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“Exactly. I need to know that Abby’s not pissed off and with me, not against me.”
Ash made a noise that was a cross between a grunt and a moan.
“Seriously, how did you manage to stay alive all these years?” he grumbled. I glowered at him.
“Without my memories,” I snapped. “And the more I think about it, the more I wonder if that wasn’t intentional. It’s all very convenient, getting me out of the way like that. Orson has to be responsible for what happened to me.”
Ash snapped his fingers and cocked his thumb and forefinger at me.
“Precisely. That’s what you need to fixate on. Not Abby. You can work that shit out later.”
I bristled at his dismissal. “I can do that with Abby at my side. I would prefer to do that with Abby at my side.”
Ash inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. For a second, I thought he might be praying. When he opened them again, he looked at me squarely.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, Elijah, but she’s distracting you,” he told me firmly. “And that’s understandable. She’s your mate, and you’ve been away from her for too long. I get that you want to be with her.”
“Do you?” I shot back. “Because it doesn’t sound like you do.”
He exhaled again. “I know that because I also want to get back to my mate,” he growled through clenched teeth. “Keep in mind, I’m not staying much longer. I promised you a day or two, and you’ve already extended that.”
I sucked air in between my teeth, not particularly caring for the ultimatum that Ash had given me, but at least he was being frank with me, and I had to respect his candor—and all he’d done for me already.
He had come here to help me, and I needed to take advantage of that help while I could. Already, he had come through with the men and technology, sending some of his best to stand at my side. I had the means now, the way in, and the intel. I had no doubt that the Verity Gang was running women, just as Ash had told me. It was time to do what needed to be done. But that didn’t mean I was going to sit back and let Abby fall back under Orson’s spell in the meantime.
“Let’s go get something to eat,” Ash suggested. “Make your grand appearance in town; show everyone that you’re finally back. It’s time to get things rolling.”
I eyed him warily, and Ash laughed, catching my baleful expression.
“Or I’ll bring you something back, since we’re not there yet,” he chuckled. “Come on, Royce. I don’t want to ruin my shoes on these unpaved grounds.”
He paused and looked back at me again, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Were the roads cemented in Seven Rock?” He held up a hand before I could answer. “That’s a dumb question, isn’t it? Of course they weren’t. You didn’t even have proper heating.”
He shook his head again and chuckled.
“I’m glad this is so amusing to you,” I called out to his retreating back. “My two hundred years of misery will make for a great anecdote at dinner parties. Avalon will surely put his own spin on it.”
Ash waved, taking Royce with him. The other guards had holed up in the living room and didn’t move when their boss left, leaving me to stare at them. Their eyes were set on some action movie playing on the television, but their gazes moved toward me when I entered their space.
“Is there something you need, Mr. Webb?” Jake asked.
I could run out to Abby’s right now, while he’s gone. He’ll never even know if I’m quick.
But what good would that do? At best, Abby might listen, and we could talk. At worst, we’d get into another fight, and I’d be in another state when I returned. In either case, it would take me further away from Orson and finishing what needed to happen.
Ash was right; it was time to move. But I still needed to get Abby’s attention, to let her know that I wasn’t giving up.
“Mr. Webb? Is everything all right?” Jake asked again.
Suddenly, I knew exactly what to do.
“You,” I called out to the biggest, a dragon shifter named Draven, ignoring Jake. He immediately stood.
“Yes, sir?”
“I need you to run an errand for me.”
