"Charles," Jonny said and lifted his chin towards the door. "Tell the Guardians what they need to know not to be killed by our vamps tonight."
Ashley shifted inside the doorway, and Charles left them alone.
"Come with me," Jonny ordered her.
"Um, no."
"If you want me to stop the seizure you're going to have soon, you'll listen to me."
She cursed him and every vamp under the sun - but she followed.
Jonny took the steps two at a time and continued down the hallway to his bedroom. He stopped to await her and closed the door behind her once she'd entered.
"What?" she demanded, facing him.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he returned with more heat than he intended. "You're more likely to get yourself and those idiots killed than help Brandon!"
"They can handle themselves and so can I."
"Oh, really?" He almost laughed. "You can handle yourself?" Jonny snatched her wrist and held out her hand. "Can't keep it still, can you?"
She pulled at it. He held it in place. Her hands quaked. She was too weak to fend of the looming episode let alone spend an entire night fighting vamps.
"What choice do I have?" she asked. "Would you have let your sister die because you didn't think you could face Czerno?"
"Never," he replied. "But you have people willing to help you and are too stubborn to listen to them!"
"I'm still the best fighter you or they have, even if I'm a millisecond slower than before," she retorted.
"You are," he agreed. "You are also my biggest liability."
"Then patch me!" She took a step closer and pulled her braid over one shoulder. Her nearness, coupled with the challenge in her gorgeous gaze, sent a flare of desire through him.
"Why the fuck should I?"
"Because I'm going out there whether I collapse mid fight or not! If there's any part of you that ever cared for me, you won't let that happen."
Jonny glared down at her. He'd never been so turned on and angry as he was in that moment. Ashley's breathing quickened, and he grew too aware of how little space was between them.
"What did you have to promise them for them to help you?" he asked again.
"It's none of your business."
"You want my help? You tell me." Jonny slid a hand along the side of her neck. Her pulse was fast and growing faster, and desire raced through him at the intimate placement of his palm against the delicate skin of her neck. She didn't flinch or move away, didn't look away or back down. His Ashley had never shied away from him, and he hadn't appreciated how much he enjoyed her challenges until he'd nearly lost her.