51 Lets Go Home Ash (1/2)
”Yes,” he admitted. ”It has to do with how you make your money, right? I told you before that I didn't care what you did as long as it wasn't illegal. I knew from the start that you were capable of doing some sort of trick to get rich quick; why would knowing details about it change the way I think about you?”
Ruby was stunned. Her wrists were still hooked around his neck but her arms were straight so there was a bit of distance between their faces. She let go and flew back a little, rubbing her hands together in front of her chest a bit defensively.
”You…don't care?” she asked haltingly.
Ash nodded seriously. ”Ruby, I set the terms of our deal and I meant them. Whatever power you have it's yours to use how you wish. As soon as I have enough money to take my revenge you're free to go and I'll owe you a blood barrier spell when you settle down, as promised.”
Hope warred with distrust in her eyes. ”Really?”
He hated that she was so apprehensive about the idea that someone could actually be trusted not to abuse her powers. He couldn't let her know that he had accidentally investigated her with not one but two witches at different points in time. She would lose the blossoming trust she had in him.
”Really,” Ash said firmly. ”I do hope you'll come visit me now and then though. I do enjoy spending time with you and you are the only friend I have left in this world.”
”You're the only friend I have too,” Ruby murmured. ”So I should trust you more. Truth is, I'm not running from an arranged marriage; my uncle tried to sell me to some rich and powerful fae I had never met because of my money-making abilities.
”He said it was only for a hundred years and then I could come home as if that would actually make it okay! My parents always warned me not to tell anyone about it because they were afraid people would get greedy and they were right. I was sold out by my own flesh and blood.
”I don't even know who they were trying to sell me to aside from the fact that they live somewhere on the west coast. I had to make a break for it with nothing but the clothes on my back, leaving my baby cousin behind. She was the only one who truly loved me after my parents died in the innocent way only a child can.”
Ash's frozen heart twisted at her words. Sold? They actually tried to sell her like some sort of object?
He had guessed they wanted to abuse her powers somehow but this was far beyond his already low expectations. How horrible. Ruby didn't deserve that.
Her parents died when she was young and the people who raised her after that saw her only as some sort of walking talking ATM once they discovered the truth about her powers. It was amazing she even managed to trust him enough to say this much.