I didn’t realize I was standing until I felt Soleil grab my arm, jumping up and down.
Asher rose slowly, chest heaving, sweat dripping down his back. He lifted his gloves briefly as the announcer declared his name. I couldn’t stop staring. He looked almost feral. Alive in a way that made my pulse hammer. When he glanced toward our section, our eyes locked. Something in my chest shifted.
After what felt like forever, we were allowed near the back while he showered and got checked out. The hallway buzzed with post-fight energy. There were trainers, fighters, and a lot of noise. When he stepped out of the locker room with damp hair and a hoodie pulled over his broad shoulders, the atmosphere around him changed again. He seemed more relaxed.
“Nice job, Ash!” Jonah called, clapping him on the shoulder.
Soleil hugged him quickly. Elise grinned and congratulated him.
“You scared us,” I said before I could stop myself.
His eyes flicked to mine.
“I’m fine,” he smirked.
“Obviously,” I muttered.
He looked at the group. “You guys heading back?”
Jonah nodded. “Yeah.”
“I’ll follow,” Asher said.
Soleil blinked. “You’re coming back tonight?”
“Yeah,” he said like it was obvious.
Relief slipped through me before I could contain it. Then his gaze settled fully on me. And my skin heated instantly. Something unspoken passed between us. He looked away first. I felt dumbfounded until I blinked the stupid away and followed everyone out to the car.
The drive back to Val-du-Lys was loud. Jonah replayed the takedown like he’d been inside the cage himself. Soleil argued about which strike had shifted the momentum. Elise kept saying she’d almost had a heart attack in the second round. I nodded at the right moments. Smiled when they laughed. But I was somewhere else entirely. Asher’s eyes when the referee raised his hand. The way his chest rose and fell after the fight. The way Soleil had said he never came home with them.
By the time we pulled into Maple Valley, my nerves were still humming. The others climbed out of the car, stretching and yawning, calling goodnight and heading to their cabins. I said goodnight too, but I didn’t go inside. I was too worked up, so I started walking. The orchard at night felt bigger. Quieter. The trees stood like silent witnesses, shadows stretching across the dirt rows. The air was cooler now, the kind that brushed against overheated skin and made you aware of every inch of yourself. I told myself I just needed to burn off the leftover adrenaline. It wasn’t mine, but it felt like it.
I replayed the fight in my head. The hits. The way I’d flinched when he took one. The way I’d cheered when he landed one. The way my stomach had twisted when Soleil mentioned groupies. Ihated that I cared.You’re here for Sophie.I wrapped my arms around myself, exhaling slowly. Ever since she disappeared, I’d felt like I was on a mission. I had to understand what made criminals behave the way they do. What happened to the people who disappeared. I had been so consumed by all of it I didn’t allow myself to live. I focused on school with the intention of getting into a good grad program. I followed through with my plans only to realize that maybe I was chasing a ghost.
I slowed near the edge of the orchard clearing and that’s when I saw him. Asher stood in the distance near the outdoor training area, gloves off, hands braced on the heavy bag like he’d just finished another round. His head was tipped slightly forward, breathing steady, shoulders rising and falling. Even from here, I could see the intensity in the way he held himself. The fight hadn’t fully left him yet. It still clung to him like heat. He looked up and our eyes met. Butterflies danced in my stomach, and for some reason, this felt more dangerous than confronting Nico Mercier. Maybe because I had never met a guy who caused this kind of reaction in my body.
“What are you doing out here this late?” he asked, panting.
“Couldn’t sleep. Too worked up,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. I didn’t want him seeing the effect he had on me.
“Me too,” he said, and his words hung there in the dark, heavy.
“Congratulations on the fight,” I said, because I didn’t have something better.
“Thanks for coming, it’s always nice to have support,” he said, and then he moved the punching bag to the side and walked toward me. He wasn’t wearing the hoodie anymore, just a wife beater that clung to his muscles like a glove.
“Does your family not go out to see you?” I asked, then instantly regretted it. “Sorry. None of my business.” I dropped my gaze to the dirt.
“They used to, but everyone is busy these days. The fights don’t feel like that much of a big deal anymore,” he explained.
I nodded. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. It was interesting. You don’t seem like a fighter.”
That made him laugh. “Really, why’s that?”
“I don’t know. I just got this wholesome vibe from you, like you enjoy being outdoors,” I said, and his eyes locked with mine.
“I’ve never been called wholesome before,” he chuckled. “I always loved the outdoors. Growing up in a place like this meant there was a lot to explore, but I had some anger issues growing up and the fighting was a way for me to channel that,” he explained.