ood obeys. But some

ose befo

lung to the sheets. She watched him sleep for a long t

eel it. The pul

ft. It was s

the wind howled against the cliffs, bringing with it the

oke to t

o sil

ure of last night. It had felt like something more than just sex. Like some

was quiet.

te, scribbled

ave. Not

he did th

by the time Asher reac

ggled over relics stolen from forgotten cr

ollowing

memory. Like something buried trying

ays, into a part of the city the light rarely reached. And

it b

era

e seams, vanishing before they hit the

overed nea

hed it, a voice ec

the thr

eaked open

was a s

Rotting.

tubs. The floor was painted in circles-si

of it all: a cha

uld've

did

body, not even his mind. His b

epped from

Li

Cazr

an for this world. Eyes like mirro

urned," the

ever be

rong. "You were. Be

s this

lifting the chalice. "A pr

m n

d Asher's chest. "You bear the

step back.

e of Unb

nly,

like fangs ripping through bone. He dropp

the floor fl

m his nose. His

d in a language o

scre

it before

und. Birds scattered. A low hum echoed thro

tome she'd been

w where

ew what ha

the pain stopped as q

ool of his own b

lice no

rank from it

sn't

s ecs

arped, and shifted. The robe fell away, revealing someth

el," it growled. "

lun

didn't

n't ne

med shut-and the blood a

rieked, caugh

the shado

ough the wall a

tum was

oor was scorched. Asher stood in th

him before

whispered.

sped. "It j

rned to t

ot speaking. He let her. His body was

ished, he ca

e said. "More of

he

her. "Insid

, they did

ike b

reath synchronized, the silence fi

ared at t

what th

had been

others w

rgotten. Maybe ev

them got to

ant to think

side her, ey

at the

e thought she was asleep

almost did

er the wo

od turn

" she asked,

pa

h

that open