63 I Won't Let Him Have Her

"No. She didn't even realize it until recently. Her worthless excuse for an uncle—the one who tried selling her to Dorian—only knew about her ability to summon and manipulate gemstones. He probably only wants her for her moneymaking abilities because he's always been a selfish pig," he spat.

That was the one piece of good news in this nightmare. Making money for him was the least of their worries. If Dorian discovered she could control any mineral he might use her to destroy human society as they knew it.

If she could amplify Ash's weak blood magic who knows what she could do with someone stronger... He sincerely hoped that nobody tried casting magic while touching her or there would be serious trouble.

The thought of any of those vampires with their bloodstained hands touching Ruby made him want to destroy everything all over again. Blair noticed this and tugged on his arm to pull him out behind the shop.

She placed her hands on her hips and stared up at him angrily. "Well, what are you going to do about it? You're one vampire, Ash. Not even a strong one! Going against the Cromwells by yourself is suicide.

"Wouldn't it be better to wait this out? Ruby said she would try to visit you soon so that probably means she doesn't believe they'll keep her forever. She'll come back home eventually and everything will be fine."

Ruby had mentioned that her uncle wanted to sell her for a century and then she could come home but there was no guarantee that would actually happen. Especially if Dorian found out the true scope of her powers. He would want to keep using and abusing her to benefit the Cromwell coven forever.

Even if there was the possibility of being free someday there was no way he would allow her to stay another moment with a monster like Dorian Cromwell.

"No," Ash said firmly, slamming his fist against the wall so it cracked slightly. Pieces of brick chipped away and fell to the ground. "I won't let him have her."

"Can you even hear yourself?! If I didn't know any better I would think he stole your lover rather than a fairy you only met a month and a half ago," Blair said with an incredulous snort.

Her words fell on deaf ears. He couldn't try to explain himself to this witch who didn't understand the bonds that fae could share with each other.

Ruby was important. She was the most important thing in his entire world because she was all he had left. He couldn't—wouldn't—let her suffer at the hands of the monster who stole everything else away from him. Dorian Cromwell could not have Ruby too!

Ruby. Ruby. Ruby. The one bit of hope he had left in this world was tied into the expressions she made when she was happy.

"Hasn't he already taken enough from me?!" Ash howled in anguish. "Am I not allowed to be happy because of the selfish whims of Dorian Cromwell?"

He cursed in the ancient language of his homeland and punched the wall again. This time an even bigger chunk of it broke off and crashed to the ground. Blair actually looked afraid of him now. If he didn't stop, he was going to destroy the entire Redwood Coven.

"Ash, get a hold of yourself! I know some werewolves who might be able to help you but you have to calm down!" she insisted.

Werewolves. Right. Originally he and Ruby had planned for him to make enough money that he could hire werewolf mercenaries when he went to attack the Cromwells.

"How much are they?" Ash asked furiously.

He would give every cent he owned if it meant getting Ruby back safe and sound. He didn't care about money at all. He would give up his castle and live in the woods drinking disgusting animal blood if that was what it took.

"For what you want to do? Probably $750,000. Do you honestly have that much or am I going to have to call in every favor I've ever been owed so you don't stupidly get yourself killed?" Blair demanded.

Ash took a deep breath. It would be fine. He would be able to get his revenge and take Ruby back at the same time. Then he would never let her out of his sight again.

"…I have enough. Send them my way right now."

Blair whipped out her phone and made a call immediately but he couldn't pay attention to what she was saying. He was too worried about his friend. All she ever wanted was to live her life freely but she still sacrificed herself in a heartbeat to save someone she loved.

Stupid selfless fairy. Couldn't she care more about her own needs for once? Her kindness was also her greatest weakness.

It might spell her doom. If she dared to cross Dorian Cromwell Ash had no doubt he would kill her. The very thought of living in a world where Ruby didn't exist threatened to destroy him.

Why couldn't she have trusted his instincts and stayed put? The very day he let her go out because she had been begging she managed to get captured by the enemy. An enemy they had unknowingly shared all along.

Ruby was smart. As long as she didn't do anything to draw unnecessary attention to herself she should be fine until he got there. She had to be because he didn't know what he would do if she wasn't.