~ ZARA ~
Hearing someone speak that word at all brought a chill over my whole body. But hearing it come out of Ash's mouth, like it was a subject we discussed regularly. As if it was normal that we just talk about these people…
"You never talked to me about them before," I said starkly, starting across the floor towards the box.
I hadn't planned to just open it, but Ash acted like I was walking towards a bomb. He did that sweeping Defender thing where he slid himself between me and the danger, one arm back to keep me in place.
"Ash!"
"Zara, you don't know what they might—"
"It's really light. And if they sent me a pig heart or something, I'll just throw it away."
I pushed his arm aside and darted around him to pick it up. I knew if he'd really wanted to, he could have stopped me, so it was a bit of a relief when he just muttered and waited, watching as I picked the box up gingerly and turned it over in my hands.
