Chapter 14

Aliyah

I remembered what King Aston had told me before—that if I ever needed to stand against Brayden, he would be there for me. He promised that no harm would come to me again. At that time, I was too groggy from the pain of escaping Brayden's clutches to question why he'd made such an offer. But now it was time to ask about his real motives for revenge.

I stood up, taking a step away from him. It made him confused, but I needed answers. "Why are you helping me, King Ashton?" I asked. "You have nothing to gain from a nobody like me. And why do you want revenge against the Connors? What have they done to you?"

King Ashton remained silent, but his gaze never left mine. He didn't even blink, and it made me feel so self-conscious. I hated feeling this way when he was around, close enough to touch, but I couldn't help being captivated by him. His presence confused me just as much as his motives did.

Slowly, he stood up, and I found myself stepping backward as he closed the distance betwee