#ashy.

   Zelek had backtracked, had traced her scent as far as he could, he’d turned on the GPS in her phone, he’d tried summoning himself to her based on the necklace she wore that had traces of his blood in it. Her scent disappeared, which meant she’d been shoved in a car, her phone had been traveling around on the subway for three fucking days and the necklace had been thrown in the trash outside some convenience store.

   The car was stolen, the plates matching a completely different car, the phone had been dropped by a woman who had said some handsome guy tell her they’d go out for dinner if she did him this one favour. The stupid woman thought it was a prank. He’d slipped up on one thing, though, where he dumped the necklace had multiple, hidden, cameras everywhere – having been installed after too many break ins.

   He had his face now and that was all he needed. Precious days had passed, though, in the time it took for him to get that information, even more time as he hacked into database after database to run his photo. His men were searching everywhere they could, practically tearing up his city in an effort to find her. In the end it was Romy who had figured it out, Zel had gone out of town two weeks ago and Ash had worried that she couldn’t give him blood, so she’d let Augustus take some of her blood.

   A spell with her blood would take him to her in a heartbeat, the only issue was that it would take him directly to her, in a hostage situation you never ran in head first when you had no clue if the victim was in danger. He didn’t care about what would happen to him, he’d survive, but he didn’t know if he could risk what could happen to her. The clock was ticking, he just had to weigh up the options. In the end he waited and cast a location spell with her blood, it took time they really didn’t have but he was hoping she’d hold out for him just a little while longer.

   Turned out his instincts had once again led him right, ten minutes after they had her location, he sent people in that area to check out the house. Two people were inside, their description of Ashley’s scent let him know they were in the right place and so he waited and waited until she was alone before he cast his spell. It did as it should and dropped him within touching distance from her, except he wasn’t sure that he should touch her when he did see her. The state she’d been left in had him forcing back a growl, his fangs descending as he tried to control himself, he couldn’t touch her if he was in a killing frame of mind. He would never forgive himself if he hurt her.

   As gently as he could he brushed hair off of her face before lifting her up, shrugging off his jacket to drape over her. “I’m here- Little Dove, I’m here, now.” He checked her over, ensuring that no physical damage would be fatal when he first heard her sob and his heart felt like it had shattered into a million pieces.

   Moving around he cupped her cheeks, forcing her to look at him as he leaned closer to her and nodded his head. He didn’t know if it would hurt her or not, but he had to do it, he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her hard and passionately like he normally did because he knew that even if she was close to it, his Ash wouldn’t break. Despite the thought, though, he kept it brief, only giving her enough that she knew it was really him. “Yeah, it’s really me, Dove. I’m gonna take you home, okay?”

   She was going to have new scars, new pain, new fears to try and deal with and it was his fault. He should’ve been there, should’ve stopped it. His hands tightened on her arm for a brief moment, but he let her go before he accidentally hurt her. She didn’t need his anger, she needed to be safe, in a familiar place where she could recover. He had failed to protect her, but he wouldn’t fail to do this. Reaching into his pocket he took out her necklace, putting it on her again before he gathered her up in his arms and said a simple spell, one that teleported them to his library. His men would be waiting out for her captor to return because despite his need to hunt the fucker down himself Ash needed him, they they were under strict orders to incapacitate instead of kill, though, he was going to make their death slow and painful.

   Carrying Ash over to the couch that they normally sat on, he pulled a blanket over them both and held her as close to him as he could without suffocating her. His face buried in her neck as he tried to keep himself in check. She needed him. “You’re safe now, Ash… No one is ever going to lay a hand on you, ever again. I fucking promise.” Augustus was already running a bath for her, for them if she wanted him with her.

            Thickly,   she swallowed that lump in her throat,   she had never been one to be so forward.

            Pulling herself up a little,   one of her hands rose to cup at his cheek,   her head leaning down to the crook of his neck where her lips met his skin   -   she could have very well gone for the lips,   she had thought about it many times but,   should such affections be rejected,   this was much easier.    “ Like that   … ”      another kiss,   this one placed just underneath his ear.

   It took almost everything in him not to smirk at the slight tremor in her hand, he liked the effect that he had on her. Her fingers were so delicate, much like the rest of her, he once again noted how breakable she was compared to someone like him. He’d have to be careful to never forget his own strength around her.

   “More than touch me huh?” Admittedly, he had no idea what she meant, their ideas of what was allowed seemed to differ a bit. She could punch him and, if he had deserved it, he would tell her that he did say she could touch him.

   Strong hands resting on her hips, he blinked as she moved herself up and he found himself groaning at the small kiss. That was such a tease to his senses and when she shifted her attention to the sensitive area around his ear, he shivered and tightened his hold on her. Growling low in his throat out of approval, he leaned up and nipped her lip with his teeth. “Do whatever you want little dove, don’t be afraid to use your teeth too if you wanna.”

            Ashley however,   didn’t fit into any of these categories,   one of the few who took advantage of the University library,  she had been studying for almost five hours straight.  The only reason she had packed up her things and left was because her eyes were getting tired,   sleep finally beckoned for her and she happily obliged.

            Footsteps sounded clearly against the sidewalk, although she often went out at this time of night,   she wasn’t so idiotic as to wear headphones or anything of the like.  Bag constantly shifted against her shoulder as she made way down one of the busier streets in the city ; bar after bar after bar was filled to the brim,  the scent of beer strong along with the sounds around her;  music and laughter and chatting.   It almost overwhelmed her.

            A familiar route in which she followed, Ashley paused before heading down a quick side street,    seeing a small group of guys  ( perhaps students? )  around her age,   both drinking from plastic cups and smoking.   Deciding not to risk it,  she took a step backward ( she’d rather get home safe than risk anything )  before she felt a heavy weight against her shoulders;   arm resting across them as she was pulled into that strong scent of tobacco and beer.

            [ ‘ Hey,  hey, where are you going cutie-   oh !    I’ve seen you around before,   yeah you go to the university here right ?- ‘  ]

            A somewhat forced smile,  trying to politely slip out from the other.   “ Ah,  ‘m sorry,  I think you have the wrong person- ”    This is what she wanted to avoid.

   He’d been sending guys to trail her for a week or so now, a bad feeling in the back of his head telling him that now that she had his scent on her she’d be a target for not only her blood but his territory. It was a matter or his power that someone in his care wasn’t harmed and, he had to admit, the tiny blonde had grown on him. He couldn’t exactly determine what she was to him, god forbid someone utter the word ‘friend’.

   Normally he wouldn’t be out following her himself and up until twenty minutes ago he hadn’t been, except the guy normally on rotation was celebrating tonight. The man had found a partner and they were celebrating an anniversary. He had to admit, he was happy his men had the ability to find love still, so he hadn’t even blinked when he had to fill in for him. He hadn’t really been hiding from her, he just wanted to make sure she got home safe, but he’d been about to approach her when she turned the corner.

   Side streets were where all the bad things happened at this time. Swearing under his breath he sped up, his body tense and ready to strike at the first sign of danger. As it was he smelled the danger before anything else, followed by the words of the brute and soft Ashley trying to be polite even now. A low growl rumbled up his throat as he moved around to smack off his hand.

   “Don’t even try to fucking touch her again.” Drunk and clearly egotistical it was easy to see the guy wouldn’t walk away but he wasn’t worried about him this second. Pulling the blonde carefully to his side he put his arm around her. “You alright, little dove?”

   “Um, no?” Romy looked down at the blonde where she lay on the floor, covering her eyes from the light she had turned on. To Ashley’s right was an open book face down, one they had both been reading, except Ash was a much faster reader, Romy often got too distracted to sit still for long. It had her thinking, why on earth would the woman who was always so happy be listening to Celine Dion, alone, in the dark?

 Dread settled in her stomach and rather than make Ash get up, she moved to lie next to her, looking up at the artwork on the ceiling of Zel’s library. It couldn’t have happened, not again! Shaking her head she groaned, turning to look at Ash. “Did they kill off another character..? If they killed off another hot one I swear to the Gods I will go bite the author, what’s their problem with the attractive ones?” Stopping mid-ramble she gasped, sitting up to stare at Ash. “They didn’t put her with the asshole, did they? Oh my god, I give up…”

   With that, she laid back down, told Alexa to turn off the lights and put Celine Dion back on. Ash was right, this was needed.

   He didn’t immediately look up from his work, just needing to finish this section before he took his mind away from what he was doing. It was important that he didn’t mess it up but he did lean back into her touch, his head angling to the side for her as a low, happy, growl rumbled in his chest. It only took him a minute or so to finish the section he was on with scheduling his men to open assignments. Chuckling at her he looked up at her.

Within the middle of her kitchen, her body moved freely, fingers spinning and playing the air like an instrument and when she was caught?  Well,  she didn’t feel herself startle or grow silent;  instead, she reached out one hand toward him,  grinning a little and taking one of his own, continuing to just live in the moment so long as the music played. ( 2 / 2 )

   He stood in the doorway, mesmerized by her, it had been years since he had heard that song played. He couldn’t help but remember his time in the war from the last time he had served, it had been out of boredom and a need to let out some pent up rage against people who really deserved it for what they were doing. It was a dark time but he’d lived through many, so now he wasn’t that affected because he remembered the good times too. Him tapping his fingers to the beat gave him up, her eyes landing on him when she turned but she didn’t do what he expected and stop.

   Grasping her hand he chuckled when she continued, there was a dance that went with the song, now he’d be her lead if she didn’t know it. It had been just as long since he’d danced like this and as he moved with the gorgeous woman in his arms he felt younger than he ever really had. He’d never been able to just dance with anyone like this except Romy, except he always felt old with her. Ashley was only human, she was younger than his baby sister, but he didn’t feel a gap between them.