20. Luke

TWENTY

Luke

A sher yelled and protested as they jabbed me with potion, warning each of the twenty knights to keep their hands off me. They respected his wishes, linking his arm with mine, leading me toward an idling black SUV at the center of a ring of identical vehicles.

I ignored them all, basking in the sunshine instead. Calm.

For some reason, I couldn’t get angry, kind of meh about this whole thing. Probably because I knew the feeble dose of potion would be purged the moment I came back online following my little rest.

Seeing Seth sitting in the back of the SUV with Luna failed to get any sort of response from me.

Uh-huh.

Asher, on the other hand, put himself between me and the SUV. “No. He’s going nowhere with you.”

Cuts and grime marred Seth’s handsome features, Luna looked equally bedraggled.

“Asher…”

He stiffened at the sound of the voice beside us, slowly turning his head. I watched the color drain from his face, pain distorted his vibrant aura as his eyes locked onto Billy.

I broke out of my stupor, heart pounding in my ears. Now I felt something—fear for Asher. If he lost his head here, these knights would pile in on him. And they weren’t doing that to my lover. He deserved better than enduring the presence of the man who broke his heart.

I took Asher’s hand. “Look at me.”

He almost crushed my fingers in response. “Billy.”

“Step away from the vehicle,” his ex warned, albeit without any bite. “Please.”

Asher’s ire reverberated through my hand, reaching my bones. I pressed myself closer to him, not having the right words to say. Telling him to remain calm seemed too meek.

“Do as Seth says,” Billy implored. “You can see Luke later. Please comply.”

I wrapped myself around Asher, folding my arms across his stomach, my head pressing into his spine. Every inch of him was tighter than a drum, his breaths hitched. I couldn’t imagine the pain he must be feeling, the pure irritation at Billy’s audacity.

I refrained from looking in Seth’s direction, already picturing the smugness. The stink of his almondy joints was more than enough for my senses.

You’re better than everyone here, I wanted to say to my lover, missing the amulet.

Why the hell did I throw it away so callously?

Asher’s hands covered mine, his body loosening a little. He let out a long breath, saying nothing.

“I’ll be okay,” I reassured. “I’ll be okay.”

“I hate you being out of my sight,” he whispered back.

There was silence around us, save for the motorway traffic. Even Seth kept his mouth shut. Miracles really did happen.

Asher turned, my hands sliding to his waist. He pressed his forehead to mine, his breath against my lips, hands on my sides.

“It will be okay,” I said, kissing his lips. “Once we’re through this part, I’ll make you a cocktail.”

He smiled weakly, kissing me back. “There shouldn’t be a this part .”

“Too bad.” Seth broke his silence.

I faced him as Asher’s grip tightened again.

Disgust twisted Seth’s features, his body language giving horrid vibes.

Bastard.

“Give us this moment,” I retorted, his presence now testing my patience.

So much for the calmness.

“You don’t get to dictate to me, Luke.”

Choke on that joint.

I tore my eyes away from the arsehole, returning them to Asher. “The sooner this is over, the better.”

He kissed me so sweetly, so gently, his hands cupping my face. “I’m letting you down again.”

“Never. Impossible.”

Seth laughed, the potion losing more of its influence on me.

My head whiplashed around. “What’s your problem? You both caused this.”

Luna had moved seats, sitting on the opposite side now.

“Easy, Luke,” Asher tried.

“Is that so?” Seth responded, smirking as he slid into Luna’s previous spot. He patted the seat beside him, beckoning me to join him.

Keep laughing. You’ll soon be begging for mercy.

Asher held my face again, gently turning me his way. “Hey. Easy now.”

I didn’t realize how tense I was.

He really did wield the skill to cool me down. The best resistance against any cataclysmic urges.

“O-okay.” I swallowed a lump, performing some breathing exercises.

I just needed to get through Seth’s crap, get back to some semblance of normality, make Asher a banger of a cocktail, and follow it up by riding him like a pogo stick.

There. Goals.

After another kiss, I peeled myself off him, climbing into the back of the SUV, sliding in beside Seth.

The weaver said nothing, just stank up the place with his joint. I ignored him while I still had a view of Asher, pressing my hands to the tinted window as the vehicle slowly pulled away.

“Put this on,” Luna said, holding out a bracelet.

I kept my focus on Asher. “What happened to you both?”

“Well—” Seth began, cut off by a huge blast, the café going up in flames.

Shockwaves flipped the SUV, blowing the windows out.