~ Asher ~
Morning had come, but Asher made no effort to stand or sneak Violet back to the Rogue House. It was too late for that anyway. So he might as well shamelessly enjoy whatever precious sliver of time they had left together.
He should have told Violet about her mother already, but the timing wasn't right. He knew she'd be furious—he had looked into her background without permission—and he didn't want to ruin this. This moment. It was too perfect. Just him and his purple queen.
She didn't loathe him. Didn't think him a monster for what he'd done. She had been willing to offer him her virginity last night, and that alone made his chest swell with a pride so fierce, it nearly bordered on arrogance. He would rub it in their faces. Those cardinal brothers of his.
Perhaps when he finally took her, he'd send them the blood-stained sheets. A memento. Proof that he had claimed her first. Seen her first. Chosen her first.
It was only fair.
