Tory wanted to cry over his obstinacy. "Everyone deserves love, Acheron," she said, repeating Zarek's words. "Look me in the eye and tell me you really want me to leave. Tell me you never want to see me again."
Ash swallowed as his emotions roiled through him. He didn't want her to go. He wanted to hold her and keep her by his side for the rest of his unnatural life.
But so long as she was human, she made him vulnerable. And as long as he had enemies determined to hurt him, he couldn't allow her near him. "I want you to leave, Tory."
"Yeah, well, people in hell want ice water. Now take your clothes off and let me see to your back. It has to be killing you right now."
"So you're going to completely disregard me?"
"Not completely. I hear what you're saying and I respect the fact that I was outgunned and outfought tonight—that those demon things came in and snatched me up from where I was sitting. I'm not a stupid woman, but that being said, I don't give up when I set my sights on something either. I love you, Acheron, and I intend to stand by your side even when you're trying to push me away."
Ash closed his eyes as he savored every word out of her mouth. "I don't know how to love someone, Tory. I don't."
"The crowd of people I saw who were willing to lay down their lives for you says you're full of more manure than a cow pasture, buddy."
"Artemis isn't going to let us live in peace. You do understand that?"
"I understand that I told you to take your clothes off and you're just standing here arguing with me. Give in to me, Ash. Trust me, it's easier that way."
Holding his hands up in surrender, he used his powers to remove his shirt.
Tory sucked her breath in as she saw the reopened wounds that lacerated his back. "How can you stand it?"
The blank look he gave her tore through her. "I'm used to it."
"Get in bed. That back needs to be tended and you need to rest."
"Yes, ma'am." Ash headed the short distance to his bedroom while Tory went to the kitchen. He paused in the doorway to watch her. Oblivious to him, she pulled a bowl out and ran water in it.
A wave of desire hit him so hard that it literally took his breath away. If he didn't hurt so badly, he wouldn't be going to bed alone. But the pain his back was infinitely more demanding than the one in his groin.
Yet neither of them could compare to the one in his heart which told him that this couldn't last. In spite of her stubbornness, she was going to have to go before Artemis killed her.
And Artemis was right. He was about to have to go crawling back to her to beg for food. Between the fighting and the wounds on his back, he was starving and if he didn't feed very soon, he would start killing.
Wincing, he wondered what Tory would think if she ever saw that side of him. The sad thing was, he never wanted her to deal with him like that. Never wanted her to see the demon beast that lived inside him.
No, Artemis had created that monster. It was only fair that she should be the one who fed it.
He sighed and went to bed to wait on Tory, knowing that come morning, he'd have to let her go.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Tory paused as she entered the room where Ash was sleeping. His breathing was so strange. Not like a human, it reminded her more of a dog panting. Worried about him, she put her bowl and cloth down on the nightstand and sat down by his side.
She placed a hand on his feverish cheek. The moment she made contact, his entire body turned a vivid blue. Gasping, she watched as his skin marbled and swirled with varying shades of blue color. His nails turned black and two small horns emerged from the top of his head.
Shooting off the bed, she scowled as Artemis's bow and arrow mark appeared over the wounds on his back.
Ash growled even in sleep. And when he opened his eyes to look at her, it was all she could do not to run. No longer silver, they were glowing red and shot through with yellow streaks. He opened his mouth and hissed, showing her a set of serrated fangs.
"Baby?" she whispered, searching for some sign of the man she loved in the creature who terrified her.
He blinked as if seeing her for the first time and crouched on the bed.
Tory approached him slowly. Holding her hand out, she gently laid her palm against his blue cheek. He closed his eyes and nuzzled her hand while he took a sniff of her wrist. That seemed to calm him. He said something to her in a language she couldn't even begin to translate. "I don't understand," she said in Atlantean.
"Akee-kara, akra."
She brushed his black hair back from his face. "Do you need something, sweetie?"
Ash was trying to focus, but it was impossible. Everything was so hazy. He wasn't even sure if he was awake or dreaming. The pain in his back seemed to be gone now. And he was around fresh blood—he could smell it and hear the heart beating.
That sound made his mouth water.
Licking his lips, he inhaled the scent of feminine flesh that covered the veins he wanted to puncture . . .
Eat.