Chapter 281
Chapter 281
Avery’s POV
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Asher’s offer was unexpected, to say the least. And it definitely had strings attached. There was no way he was going to offer to fetch my mother without something he wanted in exchange.
“What do you want in return?” I asked, pulling away. My skin itched where he’d touched me just now, and already, I wanted to change my clothes. I wished I could even peel my scalp off where he’d kissed it.
“Nothing,” he said simply, shrugging. “It would be an honor to host your mother here p>
I narrowed my eyes. “You didn’t feel that way about her before p>
“Well, I know more now than I did then. I thought she was just a lowly Omega who stole you on purpose in the hopes of claiming your birthright. Now, I know that she was selfless, and that she cared for you as much as she could before everything went wrong p>
“So what will you do once she gets here?” I blurted out. “You’re not saying you want to treat her like royalty, are you? She’s a Werewolf, and you’ve made it pretty clear that only Lycans are deserving of respect. I don’t want her coming here if she’ll be abused p>
Asher chuckled and waggled his finger in my face. “Now, now. That’s not what I meant. When I said that Lycans and Werewolves shouldn’t interbreed, I meant just that. Not that all Werewolves must die p>
He gestured around us. “The vast majority of the rogues in this
camp are Werewolves. Everyone has their place in society. Even Werewolves. Besides, someone like your adoptive mother-she deserves respect. I wouldn’t have if it weren’t for her p>
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“Do you intend to make her your prisoner?” I asked. I wanted to add, “Like me?” but I kept my mouth shut. I needed him to think that I was being compliant. No more slip -ups. For my baby’s sake, I had to appear well-behaved until I could make my escape.
“Of course not.” Asher took me by the elbow and guided me back into my tent, where my writing implements were still strewn across my table. He sat me down in the chair and picked up my pen. “She’ll be a guest here. I’ll ensure she’s treated very well p>
I looked up at him warily as he dipped the pen into the ink and then placed it in my
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hand. “What’s this for?” I asked.
“You have to write a letter,” he said. He ripped up the one I’d written before and tucked it into his pocket. “A better one p>
“What’s wrong with the one I already wrote
“Your mother won’t come alone if she thinks you’re in serious danger,” Asher replied. “You’ll want to assure her that you’re happy and being treated well. The letter should be welcoming, not frightening”
Before I could answer, he leaned over my shoulder, curling his fingers around mine. He positioned my hand over the paper.
“Tell her you’re with your true mate,” he whispered. His breath fanned my ear, sending a few baby hairs flying into my face and a chill scuttling up my spine. “Tell her to come see you. Tell her about our future. Tell her you miss her, but make it clear that you don’t want to leave p>
I swallowed hard. This wasn’t what I expected or hoped for. But I had to think straight. Maybe this was my chance. My real chance to tell my mother that I needed help. To tell her where I was.
Asher would watch me like a hawk while I was writing it, but I might be able to slip a secret message in. I wracked my brain for ideas, then one suddenly struck me.
“Dear Mother,” I wrote. “It’s me. Avery. I know you’ve been worried about me, but I want you to know that I’m okay p>
I dipped my pen into the ink and glanced up at Asher. He smiled encouragingly.
“I’m living with my true mate now. He says I’m a princess, and that he’ll make me his queen. Once we’re married, I’ll have lots of little pups, and I’ll be all his.” I hesitated, pen hovering over the paper, then added, “Body, mind, and soul p>
She had to know that something was wrong once she read that. I would never say I ” belonged” to any man, especially not the Rogue King, My mother knew me better than anyone. She would know that it wasn’t really me writing that the moment she saw it.
“But I do miss you,” I went on. “Please come stay with me. We can live together, at peace, just like we talked about.” I hoped she would understand that I meant the human lands. “If you want to see me, put a candle in your window at midnight the night before the Dark Moon. Make sure it’s the window facing out to the east. I won’t see it otherwise. Love, Avery p>
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When I finished writing, I leaned back, carefully setting aside the pen. As the ink dried, I bit the inside of my cheek.
A candle in her east-facing window at midnight.
Her room didn’t have an east-facing window. She would read that and know what I truly meant: that I had been taken east. Into the forest.
She had to know.
She had to.
Satisfied, Asher took my letter, waving the paper to dry the ink, then folded it and slipped it into an envelope. “Much better. I’ll send it first thing in the morning.” He leaned down toward me. “Good night, poppet p>
Then, he pressed a kiss to my lips. The moment his mouth brushed mine, I recoiled.
“Don’t touch me!” I spat, shoving at his chest. I felt sick.
Asher froze. His good eye narrowed, and I knew I had said the wrong thing. “Why shouldn’t I kiss my future queen?” he hissed, grabbing my arm.
I forced a demure smile, even though it terrified me. “I just… I want you to keep up your end of the bargain. Nothing romantic until our wedding night p>
Asher looked at me for a long time. I feared he would see right through me, just as he had so many times before. But finally, he released me and stepped back.
“Very well. I’ll be counting down the days, then p>
With that, he left.
The moment he was gone, I called for a bath Two slaves brought water. A plume of steam billowed upward as they dumped the buckets into the tub.
“Thank you,” I said. I quickly undressed and sank into it.
One of the slaves gasped. “It’s hot!” she protested. “You’ll burn yourself p>
“I know. That’s the point.” I waved them away. They hesitated for a moment, looking at each other in confusion, before slipping out. Then, I picked up the rough loofah sitting on the side table and began to scrub.
I scrubbed until it hurt. Until my skin turned pink and raw and bleeding in some spots. I scrubbed my arms, my face, my waist, my scalp. Everywhere he had touched.
But I never got the feeling of him off of me, no matter how hard I tried. It was as if
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each touch were a brand burned into my flesh.
I just hoped my mother would understand my message.
I hoped she would be able to help me before the Dark Moon.
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