A Kiss of Ashen Twilight (Ashen Twilight Series #1)

by Lori, Rae

  Straightening out his jacket, Blakedon gathered up his strength and continued in. His mind raced with possibilities and he forced his focus on his surroundings. Ancient furniture decorated the room. A large bed with dark silk covers sat near the wall length window, a shapely woman sat perched on the sheets holding a flute of champagne in her hand. Blakedon took a quick survey of each and every curve of her body before pulling himself away to the man he finally spotted in the corner.

  Alexandru Drago stood at medium height. He wasn’t a handsome man by conventional means but he exuded a special something that made him attractive and charming. His body was sturdy yet lean draped in a high tailored black suit. His face was wide with a set of small dark eyes that focused hard on the people in his vicinity. Despite his travels, he retained the old world accent from his home in Romania, refusing to give in to what he called “a foreigner’s way of speaking”.

  Blakedon bowed to give his respect to one of the older Shifters in existence. “I came as soon as I received the message.”

  “I’m sure you did.” Alexandru’s small eyes widened upon seeing Avery at his side.

  “My son, Avery.” Blakedon snapped his fingers and the boy quickly gave a bow.

  Alexandru’s eyes widened for a moment. A spark gleamed from them as if in recognition before it disappeared just as quickly. “You’ve taught him well over the centuries. Good.” Alexandru walked over to the small bar across the room to fix a drink. “You will need that for the task you will be taking on.”

  Blakedon shifted his position. “What, may I ask, is this position?”

  The loud clank of ice broke into the room as Alexandru dropped it into the crystal glass.

  “You’ve taken on an ambitious task for what our prince has started. I commend you for that,” Alexandru said. “I’ve heard of your previous attempt and I wanted to come down to make sure for myself whether it is true.”

  “It is. I managed to harness an elemental power using an outside source,” Blakedon said as he stood straight. An outside Fairy source. He stifled a chuckle at how absurd it sounded. It worked, no matter how strange it sounded. And it would surely work again.

  Alexandru poured a glass of dark, bronze liquor. “I was there when our prince attempted this matter. Some of my family died in the massacre. I did not leave without taking away a few lessons in gaining power. Considering how you’ve taken this to a whole new level, I think you’ve shown us how capable you are of leading the Southwest.”

  Blakedon repeated the words in his mind once more to make sure he was hearing correctly. Leading the Southwest. What a nice tone that had to it.

  “I’ve been speaking with other Shifters around the area. We’re not as organized as Daoine Oberon, but that matters none. With this creature you will summon, we will be able to overcome him by the numbers and power.”

  “That we will,” Blakedon nodded.

  “And I want you to lead it. The Shifters who will be brave enough to stand by your side will be the ones to inherit this power to continue our lifespan. I want you to make sure you keep me abreast on all progresses with this elemental.”

  Finally he allowed a smile to break upon his face. “Will do, Sir Drago.” Blakedon nodded. He waited for a moment as the older Shifter took a drink, ignoring his presence. Out of the corner of his eye, Avery peered up at him with curiosity.

  Assuming the meeting was over, Blakedon turned on his heels toward the door.

  “One more thing—”

  He froze, stifling a curse in his mind. “Yes?”

  “How exactly did you summon this creature?”

  Blakedon smiled. “I cannot reveal how at the moment, but I will say that we aren’t the only creatures that roam this Earth. And that will work in our favor once this new elemental has arrived.”

  Once that Fairy’s lifeforce is his, Blakedon thought as he exited the large house and walked to his car. He went straight for the front seat of his car and waited for Avery to climb in next to him then buckle his seatbelt. After trial and error of going through her whole family, it was her. Ariya. The youngest of the family, and the one who held the most power for this experiment to work.

  “So that’s the oldest Shifter, huh?” Avery finally said. He laughed shaking his head. “Man, I thought that guy was going to massacre us on the spot with his eyes alone.”

  “One of the oldest Shifters. He knew Daoine Oberon who would probably be the oldest on record.” Blakedon started the car and turned into the street as a figure stepped in front of the way. He slammed on the break, jolting the car. Blakedon reluctantly pulled the window down as the Shifter tapped on the thin glass of the car.

  “What are you insane?” he yelled as he leaned on the car door.

  Raine stepped forward with another Shifter behind him. His jaw flexed as he leaned forward. “House attack on the Rens tonight. It was setup. That Fairy led us right into their hands.”

  “What happened?”

  “Jace Archane was waiting right there to ambush us. His little Fairy whore took out some of our men after she led us into their hands. Any survivors were probably taken, most likely to be interrogated.”

  Blakedon slammed his palm against the frame of the door with a curse on his lips.

  “Why didn’t you get some reinforcements and take ‘em out back?” Avery said leaning forward.

  “Do I look like the armed forces?” Raine scoffed. “I didn’t have a freakin’ team on call, I didn’t have time enough to call for backup before the cops came, and they hightailed it out of there.”

  “The cops?” Blakedon said.

  Raine nodded. “Sirens everywhere. They must have heard the noise from our little battle.”

  Blakedon reached out and grabbed Raine’s collar, pulling him closer so he nearly collided with the frame of the door. “Did they see you?

  The lanky Shifter shook his head rapidly. “Naw, they didn’t see us. I’m not an idiot, Blakedon, I know how to keep under their watch or else they’d suspect something.”

  He studied Raine’s eyes, careful to notice the subtle movements that protested when he was hiding something. A low growl rumbled through his chest and he felt Raine move back upon hearing it.

  Avery slowly backed away in his chair. “Dad?”

  With a forceful push, Blakedon freed Raine. “I want you to stay out of the house’s way for now.”

  “But Blakedon—”

  “Do as I say and lay low. Once the time comes, I’m going to need you to move in on this Fairy so we can finish the job. It’s gone on far too long. You got it?”

  Slowly Raine nodded. He opened his mouth to speak but the sound of the car revving up blared out any sound his voice made.

  Blakedon slammed his foot on the brakes and continued down the street, leaving the two Shifters alone in the middle of the road.

  * * * *

  Rich’s home was like the 19th century Victorian gothic homes Ariya saw in books from her studies. It was a white, large two-story house adorned with green glades, French decorated doors and windowpanes. A large green lawn surrounded the front with tall trees to give shade in the summer. It didn’t really matter considering the houses would be relocating Even if they did stay in the shade, it would merely provide a cover and not a dent of relief in hot summer heat.

  Jace pocketed the cell phone as the limo pulled up behind a parked line of cars. He left a message on Angel’s answering machine, he was sure she was probably running around with her boys to clear the city. Usually she would answer on the first few rings, welcoming him with some kind of quip to begin their repartee. Perhaps the streets were filled this time of night with feedings from the renegades since most of the houses were at Rich’s celebration party.

  “You ready?”

  Jace turned to Ariya and noticed she was watching him with sultry dark eyes. He nodded once and slipped out of the limo, turning around to help her out. He couldn’t bring himself to speak much on the ride over. He cursed himself for what he had put her thro
ugh as he fed on the streetwalker and even more so as he sensed Ariya’s disappointment with him. Deep down he knew it was for her own good. He couldn’t lose himself to her after what happened before she left the last time. After 500 years of living, Jace learned never to get close or else it goes away. And it always fades whether taken from him forcefully or by time itself. It happened to his parents and all the women he ever encountered. That’s why he took what he needed and moved on. Never did he entertain the thought of taking a bride in the house. In fact before Ariya came he was perfectly content with his life of expendable women, parties and all the feedings he could ever want. No one survived his feed before Ariya and he had finally gotten used to the fact.

  Now the possibilities of what that implied scared him more than anything.

  He told himself he could keep her at a distance while curbing his desire for her. He would just project his feelings elsewhere like with the streetwalker tonight.

  All those thoughts left him as his gaze roamed over her warm cocoa body as she stepped from the limo. She was beautiful tonight in her silk corset top and dark skirt. It reminded him of the ladies-in-waiting who would breathe extra hard whenever he passed by, just to make sure their heaving bosoms would catch his wandering gaze. Ariya was different though. There was a certain naiveté she held from the time they met in that fateful alleyway. Something inside told him to wait despite knowing that she would live from the feed.

  Feeling her arm slip into his as they walked to the front door, Jace couldn’t help feeling a comfort that was foreign to him for so long. The door swung open as they stepped onto the porch.

  Jace’s smile disappeared right away once he saw the tall, blond broad shouldered man towering over him.

  “Unfortunately, Rich didn’t tell me of your regrettable appearance at his party,” Vex said before flexing his jaw.

  Jace kept his composure as he smiled back. “Well, that makes two of us, considering I’m the one who’s been by his side since before you were born.”

  If it were possible, Vex’s anger shown more on his face with each passing moment. His tan complexion burned hints of red as he stared at Jace. A deep threatening Lycan growl escaped his throat. Ariya heard Jace growl as he opened his mouth to reveal his sharp fangs. The two men moved toward each other like an electric current was burning between them.

  “Boys,” Ariya said moving between them. She smiled to ease the tension “Calm your aggressions. This is supposed to be a celebration, remember?”

  Vex kept his eyes on Jace as he moved aside to let them through.

  Jace remained calm and cool as he straightened his suit out. He reached down to Ariya’s hand and lifted it to his lips in a gentle kiss as they entered the living room. Despite his promise to keep his distance, he couldn’t help keeping her close.

  “I guess he still thinks I moved in on his territory,” Jace said. “But either way he needs to get over it.” Jace had to admit he missed Shelly’s presence in the house. He knew Ariya would rather forget her. The three of them didn’t exactly meet on good terms, but it was all a defense. A defense technique he had taught her himself. Jace had been the first to introduce her to life in the house. Despite her interest in the Lycans, they shared some good times together indulging in each other’s bodies to enhance the feed. At the time he didn’t care she had been with Vex. And now, knowing the passion of it and having the desire to commit to love, he realized just how sacred it was. And if he were to ever lose it—.

  “Jace, there’s Rich.”

  Thankful for Ariya’s interruption in a thought he dared not finish, Jace looked up and saw Rich approaching him with a wide, toothy smile.

  “Hey, uh, I thought we were going to escort you to the club,” Jace said lowering his voice. “I didn’t know the caveman would be coming along with us.”

  Rich chuckled. “Nah, actually we were gathering preparations for the Guerre de la Nuit. It completely slipped my mind to call you.”

  Jace’s eyes widened. “The Guerre de la Nuit so soon?”

  “I had to keep it undercover until the date and everything was final,” Rich said with a shrug. “In the midst of everything I guess I forgot to let you know.”

  “Normally I would be offended, but considering how much you have on your mind, I’ll let that one slide.” Jace flashed a wink at Rich as he slipped his arm around Ariya to bring her closer.

  A sneaky smile curled Rich’s lips as his gaze darted between the two.

  “Ah-huh. Well, ditto and I will see you at the Torch in about half an hour.”

  “Half an hour it is then.” Jace made sure to wink back at Rich once he turned around to head for the door.

  “And what exactly was that about?” Ariya said peering up at him.

  Jace shrugged, forgetting for a moment that she could tap into his mind at will. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  He contemplated it, and was about to explain when he walked past Vex eyeing them as he crossed his beefy arms. Later that night he would set the record straight and end this feud between them. It had been weeks since Shelly died and he was a different person then. Or so he’d like to think. Maybe it was time to clear the air between them. Nevertheless, he had a feeling there would come another time when they would need each other to be on the same side. He hoped that time wouldn’t come too soon.

  “I guess it’d be a bad time to tell him that Shelly never loved him like he thought she did,” Ariya said softly.

  Jace chuckled. “Yeah. Wait, what?”

  Ariya moved away from him. “Shelly was more interested in you, Jace. More than Vex.”

  “How do you know this?”

  She smiled. “I have this little ability to read minds and sense feelings, you know.”

  Jace shifted uncomfortably, remembering his closeness with Shelly so long ago. Never had he thought that she’d be interested in more than just a fling. A sting of guilt shot through him. The past as always seemed so long ago. Never had it been erased as its fragments fell on the back of his mind and his heart. Perhaps he could make amends with all who were connected with Shelly’s fate that night. Vex, himself and even Ariya for the pain she went through when Shelly had attacked her. Ariya shouldn’t have found him like that with Shelly that night. Knowing what he knew now, he wouldn’t have invited Shelly over nor would he have looked her way that evening. He wondered if he would’ve even left Ariya to herself. Even though it was all in the past now, he couldn’t help wishing to rewrite it all. Perhaps with the future will come a chance amend the past as he had tried to now do so. “Well,” Jace said straightening himself up. “Don’t tell Vex or else we’ll be starting World War III.”

  On their way out, Ariya got a good look at Rich’s home interiors. Outside may have been Victorian but inside was fully modern. White stucco walls lined the interior with warm accents of brown and deep blues. Ariya could tell a male lived here from the mood of the room alone. Sparse accents decorated the dark wood furniture and everything looked spotless from top to bottom. Despite not having much decoration, it felt like home.

  Outside, the moon hung high in the night air. Ariya leaned on the door frame of the limo with her legs crossed and her arm folded under her chest.

  “Guerre de la Nuit,” Ariya said partly to herself as the limo started up. “I didn’t even realize Rich knew French.”

  Helping her in, Jace then settled in next to her. “Well, we both grew up learning many languages over the centuries. My father fought alongside French knights after their integration with us and with the rise of burghs, the first legally defined towns in Scotland, that is. The immigrants brought French and English to the burghs while most of Scotland kept their Gaelic roots. Present company included. Besides, being around us Archanes tends to leave a lasting impression on a person.”

  Ariya tried to stifle a smile as she turned to look out the window. She hoped he didn’t catch her recognition of the double meaning, his throaty chuckle said otherwise.

  “I’m
not going to even touch that one, so carry on,” she said peering at where his reflection should be in the window.

  He cleared his throat. “The Hammonds are English by origin, but are very experienced linguists. We have Scottish origins on my father’s side. My mother was French as was my Aunt, Julian’s wife Marie. It was necessary to know of other cultures in the world for our families and for some reason mine thought it was to be expected of our position in society.”

  “Sounds like my people.”

  Jace sat up, his eyes focused on her as he leaned in. “You never speak much of your family.”

  “You never really asked.”

  He gently ran his fingertips up her arm leaving a trail of goose bumps on her skin. “Consider the question now posed before you.”

  Ariya swallowed deeply and he sensed her remembrance of the events that seemed like yesterday. It was then she felt the void in her heart where the life of her parents had filled. What was once a tight string of bonds between them was now a severed, a disconnected cord. She would’ve been ready to tell him all about her home in Dahomey and the life she led among the forest grounds and sweetness of nature. Suddenly, the thought froze her senses like a shock of electricity.

  “Ariya, I am sorry.” Jace’s cold hand against her warm skin brought her back to the present.

  The limo slowed to a halt near the front of the busy nightclub. Bright red electric lights formed the word “Torch” above the entrance door leading into the mouth of darkness. People came and went passed the large bouncer nodding to each person.

  Ariya waited until Jace stepped out first and offered her his hand. She slipped her arm around his and climbed out. She had to admit, it felt good working side by side with him. Tonight was a special night and no matter what would happen in the coming days, she would enjoy Rich’s celebration. She watched Jace nod toward the beefy guard, who Ariya remembered as Lu from the first time she was at the Torch club. She stepped into the dark, crowded club filled wall to wall with Nightwalkers, Lycans and Shifters conversing among themselves. By now she had begun to sense them in their human form by their smell alone.