Page 47 of Stone Seduction
He’s hurt. He’s hurt. Ohmygod, he’s hurt.
“Come—”
“Just tell me. I’m not in the mood for delays.”
He cocked a sheepish grin at me. “Delays? Interesting word.”
Oh, kindly fuck off.
His eyes flicked to my bracelet as he told me about jellyfish monsters, poison, and an earthquake.
An earthquake? How did I miss it? I must have been channelingSleeping Beautywhile the town shook.
My mind latched onto the p-word. It explained the malfunction in the amulet, as well as the itch. Our bond had clearly deepened for me to feel this intense panic.
He’s out there with poison in his system.
My Asher.
“He’s poisoned?” I struggled to speak, my chest painfully tight. “Oh my God. I have to see him.” My feet itched, my instincts screaming for him.
“He’s fine. Please don’t worry. You can see him later, once he’s recovered.”
“But—”
“He’s receiving the best possible care from a team of mote enchanters. So, breathe a sigh of relief or whatever you need to do.” He lit a joint, blowing smoke out so casually it felt like a slap in the face.
“I have?—”
“Enough!” he barked. “He’s fine. Take my word for it.”
His word would never be enough paltry reassurance. I needed visual evidence for this mark to cease itching.
“I have to see him,” I managed to get out as a full sentence.
Fuck his bark. Fuck his bite. Fuck all of him.
Seth shook his head. “You can’t help him now.” He pointed at my neck. “Does it hurt?”
“It’s responding to Asher’s suffering,” I answered. It would be the only insight I offered him.
Asher. Asher. Asher. I moved back to the stairs, ready to run. Where, I didn’t know. He could be on any floor, in any room. So be it. I’d bang on every door, scream his name until they took me to him.
Seth narrowed his eyes. “If you try anything, I’ll have you locked up. There are cells deep within the foundations of this tower. Don’t think I won’t throw you into one if you keep this up.”
“But my?—”
He slammed a fist into the wall.
“Pickles!” I squealed, almost losing my balance.
Seth kept his fist on the wall, cracks around it from the impact. “But nothing, Luke. You will listen to me. You will obey me. I won’t tolerate your insolence.”
Now he had me. I’d been hit by him before, my cheek remembering his slap. I didn’t want my skull to suffer the same fate as the wall.
Dammit. He snared me in his menace.
“Do you understand?” he asked.
