ASHE

​

“Ashe?” Evgeni called out.

 

Turning, I spotted a dark figure walking through the shadow of the gazebo. As he neared, I could make out concern etched across his features—even in the dark.

I looked away and swallowed another gulp of my cheap liquor.

​

If I allowed Evgeni to see what boiled inside me, then I’d break. The man was my mentor and I looked up to him. These emotions would be a sign of weakness that I wouldn't - couldn't show him.

​

After all, I was the virtual Prince of the Elibera, mentored by the best, trained to fight, and expected to become the next Prime Leader. A position I’d been groomed to do from birth. And once my bond was complete with Sydney – another Prime, then I’d be even closer… Which was another reason why I couldn’t rush her.

 

Evgeni didn’t laugh or smile as he usually did. Instead, he eyed the bottle I held loosely in my left hand. “Wow. Drinking? Things must be bad.”

 

Forcing a mask of calmness over my features, I met his eye and shrugged before

setting the bottle down carefully.

​

The boards creaked beneath his weight as he mounted the steps up to the gazebo. “You left my house without saying goodbye. Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” I told him, tightening my mental shields.

​

Evgeni closed the space before reaching his hand out for the bottle. I gave it to him, and he checked the label before laughing. “Drinking this shit isn’t fine… You know I’ve been looking for you.”

​

Evgeni’s presence had my knee bouncing even through my weariness. I still felt… itchy, uncomfortable, frustrated.

​

“Is Sydney here?” I asked, my eyebrows up. She’d blocked our connection, leaving me with a strange sensation.

​

“Sydney? No.”

 

He smiled. “Why are you acting so weird? I’ve given you everything you ever wanted. I found a way for you to finish the bond. But, you’re not going to do it, are you?” His eyes strayed to Eondian as my dragon bellowed a ball of fire before sprawling out in the grass. “You know seven years is not that big of an age gap.”

I clenched my teeth. “It is for us.”

​

I’d wanted to complete the bond, and I almost did when I found her after she and Aaraeth crashed in the woods. I took off my jacket, undid my belt, and when I gazed into those big bluish-green eyes of her—I felt it—fear. She was afraid, afraid of me.

​

Clearing my throat, I let my top lip slide through my teeth. “I won’t rush this. I can’t.”

Vaughn punched my shoulder and groaned.