A Curse of Shadows

“I’m fine,” I finally say, not missing how he’s among the small group of people who still use my childhood nickname.

His arms wrap around me and he squeezes. “Gods, don’t do that to me again.”

“Am I interrupting something?” Asher’s deep voice booms from within the hallway.

You’ve got to be shitting me right now.

Noen backs up before I have to push him away but still reaches to help me up.

Asher is there in the next second, moving in to assist me.

Yep. I think I’ve finally pieced this whole situation together. How fun for me. Not.

“Isla,” Asher’s deep tenor has goosebumps moving over my arms. “Did you have another memory come to you?”

I nod, glancing over his shoulder, wondering if Noen is still waiting here. “One from when I was fourteen. I, uh, remember Noen being my neighbor.”

Asher’s chest lets out a rumble. “That’s why I asked him to stay away. I had a feeling that remembering another strong connection would take you out again. Come on. I’ll take you back to the room to rest.”

I shake my head and smile up at him. “I need food and I’d like to see my dad. Also, don’t blame Noen. I ran into him, literally. This wasn’t his fault.”

Asher doesn’t seem to believe me, but he does at least turn to the side, revealing that Noen is, in fact, still waiting. “Thank you for watching over her. I’ve got it from here.”

Noen’s gaze stays on me a little longer before he finally nods at Asher. “I can see that. Let me know if you need me for anything today. Otherwise, I’ll be…out.”

We watch in silence as Noen leaves, shoulders tense and movements ridged. When he’s out of sight, I turn toward Asher and poke a finger against his chest. “I thought you said you and Noen were now friends.”

“We are,” he replies as if nothing just happened.

“That’s not how you treat friends,” I tell him. “Noen really was just helping me, and I know what you thought before, but that doesn’t change anything for me. Whatever Noen felt for me has nothing to do with us.”

“I don’t think he ever stopped loving you,” Asher admits, pulling me closer. “What do you want me to do? Be okay with that? You’re mine and while Noen has been a good friend over the years, that doesn’t mean I can pretend him being near you, especially when our bond isn’t complete, doesn’t make me want to rip his head from his shoulders.”

Okay, that’s kind of sexy. A little crazy, but sexy nonetheless.

“Can you maybe turn down the murder-y thoughts a few notches and try to focus on the fact that I remembered my friendship with Noen, but I’m still here with you? I didn’t chase after him, even though his feelings were clearly hurt. I chose you back then and I’m choosing you now.”

Though, and I don’t think I should tell Asher this, I am concerned for Noen. If Asher has been his closest friend since I left, how terrible for him to be alone now. More than that, it’s wrong.

Asher pulls me into a tight embrace. “I’m sorry, love. I can’t control myself when it comes to you—just like when you showed up—but I’ll do my best to be better for you.”

I tilt my head until I can see his face again. “Not just for me. For yourself and for your friends. You need to figure out how to trust Noen again if he’s truly been your friend this whole time I’ve been gone. There must be a reason for that. Remember that reason and know that nothing between us is going to change because of him. No matter what I remember.”

His eyes darken and he holds me tighter. “I promise to try.”

I guess that’s as much as I should ask for.

Though I do still feel bad for Noen and will secretly do my best to make sure he and Asher remain friends because anything less isn’t right.

Asher wraps an arm around my waist. “Come on. The family is waiting for us to eat. I was just coming to find you when you didn’t make it to the dining room.”

We head in the right direction and when we join our family, I immediately look for Estee, even though Malimorte said she wasn’t here. I do at least find my father still present and am glad when he’s seated next to what has become my normal placement, on Asher’s left.

Even after having spent many hours with Grayson this week, I’m still taken aback by how much he’s changed this week. All for the better, but still, watching Asher’s blood finally heal him has been everything.

Just ten days ago, my father was on the brink of death, which I’ve now learned happens when a Lunarian stops shifting and starves themself. He appeared to be in his eighties before and now, he looks like a thriving, handsome fifty-year-old man. It’s a good kind of crazy and seeing his smile is something I will never take for granted now that I have him in my life.

“It’s nice to see you again, Isla,” Asher’s dad, Gideon, says from the opposite side of the table. “I thought maybe you were hiding from us.”