CH 3

Ash carefully placed Mare's body on the empty bed pulling the blankets over her to warm her shivering body.

"I'll be back soon Mare," he whispered kissing her unconscious form lightly

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"How could you just not know?" Ash yelled, all attempts to keep his voice down gone

"Calm down Ash, it wasn't our fault" A calm Rowan replied

"It wasn't?" he yelled yet again "My girlfriend, my soulmate nearly died!"

"No one knew, she kept it from everyone"

"You were living here, you could have told me she was changing. You could've told me something was wrong"

"Ash, we didn't want you to worry. We were dealing with it"

"She nearly died Rowan! How is that dealing with it?"

Rowan just calmly stood there, finally unable to answer.

"Ash?" a timid voice whispered from the doorway

Turning he saw Mary-Lynnette standing there, her filled with glistening salty tears.

"How much?" he asked, watching as the tears fell, tracing slivery spider webs onto her cheeks.

"Enough" she replied as she left the room.

Ash hurried and followed after her calling her name as he ran but she didn't stop. He ran up behind her and picked her up around the waist.

"Let me go!" She screamed through tears but Ash still held onto her.

"I'm sorry Mare" Ash whispered kissing along her neck as he lowered her feet to the ground while still holding her around the waist.

"She didn't know" Mare whisper, her thumb nail scratching unconsciously into the palm of her hand

"I know, I shouldn't be mad at her. It's just I love you Mare, and I don't want to lose you and in that moment I came so close it was terrifying."

"I'm sorry Ash" she whisper her body collapsing into his arms

"It's ok sweetie, it's okay" he whispered kissing her neck lightly with those words.

Mare turned he body around and wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer to kiss him deeply. Ash pulled back from the kiss, his arms still around her waist. Feeling stickiness on the back of his neck he reached up and found Mare's hand. Pulling it down to look at he saw blood flowing from the thin cut she had made with her nails.

"Mare" he whispered pulling her close into a hug.

"Sorry," she whispered into his shoulder, "nervous habit"

"It's ok sweetie, but I do believe its passed you bed time"

He then picked her up bridal style with a shriek from Mare and carried her to bed, placing her gently down on the covers. He leaned down a kissed her deeply before pulling away.

"Sleep well beautiful" he whispered before turning to leave

Mare's hand then flew out and grabbed his wrist.

"Don't leave me" she pleaded looking into his ever changing eyes

"Ok" Ash gave in, climbing into bed with her and pulling her close.

Mare gave in to the blissfulness of sleep quickly help safe within Ash's arms.

"I love you Mare" Ash whispered "Just please get better soon."