With time, after maybe a year of working together, Phoenix came to appreciate Director Hayes’s design in partnering him with Ashton.

A walking curse and a man essentially immune to curses.

It worked well for a while, but everyone’s luck eventually runs out.

The bruises faded, wounds scarred over. Treated quickly and with care, Ashton didn’t seem to suffer any lingering effects of the attack, and was cheerful as ever. He didn’t ask for a separate office, he didn’t avoid Phoenix, and the only change was that he turned his chair and desk to face Phoenix’s.

It was Phoenix who was walking on eggshells.

He started keeping all weapons in a locker by the training room. He stopped inviting Ashton over. He stopped commenting when Dillon lingered in their office because if nothing else, Dillon was definitely strong enough to stop him if history repeated itself.

It didn’t go unnoticed.

“It wasn’t your fault, you know,” Dillon said one day while Ashton was away making tea.

“Maybe,” Phoenix shrugged. “But if I were more on guard, it wouldn’t have happened.”

“Dude, they snuck up on you while you were sleeping and planted a nigh-undetectable spell. I really don’t think there’s a lot you could have done.”

Phoenix didn’t answer. Dillon was right, in a way, but still…

If he’d told at least Ashton the truth of where the cursed dagger was really kept…

If he’d woken up when the spell was being planted…

If the guard decided to follow up on the unfamiliar, if weak, aura…

If he’d fought the spell harder…

Maybe Ashton would have been safe from him.

“Are you sleeping alright at least?” Dillon asked, frowning.

“I get enough rest,” Phoenix evaded. It didn’t come cheap, but he’d made sure that didn’t involve much sleep.

“Mhm. If you say so. But just in case, Maisie’s sleeping drought does wonders for nightmares.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Nightmares didn’t scare Phoenix.

The vulnerability if sleep did.

————

A sequel to Wrong Choices and a prequel to Worth the Wait, Worth the Trouble