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

by Lori, Rae

  Joanna made her way through the crowd and stopped a few feet away. Vince smiled once he saw her and sniffed the air. “Looks like she’s already in heat.” His gaze dipped lower on her body. “And she’s got my name all over her.”

  Rich lunged toward him, but Vex wrapped a thick arm around him and pulled him back. “Easy man!” Vex said. He turned to Vince as he spoke his next words. “We’re going to end this now. And we got a place for your ritual beatdown, my friend.”

  “Lead the way,” Vince said holding out his arms.

  Rich turned to Vex and with a nod toward the door, signaled the beginning. Seeing this, Jace snickered and shook his head. “Show time,” he said with a slight smile.

  Ariya felt a slight shudder flitter throughout her body once she felt his hand on the small of her back as he lead her toward the exit door. She tried to tell herself it was nothing, but the electricity of his body near hers sent alarm bells off inside of her.

  After this, she promised herself they would definitely have a serious talk.

  * * * *

  The cold dry desert air chilled Ariya’s skin to the bone. The smell of smoky woods burning in the nearby fireplaces hung in the midnight air. A few members of each of the house families filtered out of the cars. Shifters transformed from their human form into animals with thick coats to warm their fragile skin. For a moment, Ariya wished she had their abilities as she felt a shiver quiver throughout her body. Noting her discomfort, Jace slipped his jacket coat off and wrapped it around her shoulders, careful of her folded wings. She figured the cold air was probably like home to him.

  “Feeling all right?” he asked as he rubbed her shoulders.

  She smiled, hoping he wouldn’t move or stop what he was doing. As if remembering himself, he moved away and quickly folded his arms.

  Ariya cursed her thoughts for being unguarded. “Just fine, thanks,” she mumbled. “I’m curious about something though.”

  “Oh? What’s that?”

  “Well, after all these centuries only now Rich decides to settle down. I mean, with my family it was predestined. We were bred for union once we came of age to continue our people’s line.”

  “We aren’t Fairy, Ariya. We spent years, centuries even, fighting wars and trying to come to grips with who we are as our own identity under mortal eyes. Only now has the Ashen Twilight House begun to realize its duties if we are to continue as a people. Lycans find mates based on compatibility and the strength of the male in the family. Nightwalkers won’t settle down unless we find the right ones and Shifter Elves are the same in finding their mates.” He chuckled. “I guess some things are harder to let go than others. Watch your step.”

  Rocks and gravel crunched under their shoes amidst the sound of cars rushing back and forth on the 101 freeway. The vast open landscape engulfed them with only a dim light to illuminate their way. Ariya followed Jace to the middle of the crowd of Nightwalkers, Lycans in their human form and Shifter Elves that transformed into various animals.

  A line of black motorcycles pulled up with Vince at the head. He immediately shut down the motor and ripped off his helmet to set down on his bike. He walked with his fists at his side and puffed up his chest as if he already owned the area.

  Joanna joined Ariya’s side and watched with pride as Rich stepped into the middle of the circle made by onlookers. Both Vince and Rich peeled down to their bare skin and in an instant transformed into their larger than life bipedal Lycan forms.

  Vince released a primal roar before lunging at Rich, knocking him to the ground with a loud thud. He scratched Rich’s face, instigating him to fight back. Growls, barks, and thuds took over the night air as the large forms fought to draw blood.

  Ariya looked up at all the surrounding members of the houses as their eyes were transfixed on the fight before them. Cheers broke out louder at some points than others and it was hard to tell who was rooting for whom. She looked up at Joanna biting down on her lower lip as she pumped her fist in the air for Rich.

  “Come on,” she whispered softly.

  Rich eventually got the upper hand, knocking Vince to the ground before clocking him in his jutting jaw. He held his arms down toward the ground with his paws and leaned in to release a loud roar.

  Ariya noted Jace smiling like a proud father at his Rich’s victory. Slowly Rich pushed off Vince and walked over to Joanna. The light of the moonlight danced across his face and body as he approached her. By the time he reached her, he had changed back into form; the transformation would appear to be but a trickery of light to any mortal eyes.

  “Come here, baby,” he said huskily with a laugh. He opened his arms to catch her as she jumped into his arms and leaned in to give him a deep kiss.

  “This isn’t the end of it, Hammond!” Vince yelled after Rich. “Believe me on that.”

  “He proved his worth over you, Vince,” Joanna turned around with fire in her eyes. Slowly she approached Vince, holding his gaze. “Go home. My place is here with Rich now. He is the one I choose. Not you. Now leave!”

  Vince exhaled softly. His gaze darted from Joanna to Rich before he nodded with reluctance. He raised his hands and gestured toward the row of bikes as he stepped back.

  “Let’s move ‘em out!” He yelled over his shoulder. Turning on his heels he headed back to the caravan.

  The members of the Ashen Twilight House broke out in a wild cheer as the Eastern House parted.

  Ariya felt Jace leave her side as she watched him and Rich embrace as they received their congratulations.

  * * * *

  A few hours later, Ariya entered the apartment with Jace right behind her. As she folded her coat on the arm of the sofa, Jace closed the door behind her. He stopped to watch her for a moment before heading into the kitchen for a drink.

  “I’m really happy for Rich and Joanna,” Ariya said leaning forward on the couch. “They really seem happy.”

  “Yeah, they do.” Jace took out a full bottle of animal blood and retrieved a wine glass which he immediately filled.

  “Would that ever be us out there one day?”

  Jace thoughtfully swirled his glass in a circular motion, watching the liquid swish side to side like a whirlpool. “I’m happy. Are you happy?”

  “Well, yes but Jace—”

  He smiled. “There. We’re both happy.” Raising his glass, he gave her a wink. “Cheers.”

  Ariya folded her arms and watched him drink in short gulps. She couldn’t help wincing at the taste of what the cow blood was like and wondered if she could really live off that as her only nourishment.

  Jace licked his lips and set the glass down. He leaned over the side of the counter, closing his eyes as if in another place and time more serene.

  Ariya slowly approached him as she felt it. His heartbeat. The blood had reignited his heart to beat again. She felt his body temperature rise and his adrenaline rush as he allowed his blood to pump through his veins. For a moment she was sure his veins disappeared and his pale skin had darkened to a softer shade of pink.

  After a moment, Jace leaned back and cleared his throat.

  “Look, it’s late,” Jace said tiredly wiping his eyes. “I’m going to shower and then head to bed. Are you going to be up a while?”

  Ariya shrugged. “A little, but I think I’m going to head to bed myself.”

  He leaned in to give her a gentle kiss on her lips. “Good thinking. I’ll come to say goodnight once I’m done.”

  Before she could respond, he was already in the bathroom closing that door behind him. For a split moment, she thought about leaving just to spite him. Still she didn’t know how safe it was to roam the streets on her own. Already she felt distant from the house despite it being the closest thing to a home she had in this realm.

  After all, each member had their place in the world, as she understood it. Jace taught art at the local community college. Rich and Vex coached football for the local college and the elders of the house taught the younger members about t
heir place in the world. She was just a misplaced Fairy who had a home to return to on the other side.

  With her mind racing, she exited into Jace’s bedroom and prepared for an evening’s rest.

  * * * *

  Jace felt Ariya’s heart sink. The distance grew between them like a tangible substance in the air. His life had changed when they met that fateful night. He was thrown for a loop and much to his surprise he was taken by the young Fairy. Life had always been fragile to him and, before he was turned, he realized it could end any moment. One day it was wondrous and as if immortality was a promise for each day to come. The next would bring a certainty of death that would take lives with no prisoners or escape. He saw it first hand at the age of 14. Civilization turned humans into fragile creatures when a black plague took lives of women, men and children alike. The soft blades of green grass he used to play upon as a child became open graves for his townspeople, friends and family. He remembered watching their bloodied, purplish bodies piled one on top of the other, ready to return to the Earth from whence they came.

  Mothers clutched their young to their breasts with pleas to save them from their deaths. Never had he felt so helpless when they left their town near Inverness during those dark times that still continued long after the end of the outbreak. His parents were of noble blood and could afford to leave their home for another that was a few cities away in the Highlands. He still thought about those people cities away when he buried his own mother.

  “Jace,” her voice still haunted him from that day. She looked up at him with once bright brown eyes that were then dimming with impending death. She had coughed up violent bouts of blood earlier and even then her body still shook involuntarily.

  “Don’t let your life slip away,” she said softly. “Not without love and the life you wanted to lead. I love you, my son.”

  Her cold hand caressed his warm cheek. Slowly he wrapped his warm hand around hers and held it tightly. Her once strong grip slowly loosened as her life and spirit slipped away.

  Jace shuddered under the cool water in the shower. He blinked a few times to bring him back to his present reality.

  Shaking his head to rid himself of the image, he reached down to flip off the shower and grab a towel to put around his waist.

  Perhaps Ariya was meant to come into their lives. Perhaps she was meant to turn his life and his heart upside down. He had to wonder if they could really have a life like Rich and Joanna. He loved his life as it was and now, although his emotions were topsy-turvy, he knew it wouldn’t be whole without Ariya by his side.

  Slowly he stepped out of the shower and allowed the cold evaporating droplets to cool his skin. He was hungry again but the night didn’t call him like the other times. Instead, he entered his bedroom and watched Ariya sleep. Her beautiful softness was peaceful under the warm glow of the candles that lit up the room. He took a seat in his comfy chair across the bed and watched her take gentle breaths in her sleep. Eventually he would be able to fully let his guard down. For now, he would make this moment last as long as he could.

  Chapter 13

  Jace walked along the thin aisles between his student’s desks. He started off every class with a piece of art history before launching into the actual art creation. He did his best to get the kids interested in traditional artwork like the techniques he learned from his mentor, Signore Da Vinci.

  Unfortunately he couldn’t paint landscapes from life in warm, Earthy hues but he still retained the techniques creating smoking glazes and dimmed edges heightened by chiaroscuro.

  Either way, he was pretty proud of his class and how far they’ve progressed since the start. Soon it would be coming to an end in two weeks as the quarter drew on. He couldn’t say he wasn’t looking forward to it.

  “Time.”

  The sparse classroom echoed with a chorus of drawing paper ripped from the stacks of pads.

  “Now is it time for you to model for us, Mr. Harkin?” One of the young female students in the front of the class asked him.

  Jace chuckled to himself. The young girl was about nineteen with a face caked full of makeup. Her slender frame was draped in a low cut blouse and a short skirt accompanied with high heels. There had to be something said for the shift of power in sexual politics throughout the ages. Particularly dating. It took him a while to get used to the modern aggression of female sexuality. He wasn’t used to being pursued and taken. That was his job.

  Jace imagined it was a leftover from the days when men did the wooing to win the hearts of their love. It was a habit he was very reluctant to shake and he liked being in the driver’s seat.

  Jace smiled as he did an about face and returned to the front of the class.

  “Not yet, Jessica, but maybe I’ll have a special surprise for you guys with the final.”

  The young girl’s gaze dipped below his belt for a moment as a wide smile crossed her face. If he was a young mortal teacher of the times he knew his pale face would have turned beet red. Instead he choked back a chuckle and cleared his throat. Boy, he would be in heaven if he was a nineteen year old boy.

  “In the meantime, we’ll go for one three minute gesture study and you’re out of here.”

  He checked his watch; nearly time. The ceremony would be starting in an hour and as a part of the wedding party, he and Ariya needed to be there early.

  “And go.”

  The students started their gesture studies watching the dim lit still life stature in the middle of the room while darting back to their notepads in front of them. Jace took a seat at his desk and packed up to leave for the night. He still couldn’t believe his best friend was settling down after all this time. With Ariya not too far in his mind, he hoped they would make it in time.

  * * * *

  Jace hurried home to find Ariya already dressed and ready to go, much to his satisfaction. She was wearing a strapless satin dress lined with black lace that fell around her ankles. Her usual knee high boots were replaced with Grecian sandals that wrapping around her shapely calves. If he didn’t have any prior engagements, he was half tempted to indulge in her body right then and there. Unfortunately, that situation probably wouldn’t end well. Instead he thought of something else to ease the desire hardening between his legs. The fact that he was hungry didn’t help matters much.

  He quickly disappeared into the bedroom and changed into a suit and tie, which he always found more constricting than a loose poet’s shirt and trousers. Definitely much more constricting than the folded Archane family plaids he wore growing up. Earlier he dismissed the limo driver and opted to take Ariya in his Volga Roadster. Once they piled into the car, Ariya turned on the radio and rested on his shoulder as they entered the freeway and headed for the park a few blocks down the road. He couldn’t help smiling as he imagined Joanna convincing Rich to have their wedding in the nearest park. Rich hadn’t been too happy with desert living since the house moved here. He found the city life in the desert a sort of contradiction of big city prohibition with old western undertones and complained that one day he would high tail it to the forest areas when it was safe to shift freely under the pale moon. After all, his blood ran with English Lycan blood and Jace figured he couldn’t help wanting to claim the forest. Ariya chuckled as she heard his words in her head and gently punched him in the shoulder.

  “What?” he said smiling. “Take it up with King Richard over his princess disposition.”

  She shook her head to wave him off and pointed to the turnoff up ahead.

  “Right around that corner.”

  It was near pitch black except for the streetlights overhead. A school was nearby and both of them were thankful there was no game going on in the stadium behind the park. Dark shadowy figures stood under the tall trees and right away Jace recognized the line of cars and Rich’s bike in the corner. He parked nearby and escorted Ariya on his arm toward the wedding party.

  “Don’t you think this area is just a wee bit conspicuous being so close to a school and a ma
ll at the same time?” Jace asked as he approached the small party.

  Joanna, draped in a long white satin dress with long sleeves and a thin lace neckline, shrugged. Her long, dark hair was pulled up into a curly ponytail with tendrils framing her heart shaped face. Instead of a veil she wore a wreath and held a bouquet of dark red roses touched with baby breath. “I wanted a forest wedding but hey, this is the next best thing.”

  Rich fidgeted with his tie as he moved uncomfortably in his suit. “First rule of making it last is compromise, I guess.”

  Jace raised an eyebrow. “I thought first rule was to take the throne like you own it.”

  “Ah-ah,” Rich held up his finger and smiled widely. “That’s pack rule. I’m talking lifelong commitment here, pal.”

  “And if he wants to live a long life, he has to compromise.” Joanna leaned in to give him a kiss on his cheek. “Or suffer my wrath in my true form.”

  Jace chuckled and shared a wide eyed expression of surprise with Rich.

  “If the quips will come to an end, we’d like to start.” Michael Hammond was dressed in a black Lycan ceremonial robe and stood a few feet away holding a Bible in his hand. Jace smiled as he fell into step behind the couple with Ariya at his side.

  * * * *

  Ariya had to choke back the question that was floating around her head. She was well versed in the various mortal mythology surrounding Elves, Vampires and Werewolves and none of it fit with that of the biblical stories she found so fascinating. If anything, they were seen as an abomination of creation. Still, she kept the question in her mind despite Jace’s promise that he would explain it to her later if she dropped it for now. She flashed a mental image of her tongue sticking out toward him and pursed her lips together to keep from laughing. Jace cleared his throat, trying not to laugh in return.

  The ceremony was beautiful and Ariya couldn’t help wishing for a similar commitment for herself and Jace. She wondered if the Nightwalker ceremony would be the same. If so, would Jace ever think about—