having multiple illegal wolves here as well as all those with fangs.

My mother blew a gasket.