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Robin got her answer two days later, when an altercation at the front door called her attention. She hurried downstairs, almost colliding with Ashton the butler. Ashton was also Asher's half-brother, and the meanest sonofabitch Robin had ever met. But he was firmly on her side, just like Satine and the rest of the staff were.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQApJvsTNj
Right now, though, Ashton was unloading an almighty tirade on the visitor who yet sought to gain entry. "You cannot come here!" he finished up, bristling. "You know the law!" He paused, presumably to hear the newcomer's response, before firing up again. "He knows everything that goes on in this house! I'm his brother; of course he's going to use me to spy on the goings on here!"
Robin froze, her heart slamming to a stop in her chest. Cold fear replaced her curiosity as Ashton delivered his final salvo. "The master's will is clear; she is not to meet anyone from the Clear Shield pack. If she does, she is to be killed at once. I am not crossing my brother, not when it means my demise for letting you over the threshold. Now leave!" He slammed the door, spun and froze when he saw Robin standing on the lowest step, eyes wide and face sheet-white with shock. He sighed and straightened his mussed tie. "Forgive me," he said, bowing deeply. "There was a most unwelcome visitor who sought to gain entry against my brother's will."
"Your master's will, or your brother's?" Robin demanded, still reeling from the shock of what she'd heard.
Ashton had the good grace to look ashamed. "I had a good life with my pack," he said. "But Asher didn't like that. So he had me kidnapped, and he bound me to him. Now my life is tied to his, and through my eyes, he sees everything going on. I'm not allowed to hide my mind from his; he'll make me suffer excruciating agony, as you've doubtless heard. And my life is forfeit, you see. My father was a Green Arches pack member, and my abduction is one of the many reasons the Green Arches pack hates Asher. And before you ask, no, I didn't ask to be bound to my brother like this. If I could break this tie he has on me, I'd do so in an instant, as would you, my dear."
It was the first time he'd ever addressed her by an endearment, rather than by her name, and Robin clutched the bannister, heart pounding so hard it was a wonder she was able to stand upright. "Mate?" she asked in a faint voice, knowing enough of werewolf lore to know the signs of a newly recognised mate.
Ashton nodded. "My brother does not know," he said, a faint smile touching his face. "He is currently engaged in dark practices which temporarily block his access to my mind."
"Then why the show?" Robin demanded.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxysHSzVt0
"The man coming to visit is the alpha of the Clear Shield pack," Ashton explained. "He was once Asher's best friend, but they fell out after Asher stole his mate. Now the Clear Shields are as fiercely opposed to the White Springs pack as the Black Cold and the Green Arches packs are. And no, his mission to insinuate George into the pack to be a future husband to Gloria isn't going to work. George has been adopted by Beta Joanna, and she's raising him to be everything his father is not. Joanna's a distant cousin of mine, and she's promised me George will help spearhead the final fight against Asher. And that's going to come soon. Which is why I had to stop Alpha Roger from coming inside. He wants Satine back, but Asher's bolted her soul to his in the same way he's bolted your soul, and if Satine leaves, then both she and I will die - her for defying Asher, and me for abetting her."
"Then you weren't talking about me," Robin surmised.
"God, no," Ashton said, shaking his head. "But Roger doesn't know Asher isn't watching at the moment. If he found that out, nothing and no one would stop him from claiming Satine. But the house is strongly warded, and the moment he crossed the threshold with the intent to take Satine back, Asher would know, and he'd bring a rain of hell with him."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MPn01z8sq
"Just like he'd do if I strayed," Robin said, bitter anger welling up in her. "How the hell are we going to get around it? More to the point, how are we going to help Satine?"
Ashton sighed. "I don't know," he admitted. "We're both bound to his will, and breaking it means our deaths."
Robin swore. "Fuck that man," she said angrily. "I can't believe my mother thought this was a wise course!"
"I know how you feel," Ashton agreed, stepping closer and taking her hand. "But we will get out of it, one way or another. Leave it with me, my dear. But don't tell Satine. She's carrying a grudge as fierce as any female I've seen, and if she finds out Roger visited, she won't hesitate in breaking the rules to be with him. She's never stopped loving him, and nothing, not even the threat of Asher's wrath, would prevent her from breaking all hell to see her mate again."
Robin nodded. Now Satine made sense to her, and she squeezed her mate's hand. "I'll leave it in your hands," she promised. "But if what if Asher becomes aware of you again?"
"If he does, he won't be able to force me to recall events that happened in the past," Ashton told her. "He tried it once, and I almost lost my mind. He'd rather have all my faculties intact, so he's never pulled that trick again. But we must be very circumspect, my dear."
"I can be as circumspect as the next person," Robin said, giving his hand another squeeze. "And I've everyone on my side."
"We'd rather die than betray you," Ashton assured her, kissing her hand before letting go. "I'd best be back to my duties. Plumb whatever resources you need to find out how we can break this geas on us."
Robin nodded, before hurrying back upstairs. All of a sudden, her life was looking much brighter than it had two days ago, and she felt a thrill of excitement chasing its way along her veins as she ventured into the library, a place she'd hitherto stayed away from. Not because of its vast array of books, but because it contained knowledge Asher would kill her for. He'd never forbidden her to go into the library, per se, but he'd made it clear it was a place he didn't like her visiting.
But he wasn't home, and according to Ashton, he was submerged in dark magic of some sort. What it was, she had no idea. But while he was thus occupied, the chance existed for her to find out how she, Ashton and Satine could get this geas broken. Not only her own future happiness was at stake; her housekeeper deserved happiness as well, and Robin vowed to do all she could for her friend, that she might reunite with her mate and refound her happiness far away from Asher's tyranny.
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