Charles went without another word.
Jonny watched him. His second had never ventured out of his lane to advise him, and Jonny didn't quite know what to think of it. He owed Ashley nothing more than he promised, and his responsibility was always first and foremost to his vamps.
Yet it sounded like Charles was telling him no one would fault him if his interest in Ashley became … personal. Whatever she'd done this night had been incredible if she managed to change the stance of a hardened vamp like Charles on a mere Natural.
I don't do personal involvement, Jonny chanted, not for the first time. His concern for Ashley had to extend only to her usefulness to him. He resolved himself to this once more or at least, he thought he had, when she opened the door to her room.
Ashley was pale. Her dark hair was wet and braided. A line of white pain lined her striking, luminous blue-gray eyes that always managed to pierce his best intentions and remind him how he'd once felt for her. He sensed the impending seizure and realized Charles was right. A night like this was high risk to Ashley in more than one way.
She didn't ask for help but in that moment, she didn't need to. He reached for her instinctively and placed his palm along the warm skin of her neck, the only real exposed area where he could be skin-to-skin with her. It took little effort for him to stem the pain and seizure both.
Ashley's eyes closed, and she shuddered as both abated. Jonny pulled her gently against him. She didn't resist. The moment her arms circled him, he wished she'd had. Her body was whispering its secrets even without biting her. She was fatigued, lost, scared, furious.
He rested his chin on her head, listening to secrets he suspected she'd never want him to know.
"You're grounded tomorrow," he said quietly.
"No. I have to find Brandon." She craned her neck back to meet his gaze.
"You seizing up mid fight isn't going to help anyone."
"I'll be fine."
"Like you are now?" he challenged. "You're a liability in this condition."
The look of pure devastation crossing her features left him amused rather than concerned. Ashley had never been good at covering her emotions. He had learned to put distance between his feelings and himself in order to become a leader often faced with decisions that would crush someone who stopped to feel. Her innocent candor struck him as oddly endearing, a reminder of yet another way they had grown a part. She had the luxury of emotions. He was almost relieved she hadn't lost what he had given up.