The Black God

Ashley struggled with her indecipherable emotions. She had always imagined what she'd say or feel when she saw him again, and it was nothing like what she went through now. She touched the spot on her neck where he'd bitten her, unwilling to look away from the man she'd envisioned killing when they met again.

Jonny was very different from the uncertain, emotional boy she'd dated four years before. He was quietly confident, and the oldness in his eyes led her to believe he'd been serious about killing people for blood. He had been a knobby, lean twenty year old when they last met and had filled out since then. His caramel skin and shaggy dark hair gave him the dark-and-brooding look but the assurance in his tone and steady gaze dispelled any hope she'd had some part of the boy she once cared about remained.

He had stopped her seizures and killed vamps to rescue her, ensuring those she fought never got up again. Why did this surprise her? Why did she wish he'd never done those things, never brought her to the beach and held her? Never crossed her path despite her plan for revenge?

He was everything she'd hoped he would be - everything she wanted to hate - and yet she was devastated by it. His claim never to have cared warning infuriated her, made her want to spend the next week tracking every vamp in San Diego.

Except her body was always weak after one of her epileptic attacks. She was drained, unsettled, and in desperate need of rest where she was normally strong enough to take on even a god.

Jonny was watching her, and she couldn't help imagining he wanted to make her his dinner.

"Where are we?" she asked to break the thick tension between them.

"Monterey." Even his voice had changed. It was soft and low, befitting the night. "You need to go home."

"I can't Travel anymore," she shot back. "It triggers my seizures."

"You had epilepsy when we met?"

She didn't want to reveal something so personal. "No," she said shortly. "When my Natural skill took hold there were complications." It had taken Xander and a team of Guardians to get her through the first year. The trauma of her experience with Jonny and the Original Other had triggered her and Brandon's gifts years before they were supposed to emerge. Brandon's mind talent revealed itself easily, but hers had nearly killed her.

And Jonny didn't deserve to know anything about it.

Jonny's cool, level gaze was on her. "I can take us to San Diego." He held out his hand.