Caged in Darkness (Caged #1)(22)

“Just stay away from her!” Ash spoke before Liam kicked the back of his knee. Ash’s knee buckled and he reciprocated with a flare of magic that caught Liam’s shoulder in a fiery smolder.

Liam held his shoulder with a grimace, while panting from exhaustion.

“Do you have a claim to her?” Liam spoke from the opposing side of the clearing, while Ash stood. “I think she’s a big girl and is smart enough to make her own decisions about who to be around. Why don’t you ask her what she wants?”

Ash’s face was twisted in anger until he heard the last of what Liam said. He had the wisdom to look ashamed when he stared me in the eyes.

“Ash, I was just talking to him. I’ve never met him before and he’s right, you should trust me to make my own decisions.” I felt a strong urge to wrap my arms around Ash to comfort him. The light bruising across his jaw and the blood trickling down the side of his mouth made me queasy. I couldn’t bear for him to be in pain, but I didn’t want him to think that I supported his actions.

“I trust you. I just…” Ash made a sound of irritation with a pained expression. He lowered his voice and said, “I didn’t like it, okay? I’m sorry. I don’t know why I acted so strongly. It was like I couldn’t fight off the anger and it overwhelmed me. I couldn’t help but give in to it.”

Ash slowly approached me and reached out his hand to hold my cheek. I turned my head away at the cold touch of his fingers.

I looked up to see Liam leaning against a tree. He was bent forward slightly, as though he couldn’t bear to stand straight. His right hand held his stomach and he stared directly into my eyes.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I think we should get out of here. Someone might have called the cops when the saw you fighting.” Willow glanced back at the trail we came through.

It made sense that we should leave. It didn’t matter if the cops showed up or not. The guys looked terrible and needed to be cleaned up.

“Can one of you drive Ash home?” I ignored Ash and looked to Willow and Izzy for their agreement.

“I can drive myself.” Ash’s eyes blazed in anger. It was one of his most telling traits. I always knew what he was feeling by looking into his eyes.

“No, you can’t. After what you did, I don’t trust your judgment. You are not driving and that’s final!” I crossed my arms and dared him to argue. I watched as he swallowed back his anger.

“Why don’t you drive me then? You can drive my car. Besides we live in the same house.”

“I’m going to take Liam home. I don’t think he’s in shape to drive either and I certainly don’t trust you to take him home. Considering your behavior tonight, he’s more likely to end up in a hospital somewhere than home.”

“I don’t want you alone with him.” Ash whispered in my ear. “He feels wrong. I can’t pinpoint it, but he’s off. Please, don’t go with him.”

Ash gave me a pleading look that almost made me give in, but then I saw Liam and felt responsible for the pain Ash caused him. I steeled myself against the softening that Ash invoked in me and refused to give in.

After a few moments of silence, we could hear branches splinter. I had a flash of cops rushing into the clearing and handcuffing Liam and Ash.

Instead of cops, it was Griffin. He took in our group and the injuries that Ash and Liam had sustained. I watched as his eyes fixated on the bruise spreading across Ash’s cheek. His teeth ground and he looked at me with an accusing stare. He blamed me for the fight. Did he think I had some mind control over Ash’s actions?

“I don’t mind taking him home, if that’s what he wants.” Izzy turned to Ash with a questioning look.

“Yes. It’s what he wants.” I spoke to Izzy, but stared at Ash. His eyes flared for a moment before dying down. He stared me down and finally looked at Izzy and nodded.

Willow breathed a sigh of relief, looked at me in pity, and followed to the car. Ash paused before following. When he reached the edge of the clearing, he turned to look at Liam.

“Hurt her and I will hunt you down. Got it?”

“I would never dream of it. Though it’s tempting just to see you try.” His bruised lip quirked in a half smile.

When Ash moved forward, Griffin grabbed his arm to pull him back.

“It’s not worth it man. He’s just egging you on. Let it go.” Ash allowed Griffin to pull him away, but shouted back to me. “Make sure you’re home at a decent hour. I don’t want to have to bail him out of jail when he makes good on his promise!”

I rolled my eyes towards Liam. He remained silent as I looked him over. I wasn’t particularly sure I wanted to be alone with him, but I felt that I was responsible for the situation he found himself in.

“I take it you want to drive?” He remained across the clearing.

“Do you think I just told Ash those things to sound pretty? If I let you drive then there is really no point to me seeing you home safely.” I crossed my arms and attempted the stare Maye used on me whenever she thought I wasn’t using common sense.

“Well princess, how do you plan to get home once you take me to my apartment? Have you thought that far?”

“Of course I have!” I turned in anger to walk quickly towards the cars. I didn’t have the faintest clue how I was going to get home from his place. I still had some money left over from the shopping spree, but I had no idea if it would cover a taxi. I couldn’t take his car, because then I would need to return it. Obviously, calling Ash to pick me up would be a bad idea and Izzy needed to be home before curfew.