Alethea
As I stare at the lifeless child. My chest tightens, my breath catching in my throat.
Should I be relieved? Should I be devastated?
A child is dead. A child with blonde hair, just like Declan’s. My mind races with questions. Was he playing too close to the river? Did he wander off? Where were his parents? How could they be so careless?
I sighed in relief, but it didn’t ease the ache in my heart. It isn’t Declan. My son is still out there, but the sight of another mother’s loss makes my stomach turn.
Asher steps closer, he wraps an arm around me. His warmth grounds me, but it doesn’t stop the whirlwind of thoughts raging in my mind. “Let’s get out of here,” his voice rumbles through our link.
I nod weakly, with exhaustion creeping into my bones.
On our way out, I spot Harvey standing nearby. I force a small nod in his direction. “That wasn’t my son. But… thanks for the heads-up anyway.”
Harvey has a tight smile on his face. “Take care, Alethea.”
Asher and I walk in silence toward the car. I trail behind him, my eyes locked onto his tense shoulders. He’s furious-I can feel it in the way his body is wound so tightly, with his rigid movement.
When we reach the car, he opens the door for me, and I slide in without a word. He follows suit, but instead of starting the engine, he just sits there, staring blankly ahead.
I swallow hard, my thoughts spiraling. Where is Declan right now? Is he scared? Is he crying for me?
Then, Asher speaks, but his voice is eerily calm.
“Something feels off about Harvey.”
I blink, my head snapping toward him. His expression is unreadable, his jaw tight.
“I think he knows where Declan is. And he’s playing you-playing all of us. So when he finally ‘finds’ our son, you’ll see him as some kind of knight in shining armor. But the truth? He’s had him all along.”
A sharp breath escapes me. My hand flies to my mouth, my heart pounding against my ribs.
Is he… jealous? Or is he actually onto something?
I hesitate, trying to process his words. “Asher…”
His head whips toward me, his eyes burning with intensity. “You think I’d say this just because I’m jealous?” His voice is rough, edged with frustration. “I haven’t even met my son, Alethea. But I know exactly what he looks like-down to the shade of his green eyes. And yeah, maybe I am jealous. But that has nothing to do with what I just fucking said. Harvey knows more than he’s letting on.”
His words leave me breathless.
Before I can even respond, Asher suddenly yanks the car door open.
I jolt, my mouth parting in shock. “Asher, what are you doing?”
But he didn’t answer.
He’s already moving.
I sit frozen in the car, my body refusing to move as I watch Asher march straight toward Harvey. My heart hammers in my chest.
Holy fuck, this can’t be good.
I snap out of my shock, fumbling to open the door before dashing after him. My legs feel weak, but I push forward, my eyes locked on Asher as he reaches Harvey and says something in a low, commanding voice. Harvey nods stiffly and follows him without hesitation.
Where is he taking him?
Asher leads Harvey away from the crowd, toward a more secluded area, and my stomach knots. Please, Asher… whatever you do, don’t attract attention, I plead silently.
As if hearing my thoughts, he suddenly turns his head and finds my eyes. Our gazes lock.
He nods once.
I let out a shaky breath, but my relief was short-lived.
In a swift motion, Asher grabs Harvey by the throat.
Oh my God.
Harvey’s body jerks, but he doesn’t fight back. Asher’s grip is ironclad, his piercing gaze locked onto Harvey’s eyes as if searching for something buried deep within him.
Then it hits me.
He’s using his powers.
A shiver runs down my spine as I watch Harvey begin to tremble, his limbs twitching uncontrollably. Asher didn’t loosen his hold, his stare was intense. Whatever he’s seeing-it’s bad. Bad.
But his face remains eerily calm.
I want to move. I want to say something. But I’m too stunned, watching as Asher finally lifts his free hand and swipes it across Harvey’s face in a slow, deliberate motion. Then, just as suddenly, he releases him.
Harvey stumbles back, but he doesn’t react.
He just… stands there.
His eyes are distant, unfocused-like he’s caught in some other realm, struggling to process whatever just happened to him.
I clasp a hand over my mouth, my pulse racing.
Oh my God.
He just used the power of compulsion on him.
My heart races as I turn to Asher. His face is deadly serious, with an unreadable expression, but the dark energy radiating off him is terrifying. It feels like he could drain the life out of someone with just a look. A shiver runs down my spine as I stumble, realizing that whatever Asher just saw in Harvey’s mind wasn’t good. That must be why he looks like he’s ready to tear someone apart.
“Asher,” I whisper through the mind link, my voice small. ‘What is it?”
He turns to me, his voice cold and clipped. “Let’s go.”
Without another word, he strides toward the car, with rigid movements rigid with tension. I glance back at Harvey-he looks completely disoriented like his mind is still trapped somewhere else, unable to process reality. I swallow hard, dread pooling in my stomach. What did Asher see?
Before I can even think, I hear the roar of the engine. Asher started the car without me.
“What the hell?” I mutter, rushing toward the vehicle. Is he seriously about to leave without me? He knows something now-I can tell from the storm brewing in his eyes-and if he thinks he’s going to keep me in the dark, he’s dead wrong.
I yank open the door, slipping inside quickly and fastening my seatbelt. I know Asher. In this state, his driving won’t be friendly. He’s furious, and if I don’t pull him back before he loses control, we’re both in for a dangerous ride.
I reach out, placing my hand on his shoulder, the closest part of him I can touch. “Asher, what is it?” I ask softly.
He sighed but didn’t answer. Instead, he turns his face toward me, and for the first time, I see something beneath the anger-vulnerability.
My chest tightens. He’s hurting. He’s breaking. And I don’t know what to say to pull him back from the edge.
Instinctively, I slide my hand down his arm, finding his hand and lacing my fingers through his. I bring it to my lips, pressing a soft kiss to his skin. The familiar tingling sensation erupts like wildfire, sending sparks shooting up my arm. The mate bond is undeniable, overwhelming, pulling me toward him like a force I can never resist.
His jaw clenches. He’s trying to fight it.
“Asher,” I whisper, squeezing his hand gently, “tell me what’s wrong. What did you find out?”
His gaze locks onto mine, dark and unreadable, a storm of emotions swirling beneath the surface. He hesitates for a moment as if debating whether to tell me. Then, suddenly, his voice drops to a whisper.
“I know where our son is.”