Page 96 of A Lesson in Obedience
Asher took off his glasses and reached over to cut off the light from his lamp, shrouding the room in darkness. I didn’t know what it was but something about this sleeping arrangement had my heart beating at a normal rate, the anxiety that consumed me mellowed out and the sleepiness I tried to push aside overwhelmed me.
I trailed my hand over to Asher’s. It was laying palm up on the pillow and my fingers traced over his until they interlocked. I tried to pull away, but he kept my hand hostage. I stopped trying to escape and found myself cuddling into him, hoping that he might fill my dreams with something happy and falling asleep.
Whimpering filledmy ears and startled me awake. I would know Beau’s cries anywhere. I had to slowly pull the covers down and shift over Asher’s body. I had one leg over when I felt his hands at my waist.
“Where are you going?” he whispered in my ear.
“Beau is crying and I want to comfort him.”
“You coddle him.”
I rolled my eyes, grateful that he couldn’t see. “He’s my familiar. It’s my job to take care of him, so let me do that.” I could feel his erection pressed against me, but I was more concerned with what was on the other side of the door.
“Right back to bed, got it?” Asher scolded, letting me go.
I walked over to the door, opening it up to see Beau circling. I gently closed the door behind me and crouched down to his level. “Hey buddy, what’s wrong?”
Beau stomped his front paws, turning and then dashing downthe stairs. I raised an eyebrow, turning to look at the door that led to Asher’s room. I considered getting them up but decided against it. I followed Beau and realized he was at the front door. His tail was curved upward and stiff. There was a small light from the kitchen that illuminated a part of the entryway, so I could see that the short hair on the back of his neck was up.
What’s going on?I thought to him, confused.
He didn’t reply, but a growl came from him and he bared his teeth. I nudged him back from the door and pulled it open, peeking out. I didn’t see anything except the trees that swayed just a little from the wind and the sound of cars filled my ears. I almost closed the door back completely when I felt a shiver go down my spine.
There was this feeling like I wasn’t alone and I looked down at Beau. He was still staring directly at the door, unmoved. I stuck my tongue in my cheek and pulled the door open again, stepping fully outside to get a better look. If I was reading this part of one of my books, I would consider myself very stupid right about now, but trying to move on and pretend wasn’t working for me anymore.
That feeling I had persisted but standing here wasn’t proving fruitful, so I turned to go back inside. And then the feeling hit me harder than before when I felt a presence behind me and the sensation of feeling trapped seemed to want to devour me whole.
“You’ve been a busy girl. Doing what I should have done years ago. I’ve never been prouder to call you my daughter.”
35
Riley
Ireached behind me for the doorknob but he tsked. Chancellor Fowler shook his head quickly and pointed over my shoulder.
“Calm that anxious familiar of yours. I’m not here to hurt you.”
I swallowed and kept looking at him but spoke to Beau in my mind.
I’m okay, buddy. Just stay there and don’t be too loud.
I could feel his frustration.I don’t like this, Mom.
I know. Please do not wake the boys, just stay quiet.
I had to take his silence as his compliance to my request.
“Why are you here?”
Chancellor Fowler shrugged, placing his hands in his pockets. “I came to check on you. What happened must be taking a toll and I want to offer my advice, if you’ll receive it.”
“I won’t.”
He sighed. “Always so stubborn. I bet you never thought you were capable of so much anger. Enough to do what you did. I madesure that mess you made won’t be a problem for you. The things we do for our children.”
My mouth went dry as I thought back to Teresa’s limp body and a cold shiver went down my spine as the sound of cracking bone echoed in my ears. “I hate what I did. I’m not celebrating it, it didn’t make me feel good. I’m not a fucking monster.”
He started to pace in front of me, casually looking at me. “I hated myself the first time I took a life as well. It leaves a dark mark on our soul, knowing that you are the reason another person is no longer breathing. I was distraught.”
