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

by Lori, Rae

  The words echoed in Jace’s mind as he watched two Nightwalkers haul Avery’s limp body upward. Behind them the Lycans stood in true form as they held the Shifter Rens captive. They all watched him closely but Jace didn’t care. His mind was a complete mess and his body was numb. He had lost the only thing that mattered to him in his life and he wanted revenge for Ariya, for himself and most of all for the life that they could have shared for each other.

  * * * *

  The Highlands of Scotland proved to be a formidable refuge in the days they retreated from home. After burning the dead bodies of the servants they lost in the massacre, the rest were left to wonder with clouded minds as to where the Archanes went. Jace remembered the trek across the green mountains ascending into the heavens. The biting cold air whipped around them and what was once harsh weather had been a comfort to their new bodies. They traveled during dusk once the sun dipped behind the shadowy horizon and into the night where mortals had prepared for rest during the late hours. As they walked for nights on end across the hills, he couldn’t get their home out of his head. Nor could he get the death of Sophie out of his heart. He was changed then. An even greater change would take place as they came upon the tracks of men tied to ancient torture machines that had cut their skin, castrated them and had ripped their limbs from their sockets.

  Jace remembered the shock that his father held upon seeing the inhuman device. Daoine had told them that it was a way of getting rid of the ‘monsters’ that the townspeople had thought were immortals. The display would be a warning to set an example of what would happen if any travelers and immortals wandered by. Jace felt his heart drop into his stomach once it was confirmed that the tortured individual was a mortal, probably killed upon suspicion from the townspeople. It was then he realized that none of the mortals could be trusted. Their bloodthirsty hearts feared anything that was different from their mortal norms. As the legends grew, twisted and changed throughout the centuries about his Nightwalker brethren, he wondered if it was now safe to walk amongst them with no fear.

  That fear was a grave mistake that he had paid dearly for.

  Jace sat back in the chair with thoughts of the past clouding his mind. They gathered the remaining Rens and held them at a nearby home safely away from the location of the Ashen Twilight House. Jace insisted on taking Ariya there. He refused to believe she was gone despite her absent pulse. Blakedon’s whereabouts were still undetected in the mortal realm and it was assumed he was still left in Ariya’s realm. He hoped for the best that the elemental had been defeated which would leave Blakedon a mere mortal without his supernatural beast to command.

  But how? How could he be a mortal and have lived all of these years?

  And Avery, the boy he had passed as his own. Jace’s cousin. He nearly beat the younger Nightwalker to death on sight for putting Ariya in danger. The last he had heard, Avery was being held within one of the rooms of the house after Julian’s insistence.

  Jace shifted his position in the old Victorian chair. None of this was over. He could feel it in his bones—it was far from being completely over.

  He looked up at Ariya’s still body. Her soft dark face still beautiful and peaceful in the serenity of death. Her neck was wrapped and hadn’t healed any and was still torn from the knife that Blakedon had used on her. He reached out to her hand and held it gently in his own. What was once warm skin now felt cold as ice and completely limp. Her dark curls were splayed around her heart-shaped face and when he placed her on the large cushioned bed, he made sure not to damage her wings anymore than they had been. As he watched her laying still—his sleeping beauty—he couldn’t help thinking about what she mentioned earlier when they spoke of life and death.

  Do you really believe I have been tainted? The hands of death stretch far beyond your world and well into mine long before I saw what Julian did to that Ren back there. The only difference is until that day when the elemental was conjured up from this land, death had an understanding with life. Nature understood the cycle and life was only taken when it was ready. Not a moment before. Each creature understood their spirits were taken temporarily and for a greater reason. But this—this world kills at random with no purpose. And yet there is a light that makes everything worth continuing. Worth fighting for.

  He wasn’t in her world, but if death and life had extended from his world to hers, there was a chance that he could reach it because Ariya’s spirit was not ready. He knew it deep down in his heart and soul; she was not prepared to go yet.

  He gently unfolded the wrap around her neck and tried not to wince at the large jagged cut that broke her beautiful dark velvet flesh.

  Jace slowly rose to his feet, still holding Ariya’s hand while his other gently caressed her forehead. He focused on her with all the energy of his lifeforce and the power of hundreds of years. Everything he had contained and cut off from feeling a connection to another now rose to the surface. His chest rose and fell with the power of his breath of life.

  “Listen to me over there. Ariya, you are not ready to go yet. You have come too far to quit now. You’ve awakened something in me that has been dormant for centuries and I’m not about to go back to that life. I can’t go back to that life—any life without you. You have to fight to come back. You hear me? I’m right here fighting for you. Right here! Just come to me. Come back to me, Ariya. I need you. I—I love you. Do you hear me! I love you, Ariya. And I’m not about to let you go!”

  His voice rose with the power of his emotions. He then he felt a presence in the room behind him, the three Patriarchs, but he wasn’t going back on his word. His hands gripped her as he felt a force of power surging like electricity within his body. He held onto her and watched as a glow surrounded her body then integrated itself with her. A sudden burst of light emanated from her body like droplets of rain. Ariya’s eyes shot open and she breathed in sharply, loudly and full of life. She breathed, in and out, and her dark eyes finally flashed with vibrance and life. She looked around the room and turned to him.

  “Jace?” she said softly.

  Her voice was like chorus bells to his ears. Gently he caressed her cheek as he leaned in. “Yes, baby. It’s me. I’m right here.” He bent down and crushed his lips against hers, coaxing her mouth open in a frenzy to consume her lips with his own. She reached up and wrapped her arms around him and slowly the cuts and abrasions on her body healed themselves. “I thought I’d lost you.”

  She laughed gently as she held onto him. Her laughter turned to tears of joy as she brought him in for another kiss.

  Jace shuffled a little and reached out to catch his balance on the side of the bed.

  Ariya’s brow wrinkled in worry and she leaned in to help him. “Jace, what is it?

  “I think I nearly drained myself giving you all of my power.” He stopped short as he noticed her gaze froze on a figure in the doorway behind him. Jace angled his head to follow her gaze. There at the edge of the door were the three Patriarchs of the Ashen Twilight House, Daoine with Julian and Michael standing behind him. Julian lowered his gaze once Jace saw him and quickly took his leave with Michael behind him. He nodded his thanks to them, feeling more grateful for their help than he ever had before in his life.

  “Jace,” Ariya’s soft voice called his attention once again. “What happened?”

  He turned back to Ariya, eager to take her in his arms once again and never let go. He grabbed her hands and held them in his, afraid to let go of her for one second.

  “I thought I had lost you in that warehouse back there. When you came from your realm and—” He swallowed deeply, recalling the nauseating memory in his mind but too afraid to voice it aloud. Feeling Ariya’s warm hand on his once again, he closed his eyes and reveled in the lively feel of her skin on his. A tear cascaded down his cheek and he was amazed himself at how such a simple gesture that was absent from him for so many centuries now felt like a much needed release.

  “Liam Blakedon,” she said softly. “He’s still ali
ve and still in the Aziza realm!” She bolted upright but was met with Jace’s arm holding her still. “I have to go back!”

  “You need to rest, Ariya.” Daoine’s voice was low although it stretched across the entire room, filling every nook and cranny. “And you do as well, Jace, to regain your strength. We are handling things well.”

  “What about Avery?” she asked looking from Daoine to Jace. “He’s an—”

  Jace held up his hand. “Archane—I know.” He lowered his head and turned slightly to the side. “Does Julian know?”

  “He is with him now. Questioning him.”

  Jace closed his eyes and leaned in his head back to concentrate and take a deep breath.

  “You can try to tap into the room but I’m sure Julian sealed it. He wanted to be alone with the boy to speak with him.” Before he could finish his sentence, Ariya climbed off the bed and rushed passed Daoine.

  * * * *

  The old Victorian had become like a second home to her. Two guards in dark designer suits and matching thin trimmed beards stepped in front of her. Their faces were as blank as stone with their gazes fixed on her. Ariya stopped in front of them, watching them with the fierce passion that spread throughout her body.

  “Where is he?” her voice was low, determined and naked of any propriety she had once been taught growing up.

  Surprisingly they stepped aside and gestured down the hall. As she approached it, she could feel the strong bonds that burned her blood. Julian and Avery. She raised her hands and sent a forceful wind that kicked open the door. She stepped inside and saw Julian sitting in a chair next to Avery still unconscious on the bed. The young Nightwalker’s face was spotted with large red welts and cuts that nearly rendered him unrecognizable. Julian stepped into her view. His expression harsh as if it could cut through fire.

  “How dare you barge in here like you own this house!” He barked at her.

  “This man has no right to be here, Julian,” she said with equal power. “After all the lies throughout the centuries, he still doesn’t want to believe he is of your blood. Something horrible will follow in his midst if he remains here any longer.”

  “That is no business of yours and you have no right to come in here and lecture me like I am one of your servants!”

  Something stopped her from retorting as a realization hit her. She felt Jace’s presence in the room as he rushed in with Daoine and Michael at his side helping him walk.

  “Jace, get her out of here before I do something both of you will regret.”

  He nodded and stepped away from Daoine and Michael. He tried to stand up as straight as he could while offering a hand to Ariya.

  “Jace—” she said, softly toward him.

  “You shouldn’t have raced in here with that outburst, Ariya.”

  “Blakedon. He’s still in my realm. I have to stop him.”

  “Oh, no. You can’t go anywhere now, Ariya.” He helped her up, propping his arm around her waist. “You need to rest now. I promise everything will be straightened out in the coming days.”

  “Nightfall is an hour or two away,” Michael’s deep voice spread throughout the room. “Nothing will get done tonight before the sun rises. I’ve called some guards from the House of Lycans to stay here for the night. I have a feeling something is about to happen and it’ll be when we all least expect it.”

  “Blakedon’s still out there and we have no idea what he may have up his sleeve,” Jace said softly. He turned to Julian who was silently watching Avery unconscious on the bed.

  “Julian?” Daoine’s voice nearly shook the room.

  Julian sighed heavily and turned to Daoine. “You are right. We do need to keep extra watch tonight, but I’m not leaving his side.”

  “Uncle—”

  “Jace,” Julian said holding up his hand. “Not another word. Take Ariya and go rest.” He turned to her. “I’ll forget this interruption due to the trials you have suffered earlier. However, I will not look kindly upon insubordination in my home within the future.”

  Ariya remained silent despite the words lingering on her tongue. She was thankful she remained silent as his face relaxed.

  “However, I do hope you keep close as I can’t protect you from afar. Not during this trying time.”

  Ariya spoke before she could stop herself. “Are you sure you mean me, Julian? And not Jace?”

  Julian flexed his jaw in an effort to remain calm. She could tell he was about to burst but after all she had been through, she didn’t care. He never cared for her protection before.

  Ariya felt Jace pull her away toward the door to silence her. “What? It was just a question,” she murmured.

  “Not the way you said it,” Jace muttered.

  One by one they filed out of the room and left Julian to his thoughts once again.

  Outside, Michael alerted Jace that Rich and Gael were in the foyer with the others waiting for him. Daoine remained behind to speak with Julian. Ariya couldn’t help feeling elated that she was able to breathe, feel and have life once again. She would later tell Jace what it felt like, but for now, she couldn’t spoil the bright handsome smile he flashed as he looked upon her. He leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead as he walked alongside her down the stairs. She made sure to use some of her renewed strength to help him walk. Then she peered up and saw Rich and Gael walking toward them with big smiles on their faces.

  “Welcome back to the land of the living, Ariya,” Gael said bringing her in for a hug.

  “We were all pulling for you down here,” Rich chimed in. “Giving all of our energy as best as we could.”

  She shared a hug with Rich and as she pulled away, she frowned as she looked around the area. “Where’s Joanna?”

  Rich tried to stifle a grin as he lowered his head. “Well, that’s a surprise I’m just going to have to save for another day.”

  “You and your surprises!” Jace said smacking Rich’s arm. “I’m going to strangle this wolf boy one day and that’s going to be a surprise!”

  Ariya laughed as she watched the display before her. She wished she could bottle it up for a later time when she knew she would need this cheery mood.

  “I think we should probably move it on outside,” Jace suggested gesturing toward the door. “The Patriarchs have a feeling something is going to go down tonight with the Rens since they lost their leader.”

  “I can’t believe it’s Blakedon,” Gael said, his gaze darting to each of them. “And all this time Julian had a son. What happened all those centuries? What were they doing?”

  “Plotting this moment, I imagine,” Rich said, folding his arms.

  Ariya felt Jace’s weight shift uncomfortably next to her. “Rather than speculation I think we need to focus on what may happen soon,” he said.

  Rich watched Jace with raised eyebrows and finally cleared his throat.

  “Well, I can’t say I blame the Patriarchs,” Rich said eyeing Jace. “Something is definitely up in the air tonight. There are no signs of Rens anywhere outside of the group we’re holding in the house. I just hope they don’t decide to attack—”

  Rich’s voice descended in the background of her thoughts as Ariya felt Jace stiffen behind her. She peeked over her shoulder and saw Vex standing over Jace. His look was hard, his jaw tight. He lifted a large hand on Jace’s shoulder as he looked at Ariya and nodded.

  “No matter what’s happened between us, I never would have wished the same to happen to Ariya that happened to Shelly,” Vex said softly. “If you ever need any help ripping some Rens throats out, you know where to find me.”

  With that, he walked out the door and into the night. Ariya didn’t have to look ahead of her to see the Rich and Gael’s gaping mouths open wide with surprise.

  Jace narrowed his eyes toward the door. “Okay, now I know something is definitely in the air. Did you see that?”

  * * * *

  After saying their goodnights, Jace drove Ariya home after borrowing one of Ju
lian’s vintage cars parked in his garage. She reveled in the peace of the low engine hum as the only sound between them. Every time she replayed the image in her mind, she felt his body stiffen until she comforted him with soft thoughts. She didn’t speak until she stepped across the threshold of his apartment and looked around as he closed the door behind her. The apartment was just like he had left it that night. The shades in the living room were still drawn across the windows, but the candlelight that burned jasmine was absent and it was the one thing she missed in that moment. He quickly grabbed a glass from the fridge as he usually did. She figured it must’ve been awhile since he fed. Before she could open her mouth to speak, Jace appeared next to her. He pulled her body toward his lips, cradling her face with his hand. His baby blue eyes stared back at her with an intensity that made her skin hot like fire.

  “Did you really mean all those things you said back there?” She said, focusing her dark eyes on him.

  He nodded without hesitation. “Oh yeah. Never before had I meant the words so much than in that moment.”

  “Good,” she said brushing the back of her knuckles against his cheek. The heat emanated off her body and although Jace’s body was cold she could still feel a heat rising within him. She hoped it was his powers regenerating him full force as it had done hers. “Because I’ve been waiting to say the words to you but there was never the right time.”

  “The present is as good a time as any,” he said with a smile.

  Ariya gently licked her lips as her gaze dropped for but an instant before she peered up at him again. “I love you, Jace. I don’t want to be parted from you ever again. When I was—I mean…when I—”

  Jace grazed her lips with his finger. “Don’t—What only matters is the present and how we spend the future together.” He dipped down and scooped her into his arms as he kissed her slow at first then with a wave of passion.

  Ariya pulled him close, crushing his body against hers. The kiss was fiery yet held a gentleness she wanted to wrap herself into. Her wings flared to life, fluttering behind her.