ASHER'S POV
The woods were cold, damp, and quiet. I lust loved the peace out here.
No instructors barking orders, no council enforcers lurking in the shadows. Out here, I could breathe. Out here, it was just me, the trees, the moon, and—well, lately—Liam.
Or Lila. My Lila.
Tonight, the forest was silver with moonlight.
Every leaf seemed to shimmer. I watched her where she crouched, picking at some moss on a fallen log
Her brow was furrowed like she was solving a math problem.
“Liam, you coming?” I called, just loud enough for her to hear.
She looked up, face shadowed, eyes bright. “Yeah—hold on. There’s something weird here.”
I walked over. Leaves crunched under my boots.
She was tugging at a twisted root, her jaw set in that stubborn way that made me want to kiss her.
“You kno
