Ashe (Fuse Book 2)

by E. L. Todd

  “Why are you so certain of that?”

  He faced forward again. “Because he treats you the way dragons treat the things they love—like treasure.”

  Rain poured outside, drops running off the edge of the cave and dripping to the grass below. A backdrop of peace. Music produced by nature. The fire burned low because they had no more firewood to keep it going.

  Side by side, they lay together in a single bedroll, the extra one discarded long ago.

  With a hand pressed to the center of her back in one of her curves, he held her close, his eyes on her lips. A permanent sadness was hidden deep beneath his joy, waiting in the shadows, prepared to emerge at a moment’s notice.

  “You’ve been eating my cooking without complaint for a while now.”

  His eyes flicked up to hers. “It’s not so bad.”

  “Really?” she teased. “Because I remember you calling it rabbit food.”

  A hint of a smile appeared. “I know that rabbit food is important to you, so it’s fine.”

  “What about Flare?”

  “He hunts sparingly.” His callused fingers were rough against her smooth skin as he grazed them over her, warm like the water from the hot springs. He explored her body slowly, feeling her from top to bottom, giving her ass a gentle squeeze when he grabbed one of her cheeks.

  “So, you were alive when the humans came to Anastille?”

  “A teenager.”

  “How old were you when you fused?”

  He grinned. “Still trying to figure out my age, huh?”

  “No. I asked your age when you fused. Not the same thing. And if I did want to know that information, I would just ask because you would tell me.”

  “I would?”

  She gave him a playful hit. “Shut up.”

  He chuckled. “I was twenty-eight.”

  “Hmm…guess I like older men.”

  “Men your age are boys. You need a man like me.”

  “A man, huh?”

  He squeezed her ass again, that flirtatious grin on his face. “I’m all man, Treasure.”

  She looked over his sculpted shoulders, his hard chest, chiseled stomach, those big, strong arms, and didn’t refute the statement. “You must have broken a lot of hearts in your lifetime.”

  “I’ve never been with someone long enough to accomplish that.”

  “It’s just one woman, then off to the next?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Why?”

  He stared at her blankly, as if he didn’t understand the question. “When you’re immortal, handsome, and rich, why would you commit to one person? My father will theoretically never die, so I won’t need to take his place. No need to produce an heir. I can pay for any woman I want. And I have the looks to get any woman I want for free. I would only make that kind of commitment if I found a woman I couldn’t live without.”

  When the intensity in his eyes became too much, she dropped her gaze and stared at his chest, watched it rise and fall in a peaceful rhythm. Her fingers moved over his stomach to his chest, finding the distinct drumming of his beating heart. She’d continued to train with Ashe, to use her mind to lower Flare’s defenses to approach him, to use her mind to speak to multiple dragons at once. But she realized Rush was right—this would take too long. She needed to proposition Ashe and hope for the best.

  But she didn’t want to.

  When this moment became a memory, it would only bring her pain. She would seldom think about it because that happiness was long gone, buried in the past. “Where did the humans come from?” She spoke with a weak voice, like her heart was already broken.

  He was quiet for a long time, needing a moment to adapt to the change in subject. “Achard. But it goes by a new name these days—the Land of Ashes.”

  “What happened?”

  “We had a large dormant volcano that decided to wake up and not go back to sleep. It’s at the southern corner, so we had time to move farther north until we figured out a plan. That was when my father sailed to Anastille and secured asylum. We took everyone we could and abandoned those who couldn’t be saved. If the lava didn’t get to them, the ash did.”

  “Wow…”

  “We weren’t prepared to evacuate that many people, and there wasn’t enough time to build more boats.”

  “And it’s still that way?”

  “As far as I know. The lava covered the entire landmass and turned into hard rock, so anything below is inaccessible. It’s a wasteland.”

  “I wonder if we have volcanoes in Anastille.”

  He gave a weak chuckle. “When you’ve lived as long as I have, you realize that nothing is permanent. Earthquakes, hurricanes, erosion…everything changes. The forest of Eden Star used to run all the way across the desert—until we changed the streams to irrigate our lands. We chopped down so many trees to build our empire. There could be a volcano somewhere in Anastille, and one day it could go off too. You just never know.”

  “That’s depressing.”

  “Which is why immortality is overrated. Just giving you a heads-up.”

  “Yeah, Callon mentioned that to me. Told me he seriously considered the Spirit Ceremony until I came to Eden Star.”

  His eyes fell, reflecting the sadness in his heart. “I can imagine…”

  “I love Callon, but it’s different with him.”

  “Understandable. I see the similarities between you… Wish I’d noticed them before.”

  “Instead of calling him General Asshole?”

  A guilty look came over his face. “Yeah, I got a little carried away.”

  “Especially when he was the one who saved your life.”

  “Well, I thought he stole my girl. Of course, I’m going to be mad.”

  “Your girl?” she asked with a smile.

  “Yeah.” His hand cupped her cheek as his eyes softened. “You were my girl the moment I laid eyes on you.”

  Thirty-Seven

  Proposition

  Your mind has the ability to grow, and I believe that if it continues to develop, you can perform the Skull Crusher on the Shamans—and wipe them out of existence. It’s beneficial that you can disarm them, but we need more than that.

  “I’m not sure how to practice that…”

  Kill things.

  She gave him a blank stare. “Excuse me?”

  We start with mice and rabbits. Move to deer. Move to bears. Then move to sharks.

  “I’m not doing that.”

  Then how else will you practice, Cora?

  “I don’t know, but I’m not going to kill things.”

  Cora, this is bigger than your personal beliefs—

  “I’ll hunt Shamans and practice on them. I’m not going to kill things for the hell of it. Sorry, not sorry.”

  Death is a part of life.

  “Not when it’s not a fair fight.”

  Exactly. It’s not a fair fight. That’s exactly why we need it, Cora. You’re the only living thing that can kill them.

  “Not true. I found a poison from these big-ass frogs that does the trick. We can harvest the poison and dip our arrows in it. Take them out pretty quickly.”

  You’ll need it for your own defense, Cora. And you can use it against others—such as men and dragons. Imagine if you were strong enough to end King Lux without a single sword being raised. The lives that you would spare. You. Must. Practice.

  She shook her head. “Then we need to catch some Shamans because I’m not doing it on innocent animals and people. End of story.”

  He gave a snort.

  She sat down beside her pack and opened her water canteen.

  Ashe watched her, his dark-as-night eyes glued to her face.

  She rehydrated and moistened her throat, her eyes on the canteen in her hands, made of an orc’s stomach. The breeze moved through her hair, and she felt the comfort of the island right at her fingertips. It was a special place, a place she wasn’t eager to leave. Rush’s charming smile came to her mind, his eyes
reflecting the fire behind her. Her chest suddenly tightened, like the air was pulled from her lungs. “Ashe, I have to go…”

  What do you mean?

  She lifted her eyes from the canteen and met his. “I need to return to Eden Star. I need to continue my training with Callon. I need to win favor with the elves. I need to work on my relationship with Queen Delwyn. Rush needs to return to our friends and regroup for the next part of his journey. As much as I want to stay here with you…I don’t have the time.”

  We’ve barely scratched the surface of your instruction, Cora.

  “I know that. But they’re already searching for us both. They know General Callon left his forest to help me. This war has been set in motion already. We can’t stay here when we have no idea what’s going on in Anastille.”

  Your training is vital, Cora. Without it, you have no chance.

  “And I have no chance if I stay here, Ashe.”

  He exhaled, his body slowly deflating. I don’t agree. But I understand.

  Her heart started to race, teetering on the precipice of his wrath. It was a perverse question to pose, and of course, it would shake the bedrock of their relationship. But she had to ask—and hope Rush was right. “I want you to come with me.”

  His body rose once more as he drew breath into his lungs, his back rising and expanding. His claws dug into the earth beneath his weight, puncturing the stalks of grass and making them topple over when their blades broke. There was no smoke from his snout, probably because there was nothing but white-hot flames inside his body.

  “If Queen Delwyn has the pledge of the dragons—”

  I said I would not help you.

  “But I don’t think that’s true anymore—”

  I said I wouldn’t change my mind.

  “Well, you should change it. Because you can help me as much as you can, but it’s useless unless I have you and the dragons behind me.”

  Now the smoke started to rise.

  “You said you believed in me. Now it’s time to prove it.”

  I believe you have a chance. Success is not guaranteed.

  “Success is more likely to be guaranteed if I have you and the rest of the dragons—”

  No.

  “Have you even asked them—”

  I don’t need to. This isn’t a democracy. I am their king—and it’s my job to protect them.

  “Along with the dragons you left behind—”

  ENOUGH.

  She shut her mouth, fuming the way he was. “Even if I honed these skills and became the most powerful force to be reckoned with, it doesn’t matter. Because I can’t do this alone. I need all the help I can get. And without you, I’ll never get the elves to agree. Why would they risk their lives again when you won’t risk yours? It has to be everyone or no one.”

  The smoke continued to rise to the blue sky, his nostrils flared.

  “Ashe, please…come with me.”

  And how do you expect me to do that?

  The rage around him was palpable, having a distinct scent as it went into her lungs. Her mind was so attuned to his at this point that she could read his moods, read his vibrations. He already knew what she wanted—but wanted her to say it. “We can go to Eden Star together. You and I can continue my training while I also continue my training with Callon. I can work on my relationship with the elves, and when the time is right, we approach the queen. We can accomplish all of this—if we fuse.”

  “Roar!”

  She cowered back, the gust of wind toppling her over until she was flat on her back.

  A huge claw pinned her down, pushed on her chest so she could barely breathe, and then Ashe’s furious visage came into view, blowing smoke directly into her face. You come here pledging to free the dragons—and then you ask me this? He pushed down on her harder, forcing the little breath she had out of her lungs. How dare you?

  Cora, I’m coming!

  “I don’t—”

  He pressed on her harder.

  She was forced to project her thoughts even while she suffocated. It wouldn’t be permanent. I’m not like them, Ashe. We can unfuse whenever you want.

  Lies.

  It’s the only way I can get you to Eden Star in secret. It’s the only way we can continue to train without wasting time. Dragons have the ability to fuse for a reason, because it gives an advantage. I’m sorry that the humans betrayed that trust, but I’m not like them. I would never force you to do anything against…against… Her eyes started to close.

  Ashe lifted his claw.

  She gasped for breath.

  “Roar!” Flare went straight for Ashe, his claws out, and swiped at the giant black dragon.

  Ashe was quick and backed away, flames coming out of his nostrils.

  Flare landed on top of Cora, guarding her from attack. I’ll kill you, motherfucker.

  She continued to suck breath into her lungs, to get the air back into her blood.

  Ashe opened his wings and pushed off the ground. Leave. Or I’ll kill you all.

  Rush was in her face, lifting up her shirt to check for broken bones and puncture wounds. He felt her everywhere, going over every single rib then moving to her hips and legs. “Didn’t go well, I take it?”

  She shook her head, still breathing hard.

  “You okay?” His hand moved back to her chest, feeling it rise and fall. “Nothing is broken, and there’s no sign of internal bleeding.”

  She nodded. “I’m fine, just couldn’t breathe for a bit.”

  Smoldering anger moved into his eyes. “He could have killed you.”

  “No.” She had a coughing attack and couldn’t speak again until it subsided. “He lifted his claw when he realized I was about to pass out. He wouldn’t hurt me.”

  “I want to kill him anyway.”

  “I know you do.”

  He leaned down and kissed her before he pulled her to her feet.

  She stood with her hands on her hips, her body still drawing breaths, deep and hard.

  He handed her his canteen and supported her back with his arm as she drank.

  Cora drank every single drop, her eyes on the dark cave beyond. She took a break to catch her breath before she started to guzzle again, but she stopped to spit everything out when she noticed the dragon that appeared from the darkness.

  Pearl-white and magnificent, the beast emerged, slightly smaller than Ashe, but still powerful with sharp talons and large wings. The dragon stopped and stared at them in the meadow.

  Rush followed her gaze. “Who is that?”

  “I…I’m not sure. But that’s where Ashe lives.”

  A loud voice projected into her mind. What happened to Ashe? It was both deep and feminine, with the same tone of power Ashe carried. She approached them, carrying herself with the poise and regal attitude of a queen.

  Cora lowered the canteen and looked into translucent eyes, eyes that almost had no color at all. “He flew away.”

  Why? His mind is closed off to me—and he never does that.

  “We had an argument. Who are you?”

  The white dragon gave her an ice-cold stare. What kind of argument would prompt my Zuhurk to behave this way?

  “Zuhurk?”

  Flare’s mind entered the conversation. Eternal Mate.

  “Oh…I didn’t know he was married.”

  What happened?

  “I…I asked him to come with me to Eden Star. I need his help if I’m going to free the dragons.”

  Her eyes narrowed. You’ve already asked him this and didn’t provoke this reaction. Something else was said. Now tell me.

  Cora felt even more intimidated by her when Ashe had just collapsed her lungs minutes ago. “I suggested that we fuse…”

  The dragon’s eyes were still and focused. An explosion of anger didn’t escape her snout in the form of a mighty roar. Her head slowly turned, and she regarded the skies, searching for his black body against the blue sky. Her glorious wings opened, and she took off, releasing a mighty roa
r in the sky.

  Rush shielded his eyes and watched her go. “Never would have thought he was getting action…since he’s such a grouch all the time.”

  Cora ignored his comment and looked back at the cave.

  Two more dragons came out, about half the size of Ashe and his Zuhurk. They were unusual in appearance, having black bodies with a subtle gray print underneath, the first dragons she’d ever seen that weren’t a single solid color. Both looked up to the sky.

  Rush studied them as he stood beside her. “Beautiful.”

  She watched them, her eyes softening. “Now I understand…”

  Throughout her dinner, she shot glances outside the cave, as if expecting to see Ashe’s shadow appear. But if he were there, she would have heard him long before she saw him. She dropped her chin back to her bowl, eating the grilled nuts and potatoes.

  Rush always inhaled his food just to get it over with then set the bowl aside. He leaned his back against the cave wall, his arms on his knees, his eyes focused on hers. “He hasn’t tried to chase us off, so I think that’s a good sign.”

  “Yeah.”

  “That tells me he’s upset—but his feelings haven’t changed.”

  “I guess I expected him to react that way. Just not sure what to do now.”

  “Give him time.”

  Her eyes dropped down to the fire between them, the flames that had filled the cave with warmth since they arrived at the island. Shadows danced on the cave walls, and the stone absorbed the heat and projected it back. “I miss him.”

  “Yeah, I know the feeling.”

  “I asked him to fuse purely for objective reasons. But my disappointment tells me my intentions weren’t entirely altruistic. I see what you and Flare have—and I’d like that too.”

  “To fly? To become a fire-breathing killer in a heartbeat?”

  “No. Just to be that close to someone all the time. To share mind, body, and soul.”

  “Well…you always have me, Cora.”

  Her eyes lifted above the flames and looked at his handsome face, the gentleness in his eyes that he never showed around anyone else. “I know.”

  His look lasted for a long time, the sadness slowly entering his gaze. He eventually dropped it and looked at the flames once more.