A Rejected Wolf and a Court of Ash (Eden and Azriel) novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Eden

“I know! I know!” I groan and take a seat on the couch where Azriel just sat. “It’s insane.”

“Insane? Eden, he’s going to sacrifice you to his sister!” Elvira paces in front of me, her blonde hair flying wildly around her face. “And you were….what…making out with him?”

“It wasn’t making out!” It totally was, but I’m not ready to admit that. “It was just…a kiss.”

“A kiss with the enemy!” Elvira throws her hands up. “What’s next? Holding hands with Paris? A romantic dinner with Marcus’s ghost?”

I wince at the mention of Marcus. “That’s not fair.”

Elvira stops pacing, her expression softening. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“No offense taken.”

“No, Eden.,” she plops down on the couch. “I shouldn’t have brought up the name of your mother’s killer even in a dark joke. That was terrible of me… I’m just worried about you. This whole situation is messed up, and now you’re kissing the fairy who’s supposed to deliver you to his sister for slaughter.”

When she puts it like that, it sounds worse.

“I don’t know what came over me,” I admit. “One minute I was cleaning his wound, and the next…”

Elvira stares at me like I’ve just told her I ate a Tide Pod for breakfast. “The next? Did you just, what, black out and wake up with your tongue down his throat?”

“It wasn’t like that!” I groan, grabbing a couch pillow to squish it to my face. “He was all wounded and tragic, and then he started saying things like I make him feel. Ugh, I don’t know, alive or whatever.”

“Oh my god. Did you fall for the ‘nobody understands me‘ routine? Eden. Please. Next time, just buy a t–shirt that says easy mark.”

I peek at her from behind the pillow. “It’s not like I wanted to kiss him! He kissed me first.”

She narrows her eyes, accusing. “And you kissed back, right? Don’t even try your ‘accidentally inhaled his face‘ excuse.”

I let the pillow drop and flop sideways on the couch. “Fine! I kissed him back. For three seconds. Maybe six.”

“Jesus Christ,” Elvira mutters. “This is how people end up on Dr. Phil!”

I can’t help it; I start laughing. A real sharp, around–the–edges laugh. “Dr. Phil would be like… So, Eden, tell us how it feels to lock lips with your magical executioner?”

Elvira snorts despite herself. “Don’t forget the part where the audience gasps and someone yells: girl, have some self- respect!”

“Honestly? Could be worse,” I say flatly. “Could be Paris.”

Elvira shudders so hard that her chest is doing funny dance–like movements while she laughs. “If you ever swap spit with Paris, I will personally call an exorcist!”

We laugh like idiots. For a good while until we finally calm down and just breathe.

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10:24 Mon, 23 Jun

Chapter 19

“Okay,” she says, turning serious for about two seconds before going back to disbelief mode, “but seriously–you’re not going to do it again, right? Like…no more fairy kissing?”

“I’m not planning on it!” My voice cracks embarrassingly.

She narrows her eyes at me. “Uh–huh. Sure.”

“I mean it!” Sort of.

22%

“Elvira’s Lie Detector says: THAT’S A LIE.” She waves her hand in front of my face like some kind of TV game show host.

I throw my head back with a miserable sigh. “It’s not my fault he’s hot and tragic! And injured!”

“You forgot dangerous and completely off–limits!” Elvira snaps.

“Yeah, well…” I stare at the ceiling, cheeks burning again. “I guess nearly dying gives you weird priorities.”

She mutters something about hormones being the deadliest force known to man and leans over to pick up a slice of pizza from the box on the table.

We watch our favorite series for at least three hours, laughing and snorting at cheesy lines, until it’s time for bed. I’m brushing my teeth, spitting in the sink, when I hear what sounds like Logan howling.

I freeze while rinsing. The howl comes again. Not just Logan, but multiple wolves howling in panic.

“Elvira!” I call, spitting toothpaste everywhere as I rush from the bathroom. “Do you hear that?”

She’s already at the window, face pale in the moonlight coming in. “Something’s wrong. The pack is talking about a monster that’s out in the woods.”

Unlike me, Elvira can mind–link to the others. I’m guessing it is because she is getting stronger every day. Her brothers have been training her since she hates being a weak omega, and while it stings a little that I’m getting left behind, I’m grateful for the information.

“We should make sure the doors are locked with the extra-”

A sudden crash coming from downstairs freezes us both in place.

Glass shatters, and then there are heavy thuds against the wall.

“What was that?” Elvira whispers.

A deafening roar shakes the entire house. It does not belong to a wolf. It’s a deeper sound. Strong enough to vibrate through my bones and make my wolf cower.

“Eden…” Elvira’s voice trembles as she backs away from the door. “I don’t think that’s a pack member.”

Another crash, followed by heavy footsteps on the stairs. Slow. Purposive. Like whatever’s coming knows we’re here and isn’t in any hurry to get us.

I grab Elvira’s arm and pull her toward the window. “We need to get out. Now.”

The stench hits us first. Rotting meat. Putrid. Disgusting.

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