it in front of me. “I think it’s natural for you to feel the way you do. You’re strong and accustomed to your independence. The changes you’ve had to make in your life in the last few months would be grating for anyone, but even more so for you.”
Considering Asher and I had barely spoken before the last few days, I was surprised at his insight into my character. Especially since I made sure to keep my mental barriers raised any time I was around a vampire.
“And Conner and I don’t think you’re useless,” he continued. “What you are is valuable, to all of us, including your friends. Because of the prophecy and the fact that Donna, Ivie, Kerry, and Ricki all consider you like family, you are doubly valuable, which means we want to keep you protected.”
I sipped my tea. “I understand.” And I did. I comprehended everything he was saying, even before he said it, but that didn’t change the frustration I was feeling. Unfortunately, logic didn’t always negate emotions. Understanding didn’t mean acceptance.
“Shannon, I promise you, you will be free soon. This will be over and you can return to your normal life.”
His promise did nothing to ease my anxiety because I didn’t know what my normal life was supposed to be anymore.
Chapter Nine
T he next morning, Asher’s phone woke me. I could hear it chiming through the wall between our bedrooms. I opened my eyes to find that my bed was empty and I couldn’t decide if I was relieved or disappointed.
Last night, after we finished our talk and I finished my chamomile tea, Asher ushered me to my room.
“I’ll stay here with you until you fall asleep,” he offered.
It was as if he knew that I wouldn’t be able to relax once I heard the padlock on the door click into place.
Since there was nowhere to sit in my room, he stretched out on the bed facing me. There was at least two feet of space between us on the king sized mattress.
After a few awkward minutes of lying there with my eyes closed, I finally sighed and opened them to find Asher staring at me.
“I’m never going to be able to sleep if I know you’re sitting there, watching me,” I complained.
He smiled at my insolent comment. It was the third time he’d smiled at me when I was being sassy. Strange what some males found amusing.
“What should I do?” he asked.
“Tell me a story,” I said, settling into my pillow and tucking my hands beneath it. “Something from your childhood.”
His eyebrows lifted. “My childhood?”
“Oh, that’s right, you’re over five hundred years old. You probably can’t remember that far back, right?” I teased.
“I remember,” he answered defensively. “But I’m afraid the childhood of a vampire isn’t quite as entertaining as one of a human.”
“What do you mean?”
“Vampire children are usually kept sequestered because they can have problems controlling their strength and urges.”
“Yikes, that doesn’t sound like much a childhood.”
His lips twitched at my words. “Also, when I was growing up, we had to worry about villagers with pitchforks and torches.”
I wanted to laugh, but I had a feeling it wasn’t a joke. “Now, you’d just have to worry about Twimoms or True Blood fans chasing you through the streets.”
“Don’t forget the government trying to perform experiments on us,” he interjected.
“Wow, you make it sound so glamorous.”
He chuckled at my sarcasm, but didn’t say anything else.
“Seriously, Asher, I won’t be able to go to sleep with you staring at me,” I repeated.
With a sigh, he turned over onto his back and focused his gaze on the ceiling. “Better?” he asked drily.
“Perfect. Now, tell me a story.”
“A story?”
“It’ll help me sleep,” I insisted.
He sighed and settled deeper into the mattress.
When he didn’t speak, I prodded him. “Asher?”
“Hang on, I’m thinking,” he replied. “I am five hundred years old, as you seem so fond of pointing out. It
Considering Asher and I had barely spoken before the last few days, I was surprised at his insight into my character. Especially since I made sure to keep my mental barriers raised any time I was around a vampire.
“And Conner and I don’t think you’re useless,” he continued. “What you are is valuable, to all of us, including your friends. Because of the prophecy and the fact that Donna, Ivie, Kerry, and Ricki all consider you like family, you are doubly valuable, which means we want to keep you protected.”
I sipped my tea. “I understand.” And I did. I comprehended everything he was saying, even before he said it, but that didn’t change the frustration I was feeling. Unfortunately, logic didn’t always negate emotions. Understanding didn’t mean acceptance.
“Shannon, I promise you, you will be free soon. This will be over and you can return to your normal life.”
His promise did nothing to ease my anxiety because I didn’t know what my normal life was supposed to be anymore.
Chapter Nine
T he next morning, Asher’s phone woke me. I could hear it chiming through the wall between our bedrooms. I opened my eyes to find that my bed was empty and I couldn’t decide if I was relieved or disappointed.
Last night, after we finished our talk and I finished my chamomile tea, Asher ushered me to my room.
“I’ll stay here with you until you fall asleep,” he offered.
It was as if he knew that I wouldn’t be able to relax once I heard the padlock on the door click into place.
Since there was nowhere to sit in my room, he stretched out on the bed facing me. There was at least two feet of space between us on the king sized mattress.
After a few awkward minutes of lying there with my eyes closed, I finally sighed and opened them to find Asher staring at me.
“I’m never going to be able to sleep if I know you’re sitting there, watching me,” I complained.
He smiled at my insolent comment. It was the third time he’d smiled at me when I was being sassy. Strange what some males found amusing.
“What should I do?” he asked.
“Tell me a story,” I said, settling into my pillow and tucking my hands beneath it. “Something from your childhood.”
His eyebrows lifted. “My childhood?”
“Oh, that’s right, you’re over five hundred years old. You probably can’t remember that far back, right?” I teased.
“I remember,” he answered defensively. “But I’m afraid the childhood of a vampire isn’t quite as entertaining as one of a human.”
“What do you mean?”
“Vampire children are usually kept sequestered because they can have problems controlling their strength and urges.”
“Yikes, that doesn’t sound like much a childhood.”
His lips twitched at my words. “Also, when I was growing up, we had to worry about villagers with pitchforks and torches.”
I wanted to laugh, but I had a feeling it wasn’t a joke. “Now, you’d just have to worry about Twimoms or True Blood fans chasing you through the streets.”
“Don’t forget the government trying to perform experiments on us,” he interjected.
“Wow, you make it sound so glamorous.”
He chuckled at my sarcasm, but didn’t say anything else.
“Seriously, Asher, I won’t be able to go to sleep with you staring at me,” I repeated.
With a sigh, he turned over onto his back and focused his gaze on the ceiling. “Better?” he asked drily.
“Perfect. Now, tell me a story.”
“A story?”
“It’ll help me sleep,” I insisted.
He sighed and settled deeper into the mattress.
When he didn’t speak, I prodded him. “Asher?”
“Hang on, I’m thinking,” he replied. “I am five hundred years old, as you seem so fond of pointing out. It
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