Dance of Ashes and Smoke (Age of Monsters Book 1)

by Harley Gordon

  Once we got to Texas, I would find her another one.

  A girl my age with insanely bright sapphire eyes wandered over to me as I sipped at the purple drink I’d snagged from a tray. She smiled and leaned up against the tree beside me. Her pale skin shimmered like she wore body glitter, but not quite. I was pretty certain she was a monster, but didn’t want to ask.

  Her outfit was strange. A short blue skirt the same color as her eyes, purple leggings, and a yellow shirt with black cats scattered across it. It was like she thought she was Luna Lovegood. I wanted to ask her why she wasn’t wearing radish earrings.

  Dark brown hair tumbled down her back as she stared out at the party. “I’m Aria.”

  “Monet.”

  “You don’t like the party?” she asked.

  I shrugged, biting back a sigh. “I’m not great in crowds.”

  “Neither am I.”

  I smiled.

  “You can ask if you want.”

  I raised a brow. “Ask what?”

  Aria closed her eyes and smiled, head tipped back against the tree. “What I am. I can tell you’re uncomfortable. I assume it’s because you can tell I’m not human.”

  “Okay then. What are you?”

  “Dragon shifter.”

  I tried to hide the stiffening of my limbs, but was unsuccessful.

  She spoke without opening her eyes. “It’s okay. I get it. I know about the attack in Savannah. And I know the reputation we have. Most of the humans and even a lot of the other shifters don’t trust me.”

  “Why?” My brows furrowed.

  Her eyes slid open to slits. “Because I’m one of the few dragons involved on this side. Most believe I’m a spy for the other side.”

  “Are you?” I didn’t know what to think of this wackadoo.

  “No. I was always strange compared to my family and clan. I was kicked out for befriending a human just before they took over. I adored music and books and was always wandering off alone. I wanted to be in musical theater We’re a race who craves companionship, but I craved solitude.”

  Her words rang with truth and I couldn’t imagine growing up like her. “I’m so sorry.”

  “My brother is one of the leaders in Austin. I think it’s mainly why Summer let me stay.”

  “You don’t think she believes you?”

  She shifted and looked at me full on, dazzling me with sparkling jewels. “I think she does, but I’m also a valuable tool for her against him.”

  “Are you okay with that?”

  She shrugged. “He must be stopped, but I hope to change his mind instead of outright killing him. We were close once.”

  “I hope you can.” I was surprised to realize I meant it.

  Liv skipped over to us and drew me away, forcing me to eat. I waved at Aria over my shoulder, and after waving back, she swayed to the music, smiling dreamily at the stars.

  She may crave solitude, but no one wanted to be alone all the time. Everyone, human or monster, needed someone to love them, to love in return.

  I finished my plate of food right as Summer tapped on my shoulder. “It’s time.”

  Nerves sent me into a cold sweat, but I followed her. Aria was at the makeshift stage as well. “I told you I wanted to be in musicals.”

  I chuckled. “Am I opening for you or are you opening for me?”

  “I think you’re opening. I guess I’m the main event.”

  I cocked a brow. “Good luck following my performance.”

  Her tinkling laughter was as delicate as snowflakes, husky as a smoky club. It was enthralling, and I leaned towards her, wanting to touch her shimmering skin, to lose myself in the pools of blue she called eyes.

  She bit her lip. “Sorry. I forget sometimes I can do that.”

  I blinked away the fog. “I didn’t know dragons had that power.”

  “Yes, it’s something I’ve been teaching the others here to resist.”

  “I’m gonna want to take that class.”

  “I thought you might.”

  I slipped off my boots and jacket and hopped onto the stage. I’d put on the hideous pink dress, enjoying the way it floated down my body even though the color was gross. Candles and twinkly lights lit the stage up and created a sort of fairy land and made the snow glow. I hadn’t performed for a real audience in such a long time, but as I warmed up everything fell away until the only thing left was the music always playing in the back of my mind, until I was nothing but the dance.

  No nervousness flapped within me and I didn’t notice whether anyone from the party came outside to watch or not. It didn’t matter. Only the music mattered, the dance, the movements of my body, the sway of my hips, the feelings and wishes I wanted to express. Every trace of grief, pain, despair was released up to the glittering sky. Every trace of love, faith, hope shined through with each arch of my arms, with each spin, with each leap, with each bend.

  As the music faded away and my body stilled with my head bowed and chest rising and falling, applause shattered the silent night. I raised my chin and stared in awe at the eyes glistening with tears and gratitude and expectation, Liv and Jax in the center, pride on their faces.

  I curtsied and hurried from the stage, Aria stepping up to take my place while I took up the spot between Liv and Jax, avoiding the heat in his eyes.

  The candles went out as Aria passed, plunging her into shadows and smoke. Her voice rose around us, clear and lilting as she sang the song from Wizard of Oz. Blue skies and rainbows and bluebirds and melting lemon drops appeared with the force of her song. It made us believe in dreams and wishes coming true. It made us believe we could fly high.

  With the hypnotic spell from her voice, words lit up in the air. Freedom. Revolution. Love. Peace. Hope.

  Before the magic from Aria’s song faded away, Summer and a black man with bright red hair took the stage. His skin shimmered a little like Aria’s, but I didn’t think he was a dragon. He was something else. Gargoyle maybe? He wore jeans and a faded white button up, and he’d found a tie somewhere. The music changed to the wedding march before it melted into something better, a haunting remix. The crowd parted to reveal the other groom, a human dressed in clothes I recognized. I’d know those purple pinstriped pants and black shirt anywhere. Jax must have let him borrow them.

  When the two men’s eyes met, it was like everything fell away, even for those of us watching. The music swelled and slowed, casting a wider spell across us. The guys stared at each other, not moving, love bridging between the two of them, their eyes drinking in the other. The one on the stage couldn’t wait. He leapt to the ground and stalked through the crowd, grabbing the other by the lapels and jerking their mouths together.

  A huge grin spread wide across my face and my chest tightened as tears pooled in my eyes. Gasps of delight and swooning sighs joined the song as the two continued to kiss. As it went on longer, laughter and wolf whistles came from the crowd.

  They finally broke apart, the heat between them almost searing me. With their hands twined together, they walked up to the stage where Summer waited, her face wreathed in smiles.

  My head buzzed and tried to float away. I wanted to blame it on the glass of booze, but it was Jackson’s hand brushing against mine. It was his woods and sunshine aroma swirling around me. It was watching a human and a monster declare their love for one another and make vows even in the middle of war.

  It was beautiful and brave and it made me ache.

  A sob clogged my throat and I couldn’t watch anymore.

  I slipped back through the crowd, away from the lights and music, letting the darkness and trees swallow me. Once the sights and sounds from the clearing faded away, I stopped and leaned against a tree, gasping past my still tight throat.

  Footsteps followed me and I knew who it was. My body made it clear with a rush of heat and tension.

  “Monet? Are you all right?”

  I turned, taking him in bathed with moonlight, drops of starlight shimmering in his hair.
So beautiful it hurt to look at him. His brows furrowed as he inspected me, confusion and worry shadowing his eyes.

  “Talk to me. Or I can get Olivia if you’d prefer.”

  I shook my head and swallowed, searching for the right words. I surrendered, tired of battling myself when this was what I wanted. I wanted his lips on mine and his arms wrapped around me. I wanted him by my side as we fought to fix our world.

  I was done being a smug, angry idiot.

  “I think I’m falling in love with you. And it’s horrible and terrifying and exhilarating and confusing. But I don’t want to fight it anymore.”

  His eyes slid closed and his entire body slumped with a loud sigh and a shudder. I bit my lip and hugged myself, waiting for his response. Was I too late?

  He opened his eyes and stalked towards me, just like the groom had, never taking his gaze off mine. He stopped right before me, close enough to touch, a mere whisper between us.

  “I’ve been in love with you since I saw you ride a Jersey Devil like a cowgirl.”

  My heart finally restarted, racing as he cupped my face in his hands and brought his lips down to mine. I drowned in him. My chest swelled as I became fire and ice. As I flew up into the stars and began to spin, spin, spin. He was music I wanted to dance to forever. He was the anchor keeping me from floating away and breaking into a million stars.

  I poured everything into him with each brush of hands against skin, with each kiss, with each breathy moan. The stubble on his face scraped lightly against my skin, making me shiver. I clutched the back of his neck to keep from falling. His fingers found their way into the sides of my jacket, rubbing against the thin fabric of the dress down my sides. His body was hard against mine and I arched into it, wanting to be closer, wanting more.

  Wanting everything.

  My jacket slipped from my shoulders and pooled around my feet, the bark of the tree digging into my back. Jax kissed lines of fire down the side of my face and neck before claiming my lips again.

  His jacket joined mine on the ground. I needed to touch skin, I needed to feel him.

  The cold didn’t touch us, the heat between us kept us warm. Snow fell, it swirled and pranced through the air, melting on our exposed, heated skin. Fog clouded my mind from the assault of sensations.

  We stayed lost in each other under the snow and bright stars for a perfect slice of eternity.

  The music trickled louder through the trees, signaling the real start of the party. Jax and I parted with reluctance, no desire to leave our little bubble.

  “You’re turning blue, love. We need to get back before they come looking for us.”

  I nuzzled into him. “They’re too busy partying. They don’t care where we are.”

  “Maybe not, but you’re going to get frostbite and I find myself rather attached to all your bits.”

  “Fine. We can always pick this up later tonight in front of the fire.”

  He groaned and kissed me. “I’ll hold you to that.”

  We bundled back up and held hands as we made our way back through the woods to the party. I couldn’t stop smiling like an idiot, but couldn’t find it in me to care.

  Writhing and dancing bodies had taken over the clearing as music pumped loud through the air. Jax grinned at me and yanked me into the mass, pulling me close as we moved to the song. Our hands roved and teased, our bodies plastered together as the song drove us.

  “You never mentioned you were such a good dancer.”

  He flashed his dazzling smile. “It never came up.”

  He matched my every movement, smooth and graceful. A pang hit me as I remembered his clumsiness at Tai Chi. He must have faked it.

  Noticing my frown, he slowed. “What’s wrong?”

  I shook it away, wanting nothing to mar this night. “Nothing.”

  He wasn’t fooled. “I wasn’t pretending. Tai Chi and dancing are nothing alike to most people.”

  I snorted. “You didn’t mention mind reading was one of your powers.”

  “You’re just easy to read.”

  “I don’t like the thought of that. I’d rather be mysterious.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. There’s still plenty I look forward to learning about you.”

  I warmed under his words. “Maybe we should duck out early.”

  He winked and chuckled, spinning me around until I was shaky and giggling.

  The lot of us danced long into the night, switching partners, booze flowing, singing along. We rejoiced in being alive. We took the moment we had and relished it, spending this one night really living, keeping the nightmares at bay.

  Summer and her girlfriend ended up dancing beside Adele and I. She smiled over at us, raising a glass of the same purple stuff I’d enjoyed. Olivia and Malek were on the other side of them, and judging from Liv’s red tinged cheeks, they were getting along quite well. Something about the night bred romance. Couples wandered off together, probably to spend their last free night in bliss in case the morrow brought more tragedy.

  More and more people disappeared, the party breaking up. Jax set Adele on his shoulders as we made the trek back to our cabin, the night frigid, but lovely. I hoped it meant the sun would be out the next day and melt the snow off.

  Other groups clutched arms and giggled through the snow drifts before and behind us. It was like we were in some sort of Victorian Christmas story, lanterns and candles lighting our way to preserve batteries in flashlights.

  Would it be our last night of peace and celebration? Or would we join together to mourn the dead next? Hope was a strong force inside me now, but I also wasn’t naive.

  Not everyone would make it through the coming storm alive.

  I held tight to every moment of the night, not wanting to forget a second of it.

  By the time we reached the steps to our cabin, we leaned against each other, the cold and long walk making us weary. We giggled as we bumped into each other, racing to reach the warmth inside, punch drunk from exhaustion and the cold.

  Liv took Adele inside, smirking over her shoulder at us as Jax and I lingered. When the door closed behind them, we sprang at each other, neither of us satisfied with the little time we’d had.

  I’d wasted too much of it.

  Shivering from more than the sensation of his mouth on my skin, I pulled away. “I’m freezing.”

  His lips curled against my neck, his voice muffled. “Come on.” He released me and led me back into the cabin.

  The goofy, giddy smile refused to leave my face. Thankfully, a matching one stretched across his.

  Liv glanced up from her spot in one of the chairs when we fell through the door laughing. She raised a brow, but didn’t comment, returning to her book. Jax collapsed on the couch after ruffling Adele’s hair where she played on the floor with her stuffed bear and R2D2.

  I sat in front of Jax, between his legs, and leaned back against him, as I tried to steal some of his warmth. He rubbed his hands up and down my arms and pulled me to him. Watching Adele play with her toys, Liv reading, and the warmth of Jax’s arms comforted me. We were together and alive.

  I closed my eyes and listened to the crackle and pop of the fire and breathed in the delicious scent of it mingling with the winter air. It brought to mind memories of home. Snow-capped mountains, sledding, snowball fights with Alcott, hot chocolate and books by the fire, cozy at home with my family. I prayed one day we would have that again.

  The warmth and flickering of the fire relaxed me, lulling me, calming me. If I focused on the light, I could pretend I was back home, with Liv cuddled up on one side and Alcott on the other after a fun day playing in the snow. Mom and Dad with Liv’s parents talking and laughing in the other room, everything back to the way it was before. When we led simple, happy lives full of the outdoors, a refuge instead of an enemy. Snow, a friend who invited us to play with it instead of a killer bent on destroying us. Surrounded by my real family, instead of the makeshift one of almost strangers.

  My breath stalled, a
nd I closed my throat off, determined to keep the pain locked away. The touch of Jax’s hand sliding down my arm eased the pain behind my eyes and I could breathe again. I could remember my new family weren’t strangers. They were everything I had left and I would do whatever it took to protect them.

  Adele almost fell over, her battle against sleep finally lost. With a smirk and a wink, Liv took her to the bedroom, leaving Jax and I to grin at each other. He lifted me up to the couch with him, hands searching, backs arching, lips devouring and fell back on the sofa, our clinging bodies refusing to part.

  We knocked heads as we tried to wiggle out of our jackets, giggling softly. It cooled our ardor for the moment, our kisses softer, learning the shape of each other’s mouths, the taste, the silk of his hair brushing against my cheeks, the hard softness of his skin, the purple and golden hues in the flashes of his constantly laughing eyes. How he could still laugh so much after everything was a miracle. One I vowed to cherish.

  A harsh knock at the door ripped us apart.

  I sprang from the couch, rubbing confusion and panic from my eyes, trying to calm my pounding pulse. Jax stumbled to the door, throwing it open with a growl.

  Summer stood there, an apologetic grimace on her face. “Sorry. I know it’s late. But we got a ding on the message boards. And I want to go over everything with Monet and Olivia.”

  I nudged Jax out of the way. “What did you find?”

  Summer smiled with a wicked fierceness. “We know where she’s headed.”

  Hoping she wasn’t already asleep, I called for Olivia as Jax ushered Summer inside. She stomped the snow off her boots before entering, sitting with almost wild eyes on one of the chairs.

  Once Olivia joined us, I frowned at Summer. “Say that again.”

  “We know where she’s going.”

  “Where?”