“Yes,” he whispers, looking away before glancing back at me. “It is possible for you to eat, but your body no longer requires sustenance to survive.”
“I’m gonna need a minute,” I leap to my feet, instantly nauseated and rush to the bathroom. I slam the door, panting with the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.
What the ever-loving hell?
What have I become?
I hurry to the mirror above the sink and see that my face is exactly the same, my hair too. No one would ever know by looking at me. I’m still me; I still have the same abilities. But wait, what about aging? Dear God, based on the way Ascot looks, that won’t be happening, either.
“Elise?” Ascot whispers, knocking two times. “You okay?”
I startle, glancing at the door. “Yeah,” I barely get out, “I think so, I-I don’t know.”
“Can I come in?”
My fingers shake as I reach for the knob and slowly turn. His face is the first thing I see, concern washes over his expression like a dark cloud.
“I’m so sorry,” he lets out a breath, “I should have told you. I should have explained everything before now.”
“Yeah, you should have,” I whisper. “This is a lot, Ascot. I don’t know wha…”
“I’ll help you, we have each other now,” he whispers, cutting me off. “Do you know how long it’s been since I haven’t outlived someone I care about?”
My eyes dart up to his. “That’s what you’re fucking worried about?” I say through clenched teeth. “Outliving someone?”
“What, no!” his eyes widen.
I stare at him, arms on my hips. “Well, you could have fooled me!”
His nostrils begin to flare. “What happened to you was an accident, Elise,” he runs a hand through his hair. “You know that.”
I blink and look away.
Dammit.
He’s right, I know he’s right but it doesn’t make any of this less scary.
The expression on my face must have affected him and he reaches out, pulling me close. “The last thing I want to do is upset you,” he whispers in my hair.
My face rests against his warm chest and I close my eyes, pulling him tightly. “I know you don’t,” I whisper, “for some reason my emotions are on full throttle, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” he sways me gently in his arms. “Your life has been turned upside down.”
Another silent minute goes by and he releases me. “Are you going to tell me why the portal became so negative?”
“I’d rather not,” I admit, dreading any thought of Liv and Becca.
He shifts and gently holds my face in his palms. “I’d rather not have secrets, Elise.”
I glance up, locking eyes with him. “I’m-I’m afraid to.”
“Afraid of what?” he asks, his voice soft and low.
“Giving them power,” I admit, looking down at the white tile on the bathroom floor.
“Come here,” Ascot takes my hand, guiding me back to the sofa. “You were right before. We have to tell one another everything, I’m not going to judge you.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about,” I glance back up at him. “Just thinking about them can give them power to find me, but that ship has sailed.”
“Are you referring to my father?” his brows push together. “Cad has assured me that our quick actions have kept him from finding me, at least for now.”
“No, I’m not talking about Apollo,” I glance around the room. “I’m talking about,” I pause and reach for my wine. “The two entities that have followed me throughout my childhood,” I take a large gulp.
“Liv and Becca?” he tilts his head, curious. “I’m pretty sure they’re gone.”
I lean in. “We don’t know that for sure.”
“We’ve already had this conversation, Elise…”
“They want my soul, okay?” I shout, watching his face drop.
“What?”
“Hey, I’m not trying to be dramatic, I’m telling you the truth.”
“No, no,” he waves his hand. “I believe you, I’m just a little surprised is all. Clearly, I’m not well versed on the whole ghost, spirit thing.”
“You ignore them.”
He nods. “I do, I have my whole life.”
“Well, that may work for you but it doesn’t for me.”
“I didn’t realize you were still worried about them, but maybe we can change that,” he rubs his chin.
“Change it? What do you mean?”
“Yes,” he gives me a half smile. “You now have something on your side you’ve never had before.”
“You?”
“Well, yes, but I’m referring to Caduceus.”
“Your snake?” I tilt my head. “What can he do?”
Ascot gives me a small chuckle. “Plenty, you have no idea.”
“Well, it’d be nice to have one.”
He laughs at my impromptu joke. “First of all, he can warn you if or when the entities are close. All I have to do is tell him the situation and he’ll keep them away for good.”
Wait, what?
I frown. “Then why didn’t Caduceus do that the first time? When they cracked the aquarium?”
Ascot shakes his head. “Honestly, Liv and Becca weren’t after me, they were after you. And since we were still strangers, Cad didn’t know to stop them,” he swallows. “And you know what happened next.”
“Yes,” I whisper. “But holy shit, this is awesome news.”
His eyes come back to mine. “He’s pretty incredible. He’s the reason none of the spirits ever bothered me.”
“I’m safe, I’m really safe from them, now.” I whisper, smiling up at him. “A freaking, undeniable miracle.”
Ascot gently takes my hand and I look up as he pulls it to his lips, tenderly kissing the top. “I think it’s called fate.”
Chapter Eleven
For the next several hours I crash on Ascot’s bed, exhausted, as he lay beside me, close but not too close. I may be spending an eternity with this man, but we both agree doing anything physical at this point in our relationship wouldn’t feel right. I need time for everything to soak in, I think Ascot does too, and tonight was a lot.
Not to mention my future is so up in the air with work and what to do about staying or quitting all together. I loathe Adam but I know leaving would put Tammy in a bind, and that’s the last thing I want. So, until I can figure things out, I’m not making any rash decisions.
I just want to sleep…
Early morning rays of sun begin to cross over my face and I open my eyes. I blink a few times, trying to focus and realize I’m still in Ascot’s bed. I must have moved in the night because now, I’m wrapped in his arms, and my head is resting in the crook of his shoulder.
It feels good.
It feels right.
I lie still for a moment, listening to his steady breathing and look up to the profile of his handsome face, sleeping peacefully as the sun lights his hair with tints of browns, caramel and deep black.