Chapter 17

Forty-eight hours later, Ash opened his door to find Violet standing there. She was coatless, the rain soaking her to the skin, yet nothing about her presence surprised him. He was almost relieved that she’d come to him. He ushered her inside and took her straight to his bathroom.

“You’re going to die of pneumonia,” he muttered.

“That’s not how you get pneumonia.” Her teeth were chattering so hard that Ash could barely understand her.

He stripped her of her clothes, ignoring the desire that ignited in his blood when her pale flesh was revealed. She was cold, exhausted, and grief-stricken. This wasn’t the time to get hot and bothered. Pushing the lust away, he dried her off. She let him without protesting, and her lack of response was what scared him the most.

Where was the vivacious Violet he knew? This wasn’t the Violet he’d fallen in love with.

He put her in one of his robes, and it was so big on her that she was swimming in the fabric. He led her to his bedroom, and she followe