Ashley sat beside her cousin Jessi in the guest room adjacent to hers at the White God's. Brandon slept peacefully on the bed in front of them, his wounds healed by Jonny's sister.
"You're sure you're not upset?" Ashley asked for the tenth time since they'd sat down together. She studied her cousin's face.
Jessi was worried. That much was clear from the lines around her lips, but her nod was firm. "I want you both to be happy," she said and hugged Ashley once more. "Xander and I fought about it for two days, but … he's right. I really, really hate that. If you tell him I said so, I'll never make you fudge again."
Ashley giggled, amused by the secrets her two most favorite people in the world kept from one another. "Okay. I won't." Her hands trembled. She was exhausted despite the forty eight hours she spent sleeping. "I know you never liked Jonny."
"I absolutely despise him!" Jessi exclaimed.
"He's not that bad."
"It might take me some time before I can tolerate him at our weekly family dinner." Jessi pulled away, frowning. "You'll still come Thursday night, won't you?"
"Always," Ashley promised. "Just promise to give him a shot."
"Hmm."
"If not for him, you wouldn't have met Xander."
"Yeah. Our lives are so much better for having Xander in them." Jessi's features softened. "I keep thinking I can protect you and Brandon from the world forever. It kills me to know you all got hurt." Her gaze went to the still form of Ashley's brother.
"He's strong and smart. He'll be okay," Ashley said. "We'll make sure of it." She squeezed Jessi's hand. "Will you call me when he wakes?"
"Of course." Jessi planted a kiss on her forehead. "Just promise you'll be careful. It's bad enough having one vampire in the family. I'm not sure what to do about two."
Ashley laughed. "I love you, Jessi."
"I love you, too, Ash."
Cat jumped up onto Ashley's lap. She patted the vamp cat with a smile. "Just in time. You'll get to go live with the rest of the vamps! Aren't you happy?"
The cat purred. Ashley scooped it into her arms and left Jessi and Brandon. She made her way out of the house and walked across the compound to the main gate, which was open.
Her pace quickened, and her heart began to race when she saw the dark form of Jonny waiting outside the fence under the wary gazes of the Guardians. His hands were in his pockets, his dark hair mussed by the west Texas wind, and his black eyes on her. As she stepped off the compound, his eyes began to glow red once more. While contained, raw power made the air around him shimmer.