Page 130 of Disharmony

The muscle in Zed’s jaw ticks.

“Thanks for bringing her back,” Conor says. I’ve been closely following him and his brother’s work. They both have great potential. “We’ll take it from here.”

I don’t want to leave. I want to stay and make sure she’s okay, but I can’t do that… not as Levi. Levi means nothing to her. Waking up and seeing the Lionhearts at her bedside is the last thing she’d want.

Zed nods curtly. We have no choice. Ash isn’t in imminent danger anymore, and her friends will protect her like guard dogs.

“We’re leaving,” Zed calls loudly, loud enough to be heard from inside the cabin. “Damon?”

Fury is written over Ripper’s features. Like the rest of us, he won’t want to leave Ash behind. Our attachment to her is too strong.

“What?” Ripper snarls from the doorway.

“Ashley is in good hands now,” Zed says, “it’s time we leave.”

Ripper opens his mouth to argue, but Claudia places a gentle hand on his shoulder and says, “She needs to rest. Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. She just needs to stay warm and sleep it off.”

“We’re not leaving her. I’ll camp out here all night if I have to. I’m not letting any other crazy bitches anywhere near her!” Leila rants as she turns to us. “You can report that back to Jacqueline. Not that she’ll care as long as she gets her precious fucking show.”

She thinks we’re in Jacqueline’s pockets. Everyone does, even though it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Let’s go, Damon,” Zed says firmly.

Sticking around is only causing more friction. Ripper doesn’t argue. He steals one final longing look at Ash and stomps out of the cabin.

The three of us return to the car in silence, lost in our own thoughts. We almost lost Ash tonight, and the worst thing of all? She would have died not knowing who we are.

fifty

Ash

“Cookie? Is that you?” I rub my eyes to see the figure perched on the edge of my bed. The sun slipping through the window is blinding and makes them sting. I jump in surprise. “Claudia?”

I try to sit up, but my raging headache sends me sinking straight back into the sheet. The room feels like it’s pulsing, and I have to fight the urge to vomit.

“Hi Ash,” Claudia says gently. Dark rings under her eyes hint that she hasn’t slept. “Don’t move too fast, okay? Just rest.”

“Rest?” I croak, casting a glance at the alarm clock next to my bed. Nine a.m. Shit. “But the show…”

I notice Cookie for the first time. She’s standing next to my bed. Her eyelids are swollen, and she’s wearing last night’s clothes.

“Forget the show, Ash,” Cookie says, taking a seat next to Claudia. “Claudia’s right. You need to rest.”

I try to think back to last night. I didn’t drink, did I? We were dancing and then… everything turns into a foggy blur… I recall the stars… the breeze… it’s a series of blurred snapshots, but none of them make any sense. Why can’t I remember?

“What happened last night?” I ask. My throat is dry, and Cookie passes me a glass of water. I can only manage a few sips. “I…”

Panic rises in my chest. I’ve never blacked out before.

“We think you were roofied,” Claudia says.

Now I really am going to be sick. I dry heave, and Cookie holds a bowl underneath my chin. Nothing comes up. Roofied? That’s something that happens when you’re at a club, not when you’re in a safe place like Camp Harmony.

A strangled noise escapes my throat as I peer under the covers. I’ve heard stories of people getting spiked at festivals, but I don’t seem to have any marks or injuries that I can see—even if I don’t recognize the strange hoodie wrapped around me. It’s soft and smells oddly familiar… almost comforting.

“We’re not sure exactly how it happened,” Claudia says carefully, “but we have our suspicions that someone wanted to make sure you wouldn’t be well enough to perform today.”

“It’s my fault,” Cookie whispers. Her voice is choked. “I should have kept a closer eye on you. You were there one minute and gone the next…”

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