Tyler’s hands rubbed my back, soft and hesitant. When I didn’t react, he drew closer, wrapping me up like a baby, pulling me back against him, holding, comforting, rocking. I lost myself in his arms and cried harder than I ever had before as we sat there on the floor of the pub.
The tears eased up, sticky trails left behind on my cheeks. I leaned back, just enough to look at Tyler. His face was soft, sincere, and so damned beautiful it almost hurt to look at it. When your hand gets stuck in the cookie jar, there’s no way to get it out without letting go of the cookies. I wasn’t ready to let go. I don’t know why it was so hard. Why do feelings have to get in the way of your conscience? You know better but you don’t listen. The door handle is hot, burning deep red, but you touch it anyway. Why do that? You already know it’s freaking hot!
“The Head Council doesn’t know my father is dead?” I said it like a question, but I was pretty sure they didn’t.
He shook his head slowly. “I worked with a couple friends of Bronx’s. Those are the rogue vampires the Head Council told you about. That’s how I met Bronx in the first place.” He grabbed my chin, gently tugged it, making sure my eyes stayed on his. “But Abby I swear, I swear I didn’t know they were bad. I would’ve never helped them, or Bronx, if I had known.”
I swallowed hard. The Head Council had no intention of keeping Tyler unharmed and alive. That was why I’d gotten the suspicious look from Elliott. There would be no way to clear Tyler’s name. His involvement was too easy to prove. And once they discovered my father’s death and the fact that Tyler helped Bronx get him, it would be all over. My whole body hurt, my chest caved in, the pressure growing more tense. I cared too much to turn him in. It was hard to see his innocence in all of this, but I knew it was there. I didn’t have Trace’s discerning ability, but I could sense the truth from Tyler’s words. He’d come clean. He’d admitted everything. None of it was his fault.
“You need to leave.” I’d said it. I didn’t mean it. Empty, meaningless words. But I knew Stone would be back out here any minute.
“Come with me.”
I shook my head. “I can’t.”
His eyebrow arched. “Why?”
I shrugged. “Because the only way to find out more about my mother is by speaking to her myself. And the only way to do that is through the Head Council.”
Tyler nodded and then looked away. A brief moment of silence passed and then we stood up. “Before I go, I need to hear it. I need to hear that you believe me. Abby, I would never hurt you intentionally. Not once I got to know you. I love you. I really, really love you. I’m sorry for everything.” His voice was urgent, desperate.
I closed my eyes and slowly opened them back up. He looked at me expectantly, his eyes drilling me for an answer. I stepped forward, grabbed his face hard, and kissed him. All the passion I could ever dream of still burned alive with the touch of our lips. I’m a glutton for punishment, I know. I slid my lips across his cheek, planting baby kisses all the way to his ear. “I believe you. I believe everything you told me,” I whispered.
“Thank you,” he breathed.
We held each other a little bit longer. Then his body straightened. He pulled out of my arms, stepping back cautiously. His eyes flicked toward the entrance and then back to me. “I really do have to go now.”
I knew Tyler saw something, one of his visions. “What? What’s there? What did you see?”
“That vampire, the one that’s tracking me. He’s almost here.”
My stomach tightened. Obviously the Head Council didn’t trust me. And I guess I shouldn’t blame them for that. “Go. I’ll cover for you,” I said. “But I don’t think they will stop looking…until they get you.”
“Don’t worry. I have a few good hiding places.” He swooped in, kissed me on the cheek, and took off.
“Ty wait!” I shouted. I brought my wrist to my mouth and ripped it open with my fangs. Blood dripped down my arm and out of the corners of my lips. In a blur of movement, he was next to me. He took my wrist and pressed it against his mouth. After he finished drinking, he kissed me one last time, then flashed away for good.
With tears in my eyes, massive lumps forming in my throat, I mumbled, “I love you, too.”
###
About the author:
Ashley Robertson resides in sunny Orlando, FL and loves writing about anything and everything urban fantasy. When she isn’t writing you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, training in her home gym, traveling and exploring new places, and drinking fine red wines and gourmet coffees from her Nespresso machine.
For a sneak peak at Ashley Robertson’s upcoming books, visit: www.AshleyRobertsonBooks.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
1…The Call
2… Encounter
3…Transformed
4…Learning
5…Adjusting
6…Celebration
7…Pulse
8…Escape
9…Plan
10…Determined
11…Must Find Blood
12…New Identity
13…Predicament
14…Warned
15…Ability
16…Introduced
17…Left
18…Theory
19…Caught
20…Betrayed
21…Face-to-Face
22…More Confusion
23…Aggravated
24…Missing Pieces
25…Answers
26…Twist of Fate
27…Open Mind
28…Reunited
Crimson Groves Page 28
