by Lori, Rae
She peered up at him and smiled. “Yeah?”
“Oh yeah. I think Julian would be more than willing to accept you into his family and especially the house.”
Ariya had to sit up to make sure she was hearing right. Jace chuckled like a schoolboy as he saw her shocked expression out of the corner of his eyes.
“Jace, are you asking what I think you’re asking?”
“Well, don’t infer too much,” he said with a side smirk. “I didn’t expect to do it in a car.”
Ariya couldn’t believe it. She would finally belong to a family once again and have a true place to call home. Most of all, she would be able to be with the man she loved for the rest of their days.
For a moment, her mind went back to Julian, the moment he gave up the love of his life. Despite his reluctance to protect her within the Ashen Twilight House, she couldn’t fault him. Perhaps he was protecting Jace from falling into a similar fate. This was different. She hoped he would bless their union as she planned to live and love alongside Jace while ruling in the Aziza realm.
Ariya opened her mouth to speak when Jace pulled her close to him.
“Jace—” Ariya began.
“Hmm?”
He peered down at her for but a moment. Ariya then saw the bright lights of the oncoming car before it collided against them.
“Watch out!” she screamed.
It was too late.
The Volga was pushed into a tailspin that slammed Jace and Ariya’s bodies against the dashboard.
Metal grinded against metal and the loud screech of the tires were the only sound in the air. The moment seemed to last a lifetime before the car slammed against the nearest streetlight pole. Ariya couldn’t move until she felt Jace’s hand on her back.
“Ariya,” his voice cracked with weakness. “You okay?”
She nodded slowly as she looked up. A deep cut from his forehead was gushing blood. It took a moment to slowly heal itself back to his skin.
“I’m fine.” She gently caressed his forehead in the location of the former abrasion. “How about you?”
“Good so far.” He took her hand and gave it a gentle kiss before turning his attention toward the smoking vehicle that crashed into them.
“What? What is—” Sensing Jace sniffing the air, she followed suit and smelled a stench that sent warning bells within her. Death.
“No one’s in the car up ahead,” Jace said squinting his eyes. “I can still sense someone near.”
“Shifter Rens?”
Jace’s teeth extended into fangs as he emitted a low warning growl. In the darkness ahead, a bat cut through the air heading straight for the car’s front window. When it got close, a beam of light flashed and in moments a man appeared with long, scraggly hair down his back. Ariya remembered him right away. Raine. His bright yellow eyes glowed with tenacity of evil intentions. He smiled, baring a set of aged yellow teeth before lifting his arm and punching a hole through the glass, shattering it. He reached in to grab Jace and pull him up by the collar and out of the front of the car.
Ariya struggled to reach for him despite sensing the passenger door ripped open to her right. A pair of massive, thick hands reached in and grabbed her. She met the hard figure with tight fists as she struggled to watch Jace thrown into a group of Rens waiting on the sidelines.
“Jace! No!”
He turned toward the sound of her voice and tried to get up, but was meant with a hard kick to the stomach by a nearby Ren.
Ariya felt helpless as her captor’s hands tightened on her. She summoned all her anger to a tangible power growing in her hands.
“Ah-ah,” Raine’s thick voice worked as he turned to her. “I wouldn’t if I were you.”
He gestured to his buddies to haul Jace up and hold his arms down.
“You let her go and I promise I’ll spare your lives later,” Jace growled. His bright eyes darkened as he focused on the Ren holding Ariya.
Raine roared with laughter followed by his buddies chuckling around them. “That’s a good one. We do have use for your pretty little Fairy here.”
Jace roared with a primal urge as he used his captors as a boost to lift up and kick Raine’s lanky form backward toward the ground. He flipped backward, freeing his arms to knock away the two next to him before rushing over to Ariya.
A wave of relief crept over her, but it was short lived as she felt a long, cold blade against her neck. The Ren behind her laughed and she had to summon all power inside not to try anything.
“Go with your gut, Ariya,” Jace said in her mind. “At least until we see what they want.”
“Back up Princie boy,” the Ren said behind her.
Jace did as he was told and fell into his captor’s hold. Raine finally recovered as he slowly moved to his feet.
“Now that one’s going to cost you,” he said before cracking his fist against Jace’s jaw.
Ariya felt her stomach turn as she watched, feeling the Ren’s body vibrate with a chuckle of glee behind her.
“Take her to the hideout while we take care of him,” Raine ordered.
“You got it,” the one behind her answered.
Ariya felt her body hauled away but her mind was still on Jace. She caught sight of dozens of rats scampering across the concrete ground toward Jace and Raine. In mere seconds they were in human form, readying themselves to pound into Jace. The sound of knuckles pounding bone and skin invaded the air. Ariya couldn’t take her eyes off the scene as she was pulled toward the waiting car. The Rens circled around Jace, punching him in the face and gut until he lost his balance and they took turns kicking and kneeing him; holding his body up when he would fall limp. Tears blurred Ariya’s vision as her body grew hot like fire as she felt every hit from the beating consuming her like a choking shadow.
“Jace!” Two more Rens climbed out of the car and raced to grab her and hold her still as they forced her in the back seat. “No!”
From the back of the vehicle, she could still see the Rens surrounding him as they continued to try to knock him unconscious. Ariya bit her lip as she jumped toward the window and with a hard fist broke through the glass. She raised her hand and sent waves of fire toward the group they left behind. Three immediately lit up in flames. Ariya tried to raise her other hand when she felt a back blow to the head, knocking her toward the floor. She felt dazed, almost like she wanted to throw up from the dull pounding in her head.
“I told you not to try anything,” the Ren to her right said. “Now that’s going to cost you.”
“Where are you taking me?” she managed to say through short breaths. The car revved up. Ariya felt her body jostled from either side as two Rens took a seat next to her.
“Stupid twit jacked up my window,” she heard one say.
“I said, where are you taking me?” she asked again.
They ignored her in their silence as they watched the streets pass by outside the window. If they want to play like that, very well. She slid back on her seat and kept part of her attention on the streets outside but nothing looked familiar. She took a deep breath, knowing she had one chance to make this right.
Feeling the energy surge from deep within her, the glow illuminated her skin even more.
“What the—” said the Ren next to her.
Ariya lifted her hands and crossed her arms out in front of her, sending a flame of fire toward the driver and ripples of energy toward the front passenger. The driver screamed at an ear splitting pitch as the vehicle veered out of control. His body was slowly consumed with flames while his partner’s body fell limp against the dashboard.
“Get the wheel! Get the wheel!” the Ren next to Ariya’s right side yelled.
She watched the other next to her leap toward the front to move the screaming, flaming Ren out of the way so he could take control of the wheel. Ariya tried to leap toward the door but felt the hands behind her grab her hair and yank backwards.
“Oh no you don’t!” the Ren on her other side yelled
over the commotion.
A searing pain shot through her scalp like needles as she tried to gain her balance.
“You need to calm down for now.”
She tried to move when she felt his hand grab her chin and hold it in place. A moment later, the car finally got on track as she felt a thin needle invade her neck. The substance poured itself into her bloodstream and, in seconds, her eyes grew heavier and heavier until her vision blurred and she gave into the waiting darkness.
Chapter 15
Highlands, Scotland — 1443
“Come closer, my lovely lass. Mmmm. Yer skin, like warm milk I could drink for days.”
“Nay, Laird Archane. I was not borne of noble blood as you. I am but a showpiece to feed your creative—” Her hand slipped onto the hardness between his legs. “Strength.”
Jace Archane thrust his hips into her grip, moaning from the shock of pleasure shooting throughout his body. She wasn’t of noble blood. Still he wanted her nonetheless. Unlike the women of the court draped in propriety until the shields of their desire faded away from public eyes—she was uninhibited in advertising her wares wherever she went.
His hand slipped over her bare, cream skin alongside of her thigh. Throughout the lesson he was trying to control his need to take her there right that moment. Every stroke of his brush that caressed her body, creating a likeness of her on his canvas mocked the reality of what he really wanted to do to her.
And now he had the chance. He reveled in the idea as he gently kissed the nape of her neck. His hard body beneath the open long white shirt and loose dark trews pressed her against the wall. Despite his actions, he still kept an ear out for any footsteps that might approach. His father was probably somewhere about the castle while his teacher would be back any moment.
The thrill of being caught any moment nearly sent him over the edge.
Then distant footsteps broke into the air. The hairs on his neck stood up on edge and the look of fear on the woman’s eye caught his attention. He led her out of the hall and into the large open drawing room lit by the brightness of the sun high in the sky.
He took his place on the draped stool in front of his half finished canvas and gestured what position he needed her in.
Her body convulsed rapidly in various poses as her wide eyes remained on him. He had to stifle a chuckle from the image of a wide eyed porcelain doll that popped in his mind.
“There now, young Jacinus. Your father should be down to see your progress. I told him you were coming along well with yer—” The older bearded man froze once he saw the half finished painting. “What is this? I left many moments prior still y’linger near the beginning! Now I know I shan’t be likened to your beloved paint’rs but I can believe I still have some amount of artistic direction to hasten your progress faster than a snail!”
The teacher looked up at the model. Jace had to give it to her, she was trying her best not to smile or move but the blush in her cheeks and the wide focused expression in her eyes confessed of their encounter.
Jace saw his teacher turn back at him out of the corner of his eye. He opened his mouth to speak when another voice broke into the room.
“I do hope my son’s time has not been wasted on frivolous pursuits of the flesh. Else I will be disappointed greatly.”
Here we go. Jace sighed as he felt his father closing in behind him. Gerard Archane was a handsome serious man. His strong angular face fashioned a trimmed beard, dark like his shoulder length hair. Deep blue electric eyes widened as he settled on Jace’s half finished painting. He folded his arms in front of thick chest clad in a blue tunic and robe.
Jace felt him circle around him. His thick boots tapped against the ground as his gaze darted from the model to the painting. Finally he stopped next to Jace and looked down at him.
“Your services are dismissed for the day, kind sir,” Gerard said to the teacher. “I thank ye.”
The teacher nodded and held his hand out. The girl broke from her pose and quickly grabbed her clothes which she held over her body. As she passed by Jace, she gave him a thin smile and a wink.
Jace felt his body warm from his father’s gaze. Down the hall, the servants ushered the girl and the teacher to the door while she quickly finished dressing. Jace had to stifle a chuckle at the idea of the half dressed woman racing across the open grounds away from the Castle of Twilight, their home.
He braced himself for the inevitable blowout but felt the tension deflate as his father pulled up a wooden stool next to him.
“I fear your passion lies not with the arts, my son.” Gerard said with a sigh. “But with the means to its creation.”
“To a point, Father.”
“To a point? Jacinus, I cannot afford to allow you to wallow in such frivolity. You are the heir to this land and ye must learn more than art to rule it.”
Jace froze at the thought of his present situation. He liked the idea of painting a woman’s body, no doubt about it, but he still needed to create.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to rule, but now he would give anything to just paint and live on his art. He wouldn’t dare make this desire a verbal declaration for fear of shocking his father into a fit of insanity.
“Laird Archane,” one of the servants entered the drawing room and held her hands clasped out in front of her. “A man has arrived. He asked for you.”
“What is the name of this stranger?”
“I know not, sire. A hint of fear cornered her face as she awaited their answer.”
Jace and his father brushed past the woman toward the front foyer. The castle was a modern size, much smaller than their home in Inverness. When they first moved in, Jace had to wonder if there was enough room for all the families of the home. After settling in for a day, it felt more at home than the PlumeCastle de Provence they left behind.
Jace stopped behind his father once he saw the tall man in the door. He didn’t look like a traveler or a soldier. If anything, he looked like a royal with his long robes of velvet and a crown of jewels atop his straight ebony mane. His pale skin glowed and Jace had to mentally tell himself to close his mouth and not stare too hard. He was beautiful. A word he only saved for ladies of the court, but there was no other way to describe the creature before him.
In his arms he held a cloaked figure like a weightless doll. Despite not seeing his face, Jace remembered the boots his father had specially made and sent to his brother Julian before they moved.
“Julian!” Gerard said, as if reading Jace’s mind. He raced over to his brother and uncovered his face. “What have y’done to ‘im?”
The man moved to the nearest room and set Julia n down in front of the fireplace. Jace knew his Uncle was a tall man but he appeared like a young man of his age in this stranger’s massive arms.
“Sophie,” Gerard called one of the servants. “Fetch the physician this instant.”
“That won’t be necessary, Laird Archane,” the tall man said. “There are some things I would like to explain to you. And, if possible, an offer that will change your life forever.”
* * * *
Jace’s head buzzed and his body ached with a dull pain that shot throughout his limbs. Voices filled the air and he felt the crowd of curious onlookers crowding around the scene.
“Nothing to see here, folks, move along.”
He couldn’t quite identify the voices that took command. He tried to open his eyelids, but they were heavy like stacks of bricks over his eyes. The area within the night was a rush of misty of images glazed together. Two blurred figures approached him, the gravel and rocks of the pavement crunched beneath their designer boots. The sound was heightened in his mind as were the thunderous beats of hearts surrounding him. Humans. They had to get out of there fast. He felt his body lifted up into the back seat of the nearest car. Even if he wanted to fight back, he had no strength left.
“Yeah, it’s me,” he heard a voice from the passenger side. “We got him. We’re heading over now and bringing up hi
s car in the rear. We should be in soon.”
The soft roar of the car engine lulled Jace to unconsciousness. He couldn’t sense any danger or dark foreshadowing ahead. Still what had happened to Ariya? Where was she taken? Could he get to her in time? He struggled to sit up but his head reeled. Finally he slumped forward and gave into the darkness.
* * * *
Highlands, Scotland—1443
“I met your brother during my travels. His nobility has been revered by many. He is known as a great military soldier from here to France and even greater leader. I suppose it is because of these traits that a man chose him to share a special gift. And also why I would like him to become a leader for a very special group of people.”
Jace turned to his Uncle’s still body in the front room. He had suggested moving him in upstairs but was met with vehement protest when he mentioned the bright sunlight in the room. Instead, he was left downstairs for the maids to tend to him despite this Daoine Oberon figure, as he introduced himself, protested that he was fine.
But he wasn’t. Jace could feel it. He couldn’t even tell if his Uncle was still breathing.
“Why did you travel this way to the Highlands? Surely you could handle this matter together.”
Daoine’s bright blue eyes turned toward the ground as he clasped his hands on his lap. “Members of our land are spread far and wide. Many are being taken. Held captive in the land of Wallachia, east from here. The ruler there, his name meaning son of the dragon, wants the ability to be stronger and continue to conquer lands many years after all other rulers have died. Our people won’t stand for it any longer but there are too few to fight such a man of power.”
“No,” Gerard said. “This riddle is of pure nonsense.”
Daoine shifted his weight in the elegantly imported chair until he found a comfortable position. “There have been many myths surrounding the supernatural. Many people have claimed to see things—creatures in the night preying upon their neighbors. Some of these creatures have malevolent desires but the majority needs a leader and a home to keep them safe from the mortal hunters.”
