Ash Bringer (A Storm of Fire: Paranormal Dragonshifter Romance Book 1)

by Courtney Leigh

  When I reached the dining room, Lukan was standing by the table, Keera tucked gently in his arms, her face against his chest. She was a tiny woman on her own, but next to Lukan she looked childish at times. Lukan handled her with the utmost tenderness ever since she’d given birth to his first son. I could recall a few occasions that he hadn’t treated her very well in the past, often screwing other women while he knew she was around. Once he’d finally admitted his affection for her, however, it was her and only her. Seeing them now, the mutual commitment was almost annoying. She was a weak little flower and Lukan a hardened Draak and yet somehow they had found a place in between.

  “Please,” I scoffed, walking loudly into the room. I strode to a bowl of plump grapes from the estate’s vineyard and grabbed a handful, popping them in my mouth one by one. “If Everly catches the two of you acting like this she might have less to hate about us. What would be the fun in that?”

  The couple stepped apart and Keera bowed her head like she always did if there was company. She was the submissive type. She always had been.

  “Still playing your game?” Lukan sighed. “You haven’t grown bored of her yet? You haven’t allowed anyone to keep your attention like this in decades. Actually, more like centuries.”

  “She’s unpredictable,” I shrugged. “She’ll lose my interest when she becomes predictable.”

  “Ronan said he went to her room because she understands,” Lukan said, sitting down at the table with a cup of hot coffee. “Because she has nightmares like he does.”

  “So?”

  “So maybe avoid giving her too good a reason to use my son against us.”

  I chuckled, taking another handful of grapes in my palm. “She won’t hurt him. She’s too afraid of me to hurt him.”

  “I don’t think she’s afraid of you. I think she’s cautious. She’s analyzing ways to mess with you just like you’re messing with her. Just don’t burn this place down with your little game.”

  Lukan raised his brows and took a sip of his coffee as Keera quietly left the room, her steps no louder than a mouse.

  “What has you so tense?” I asked, watching Lukan’s grip on his mug tighten.

  “Ares’ sources found an outpost about 80 miles north from here,” Lukan said. “It’s a group, many of them slayers and bounty hunters with no allegiance. In theory, that is.”

  “Falcons.” I narrowed my eyes in thought.

  “How did you know?”

  “Because they’re the only ones bold enough to come inland this close to a Draak sector. They know we have a right to wipe them out if they come and stir things up. But they’ve openly defied us in the past. Don’t be an idiot and think they wouldn’t do it again. News about Taurus has probably reached the outer territories. Maybe they’re here for that.”

  “You think that they’re a threat?”

  “Not to us, but this close to the city? They must have an agenda. Whole groups don’t come just to restock.”

  “Well, either way, Ares wants one of us to check it out tomorrow. They’re camped at some old trading post called Rokahn,” Lukan said, walking to pour himself another cup of coffee from the silver table near the wall.

  “I’ll go tomorrow,” I said, eating one more grape before setting the remainder back in the bowl. “I need a change of scenery.”

  “On top of that, Ares has asked that Everly be brought to the city while we take care of his little errands. Says the press is getting anxious without an official statement from the champion stating her binding with a Draak was voluntary and not forced. The humans are suspicious, as usual, so the Order wants proof. Maybe an interview with her.”

  “Let them be suspicious. They’re no threat to us.”

  “The threat is conflict,” Lukan said. “Most of us don’t want that, brother. And we vowed when we established the sectors that citizens inside of them would be kept under our protection provided they follow our laws. We violated that when we brought Everly here against her will. You know that will require some cleanup.”

  “Fine,” I said. “Send her off tonight for all I care. Let her sleep in the city. Might clear her head. She seems to be a little less spirited today.”

  “I can’t imagine why,” Lukan sighed. “Should you go with her? Make sure she says the right things?”

  I gave it some thought, narrowing my eyes.

  “No,” I said with a smirk. “I’ll just give her some friendly advice before she leaves.”

  17

  Everly

  . . .

  Standing just outside the dining room, I heard everything. Falcons. Rokahn. I knew exactly the place. If anyone knew how to deal with my shackles, it was them.

  I had two choices now. Stay with Draven, the man who stole my life and my mentor from me, or risk finding the Falcons. Knowing Taurus was once among their ranks, perhaps his name would earn me a temporary place with them while I figured out where to go.

  My decision was made before I even finished the thought. I walked quietly back to my room and sat myself down on the edge of my mattress, facing the window. Excitement and nerves jumbled together in a mess that tied my stomach in a knot as I awaited someone to tell me whether or not I was leaving for the city that night. Finally, just after the sun fell behind the mountainous horizon, there was a knock on my door. I knew it was Keera before answering. Only she had a knock so gentle it was barely noticeable. I stood, taking a long breath, and walked calmly to the door. As I expected, Keera was standing in the hall with sweet innocence on her face.

  “Hello,” she said.

  “What do you want?” I asked, though I was certain I already knew.

  “Ares has summoned you to the city,” she said. “There are some things he’d like to speak to you about.”

  “He’s summoned me?” I raised my brows. “Why?”

  Keera shrugged, unable to answer me, but I already knew why I was being sent to the city. No need to let her know that, though.

  “He’s sent a driver,” Keera continued. “He’ll be here soon. Would you like me to help you pack?”

  “How long will I be gone?”

  “A day. Perhaps two.”

  “Then no. I barely own any clothes as it is. I don’t think I need help packing a shirt and some pants into a bag.”

  “Very well. I’ll come and get you when the driver has arrived.”

  I nodded, swinging the door closed, and spun around to face the room again. Now the idea was real. I could escape. I needed to be patient, smart, and calm, so without keeping myself still too long, I began to pack a few items into a leather satchel, going over things I would say to the rebels once I’d found them. I could mention Taurus. Perhaps the Draak he supposedly killed. I could mention my willingness to help them. Join them even. Whatever I had to do or say to get the damn mark off my wrist and maybe get a bit of revenge on Draven, I was ready to do it. Rage was dictating my thoughts now and I was unable to see anything outside of it.

  I saw the headlights pull up in front of the manor 40 minutes later and grabbed my bag, eager to leave and put my plans in motion. Exiting out into the hall, I walked toward the stairway, breathing steadily. I descended each flight of stairs with control, hiding the fact that I was elated to be departing from that hell hole where each day I was reminded of Taurus’s death. I clutched the leather strap on my bag, coming to the front foyer to see Lukan speaking with the driver near the door. Keera was with them, greeting the man like he was a friend. He was no Draak. I could tell by his slender build, mediocre height, and somewhat aged features. Despite my silence, all eyes fell on me when I reached the bottom step.

  “Everly,” Lukan said, his voice washing over me with an unexpectedly calming effect. “This is Bane. He’ll drive you to the city.”

  I gave the man a simple nod. “Let’s go then,” I said, denying anyone a goodbye as I marched through the door.

  I heard the others talking as I made my way down the steps from the front porch, but I didn’t care what they we
re saying. A black SUV was parked at the base of the steps, engine still running. I headed straight toward it, trying not to let anything distract me, but of course, something did. Someone. He was heading up the walkway from the stables just as I came to the car door. I reached out, taking the handle, but despite not wanting to look at him, my head turned anyway. Our eyes met and every muscle in my body froze.

  Draven, no matter the circumstances, electrified my nerves in one way or another. I wondered if he would be able to hear my heart skip. I wondered if he could hear me gulp when I thought he might catch on. As he approached, I opened the door and tossed my bag into the backseat. I slipped inside as he stepped up, placing his hand on the top of the door just as I was about to pull it closed. He bent slightly to look at me, but it took him a moment to say anything. Those few seconds were agonizing. I avoided looking at him, unable to trust my eyes not to betray my plans.

  “I’ve shown you very little of what I’m capable of,” Draven finally said with a flash of a smile. “If anyone asks, try to find the right words. I’d rather not spend a weekend cleaning up after you. Safe trip.”

  Draven was going to kill me. If I slipped up, he was going to kill me. I already felt the burning around my wrist as he swung the door closed and walked up the steps towards the manor. I watched him through the tinted car window, fury sparking again in my blood as he disappeared.

  When Bane finished his talk with Lukan, he made his way down the steps toward the car and got into the driver’s seat. I stared out the windshield in front of me as Bane pulled forward and started down the cobblestone driveway. I didn’t bother looking back at the mansion, hoping the place would be just a memory soon.

  Driving through the dark woods at night gave me a few moments to think before I acted on my scheme. I was unsure exactly what I would do once I was free, but I knew I’d be a wanted woman as soon as it was made public. They’d spin the story to make me look like a criminal. If I ever had a reason to join the Falcons, this was it.

  I glanced forward, catching a glimpse of Bane’s face in the rearview mirror. It was dark, the dashboard lights the only thing illuminating his features. Despite his loyalties, he didn’t need to be wrapped up in my chaotic life.

  “So,” I said. “How long have you been working for the regent?”

  His eyes flickered towards the mirror, catching mine. “Ares? A few years,” he said with a friendly smile.

  “Do you like your job?”

  Bane shrugged. “Ares hired me when I had nowhere else to go. Whether or not I enjoy what I do, I’m thankful to have a job. Before this, I was doing things I wasn’t proud of and I’ve got a wife and a kid, you know?”

  “Yeah? So you believe in the Draak then? You believe in their Draakir?”

  “Yeah. Yeah I do. I think they do a lot of good. They make mistakes. So does the human council, but nothing is ever perfect. Everything’s a work in progress, right?”

  “I’m not sure ‘work in progress’ is the right way to describe it. According to the Draak, everything is fine.”

  “I wouldn’t say that. You won the Red Race.”

  “Doesn’t mean I wanted to enter in the first place.”

  “No, no. I don’t think very many people truly do. The Draakir suggested ending that whole charade about five years ago, you know? Thought it was starting to increase tension and put them in a bad light. The Order voted against it. Said the lost profits would be too much if it got discontinued.”

  “I’m not sure I believe that.”

  “Eh, believe what you want. Humans aren’t angels. Neither are Draak. I can see that’s what you’re thinking. Fact is, it wasn’t Draak that killed my oldest son. That was humans, and they did it for a wallet that didn’t even have any credits in it.”

  I took a long breath. Turning to the window again, I began thinking over my options. The best I could come up with was dumping Bane on the road. He’d be stranded, but he’d also be uninvolved, and the last thing I wanted was to drag some guy I didn’t even know into my problems.

  “Bane,” I said calmly. “I don’t really share your point of view, if you know what I mean. I’m going to need you to stop the car.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  I looked up at him again in the mirror’s reflection, eyes harsh and unblinking.

  “I need you to stop the car and get out,” I repeated.

  “I—I can’t do that,” he said nervously. “My instructions are to bring you to Ares and…”

  “You won’t get in trouble if I hit you over the head, right?”

  “Well...I’d prefer if you didn’t.”

  “And I’d prefer not to get you killed, but I’m going to take this car whether or not you give it to me willingly.”

  He gulped, his hands gripping the steering wheel. “I uh...I can’t afford to get hurt, you know?”

  “I know,” I nodded.

  There was a moment of understanding between us. Bane knew exactly how far I’d go to get out of there with that vehicle. It took him a few seconds, but after a while, I felt the car coming to a gradual stop as he pulled off to the side of the rural road. Once the car was no longer moving, I opened my door, sliding out into the cool night. Walking around the front of the SUV, I kept my eyes on Bane in case he had a weapon stored away that he was planning on using. But he was sneakier than I gave him credit. Coming to his side of the car, I saw in his hand was a small, black pistol. I stopped, my muscles going stiff, but instead of pointing the barrel at me he simply held it up as if in submission. I narrowed my eyes at him, suspicious.

  “Hey,” he shrugged. “I’ve got more important things to do. I’ve got a life I like living and I assume you’ve got your own problems.” He stretched his hand out, surrendering the pistol to me. “You promise not to shoot me and I’ll let you hit me over the head with this thing.”

  I carefully reached out, taking the weapon out of Bane’s hand.

  “Is there a reason this seems too easy?” I asked, lowering the pistol to my side.

  “I’ve been through a lot in my lifetime,” Bane said, his tone suddenly tired. “I’m not ready to make this problem my problem. If you’ve got a beef with them, then that’s your beef. Just be careful.”

  “You don’t even know me. Why do you care?”

  “I don’t,” Bane shrugged. “I just like to throw around advice. Draak ain’t the type you want to get mad, you know?”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” I said flatly.

  “Right.” He loosened his shoulders, stretching his neck from side to side. “Well, better get this done.”

  I gripped the pistol, keeping my finger clear of the trigger, and nodded. With the way Bane was psyching himself up for the blow, I almost thought I should count to three, but that seemed silly. I raised my arm and swung the butt of the pistol against the side of his skull. He grunted, falling dizzily to his knees. He wasn’t out completely, but he was disoriented enough to make my escape believable. I stepped around the open driver’s door and tossed the gun into the passenger seat.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled as I slipped in behind the steering wheel, closing the door.

  The car was still running, so with a little push on the gas pedal I was out of there, past the point of no return.

  I drove for a while down a few winding roads west of the estate, skating along the outskirts of the city, but the time passed quickly. Too quickly, I thought, once I saw the faint glow of torchlight up the road. It was buried part way in a patch of untrimmed foliage along an old highway that didn’t look to have been used in years. I knew Ares would be getting suspicious of his absent driver by now. Suddenly my heart was racing with possibilities. I slowed to a stop just as the camp came into view, keeping the headlights on to in hopes that it would keep them from opening fire. I was a couple of hours away from the estate now. Thirty miles or so from the city itself and just barely inside the sector border. When I killed the engine, I watched as a group of men in rugged, brown leather jackets and worn jeans cau
tiously approached, each of them equipped with a firearm of some sort. Taking a deep breath, I slipped the pistol into the back of my waistband and slid out of the car, hands up just as one of the men beamed a flashlight in my direction, temporarily blinding me.

  Taurus hadn’t left the world without leaving some of his wisdom behind. He had taught me to always be aware. To always have options and to be ready for confrontation, no matter whose company I was in. His voice was always in my head reminding me to take those steps, so as the men neared, I quickly gave each of them a read.

  On the far right, a dark-skinned man with a bulky, tall build had an old rifle in hand with leather wrappings on the stock. The flesh on half of his otherwise bald head was rough like the scales on a desert lizard and one eye was fogged over with a yellowish-tan that didn’t match the rich brown of the other. A Pike. On the other side was a scrawny man, middle-aged, with greasy, orange hair and freckles, burn scars drifting down the center of his neck and beneath the neckline of his stained, once-white shirt. He had an old pistol at his side, finger tapping the trigger guard. In the middle was a man with a scruffy, square face and an old beanie covering a head of knotted, brown hair. He was the only one of the three who didn’t have his weapons drawn. Instead, his six-shooter was tucked between the leather of his belt and his weathered jeans. His hand was occupied with a brown bottle of liquor that was already half gone. Swallowing, I hardened my stance and tried to convince myself once more that I’d made the right decision in seeking these people out.