Shannon’s Reviews > A Shadow in the Reaping > Status Update

Ashen's voice in my memory pulls a tight cord across my heart. If you're trapped in the Realm of Light, I will still find you. I close my eyes and lay my head on Ediye's shoulder, replaying those words in my mind, imagining the warmth of his touch on my skin. My heart is as sick as the rest of me, I think. I drift to the brink of sleep but it's an island I never reach in a dark and desolate sea.

Ashen rests his forehead to my shoulder and I run my fingers through his dark hair, every inhalation filled with his scent. I think I could stay here forever beneath the weight of him, feeling his heart as it thunders in his chest, listening to his whispered adorations. “You are a goddess,” he says to me. “An elemental force of nature.” 

“Indulge me.” “I’m trying to indulge both of us.” The smile in Ashen's lips is an imprint of heat in my skin as he kisses my jaw drawing closer to my mouth. “Vampire,” he purrs “I need to check the club…” Ashen’s breath mingles with mine as he kisses the corner of my lips. “Come with me…“ My desire is like a planet with a gravitational pull all its own.

"Doing great," I say, giving him a thumbs up. Honestly though, this is so fucking embarrassing for a battle-hardened vampire such as myself to be bested by an oversized fox-dog. I have a feeling Ashen is going to be bringing this up one day.

Ashen smiles and pulls me back down to his chest, wrapping his arms across my back in a worried embrace. The steady drum of his heart pounds its song to me. I trace the face of the jackal above it, imagining how many lifetimes it has been beating in its cage of bone. Every touch still feels stolen. So, I'll be the greatest thief of all time. I will take every last one that I have a chance to steal. 

When he turns, he breaks away from his thoughts and his eyes lock on mine, his expression unreadable.  I stand my ground. I accept whatever happens next. All the moments of my life that have brought me here, I'm thankful for every one. I will not close my eyes.  Ashen strides toward me. Before I can be sure if it will be a sword or a kiss, he sweeps me up from the floor in an embrace.

I give her a vexed look. He hasn't done anything wrong with me, at least not that I know of. Also, the fact that she would place him into this little game of hers makes want to kill her, resurrect her, and then kill her again. 

Asallah libakkunu, I think, over and over on the drive back into Cairo, remembering the words of my spell. I overpower your heart. But I'm starting to worry that mine has already succumbed. 

When I glance up, he's watching me, waiting for some smartass response I'm sure. I feel the wind in that sail, just like Mr. Hassan promised. But even with it spurring me to flee—even knowing the risks—when I look at Ashen, I want to try. I want to keep my eyes on the shore, my anchor down. 

Ashen gives me a half smile as both of our bikes roar to life. That wound in my heart seems to bleed at the sight of that lopsided grin.