Of Shadows and Ash

by Dana Marie Bell

  Ash did as told, sliding onto her broom and grasping her waist. “I’m ready.” He made sure to breathe right against that magic spot on her neck, enjoying the way she shivered against him.

  “Asshole.”

  “What?” He knew he sounded far too amused for true innocence.

  “Be good, I’m driving here.” They lifted off the ground and shot over the cars parked around Dragos’s home.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Keep that up and you might give me ideas.”

  The wicked amusement in her tone intrigued him. “What sort of ideas?”

  “The kind that involve handcuffs and riding you like a bronco.”

  He blinked as the vision filled his mind, but he much preferred having his mate bound to his bed. “I think you’ll find you’d be the one in the handcuffs.”

  She was strangely silent.

  “You like that thought?”

  “Ugh.” The disgust in her tone couldn’t hide the desire that filled her. Now that they were bound, he could catch glimpses of what she really felt, and the thought of being held down was more than appealing to his mate.

  He leaned forward and breathed into her ear, “You like that.”

  The broom wobbled. “Ash.”

  “You want me to hold you down again.” He’d only done it the one time, when they’d first made love. The need to keep her in place had been too much for him to resist. He’d held her hands, careful not to harm her, knowing she could break free at any moment. Not once had she tried to take herself from his grasp, holding to him just as tightly as he’d held her.

  “We can dig out some scarves, something you can easily get out of without magic.” He wanted the sensation, not the actual threat of being bound. The scarves should work for what he had in mind.

  “I swear, if we crash, you ain’t gettin’ any.”

  Ash laughed as they soared over the forest. It seemed his little witch liked the idea more than she wanted to admit, because they’d gotten home faster than he’d thought her broom could go. They landed in the Throne in record time, and he could sense his ash tree laughing right along with him.

  It, too, found his mate amusing.

  She landed right in front of the great oak, near Mina’s throne. “Home sweet home.”

  He found himself grinning as she said that. “Even better now that you’re here permanently.”

  “Hmm.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I am, aren’t I?”

  His brows rose. “We aren’t arguing this again, are we?”

  She rubbed his shoulder absently. “Spoke to a realtor today.”

  “Oh?” His heart leaped in his throat.

  “She said I could get a pretty penny for my old place.” She glanced up at him from under her lashes. “She thinks it will sell quickly, too. The neighborhood is good, it’s a great size for a starting couple, it’s got all that good energy now that the entity is gone...” She trailed off, watching him closely. “Well?”

  He slapped his hand on the special button on Mina’s throne. “I say we celebrate by fucking like pigs.”

  She scowled. “Pigs?”

  He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Pigs have thirty minute orgasms.”

  She froze for a brief, wide-eyed second before dashing down the stairs. “Get your ass in gear, Mr. Ward!”

  “Sure thing, Mrs.Ward.”

  The broom clattered against the floor, landing next to his front door. His open front door.

  Someone was eager.

  And, judging by the green pile of clothing on the floor, gloriously naked.

  Ash quickly shut the door and began tugging off his own clothing. When he was done, he ran for the bedroom. No way was she starting without him.

  He skidded to a halt in the doorway when he saw that she had, in fact, started without him. She was fingering that pretty pussy, her legs spread wide, her eyes shut as she pleasured herself.

  Ash took his cock in hand, watching her fingers play across her folds. He stroked himself in time with her thrusts as her fingers dipped inside her wet heat.

  “Mmm.” She licked her lips. Her eyes opened, her gaze landing on his hand as it flew over his cock. “Bring that here.”

  She crooked her finger and all thoughts of scarves and a slow, sensual tasting flew by the wayside. Ash crawled up her body, making sure to stroke every single inch of their skin together. “I had plans, little witch.”

  She smiled, her skin quivering as he barely breeched her. The head of his cock tickled her opening, teasing them both. “Plans change.”

  “So they do.” He pushed inside her, careful to watch for any sign of discomfort. When all she did was hum happily, he slid in all the way. “Next time?”

  “Next time.” She put her arms around his neck. “Hello, Mr. Ward.”

  He rubbed his nose against hers. “Hello, Mrs. Ward.”

  Her almost sleepy smile kept the thrusts slower than he’d thought he’d be able to do. He managed to keep himself in check, holding himself back from the punishing rhythm that would come later.

  They needed that slow glide, the dragging sensation of in and out that claimed them both.

  Soon enough, the urge to take, to mark, was too strong. He sat up, pulling her legs and placing them on his shoulders so he could grab hold of her hips. In this position he could play with her breasts, stroke those pretty brown nipples, watch her bounce for him as he held her steady for his thrusts.

  She groaned as he began fucking her in earnest. He was right. She bounced for him, cupping her breasts in her hands and plucking her nipples, driving him wild as she pleasured herself. The slap of flesh against flesh was loud in the room, her soft moans spurring him on as he picked up the pace.

  She was coming suddenly, harshly gasping as she tightened around him almost to the point of pain. He breathed deeply, barely holding back his own pleasure as she rode the orgasm until her breath slowly evened out. “Good?”

  Selena nodded, her eyes dazed. “More.”

  Ash fucked her, occasionally stroking her clit, his hands roaming over her creamy skin. He stroked her breasts, watching the peaks stiffen once more, the urge to taste her making him groan. He sucked the nipple into his mouth, just the tip of it as her legs flew wide and landed in the crook of his elbows. She was bent nearly in half, but she wasn’t complaining.

  Ash was. This position could hurt her, so he straightened once more, bringing her legs back up. Besides, watching her play with herself while he fucked her was well worth the lack of taste.

  Play she did, tugging her nipples, stroking her clit, her fingers flying over her body. “Gonna come.”

  “Thank God.” Because if he had to hold on one more second he was going to burst.

  “Yes, Ash. Yes.” She cried out, her eyes going wide before shutting tight.

  That was it, her coming, shuddering around him, dragging him over the edge into pleasure so bright it burned his soul. He poured himself into her, filled her up, took everything she gave him like a greedy child.

  With one final shiver he came down off the heights, his muscles quivering now that the tension had been released. He fell over her, careful to lower her legs first. “Whoa.”

  She laughed wearily. “Oh, yeah.”

  The way she drawled that filled him with satisfaction. “Definitely doing that again.”

  “Mmm-hmm.” She curled around him like a kitten. “In about ten minutes.”

  He glanced down at her body, the way it shimmered in the light, and his cock twitched. “Make it five.”

  “You’re on.”

  * * *

  Ash stretched, feeling better than he had in ages. In the back of his mind he could feel his mate, his brand new wife, dreaming about something that made her feel all bubbly inside.

  It was odd, the bond he’d formed with her. The sense that she was always with him filled him with a joy he’d never before experienced. Not even bonding with his beloved tree gave him the same comfort. The peace he experie
nced when he was with his ash was different from the sheer bliss of holding his mate. Her presence was a hum in the back of his mind, reassuring him that his little witch was safe and sound.

  They’d spent the night after their handfasting in bed, learning one another’s bodies in peace. The entity was gone, erased from her body, without leaving a single mark behind beyond the impressions of the rope that had tied her to the chair. Those would fade with time, but he’d been sure to kiss each and every place the rope had marked her.

  She’d shown her appreciation for his tender care in the best way possible, and now he was pleasantly sore in ways that brought a smile to his face.

  Ash stepped out of his home into the Throne and looked around for his brother. Greer should have been awake by now. The early morning sunlight beckoned him more than any of them. Mina was probably curled around her vampire, either here or in Dragos’s mansion, cuddled in for the day behind dark curtains.

  She’d need a day or two in the sun soon, but so far Greer said she wasn’t suffering any ill effects since her mating with Dragos. Like Amara, she seemed to have adjusted well to a night-time schedule. If Greer said she was fine, Ash would try not to worry too much.

  Where was Greer? He was usually perched in the branches of his tree, sipping coffee and contemplating the sky before starting his day. But this morning he wasn’t anywhere to be found.

  Hmm.

  It was possible something had called Greer away, something that he hadn’t wanted to bother Ash with on his honeymoon.

  Not that either he or Selena could take much of a break. No, their duties would keep them busy despite their wedding the night before.

  Selena would be eager to return to her duties as the witch doctor, and Ash needed to patrol his forest, feel the land beneath his feet and run his fingers along branch and leaf. And while the entity—and its blood—had been pushed out of Selena, it was still out there, somewhere, ready to strike again. Ash was determined to find it and lock it away somehow, or destroy it one way or another.

  It would not harm his mate, or anyone else he loved, ever again.

  Ash took a deep breath and extended his senses, trying to find Greer. Perhaps he’d become so wilted he needed to commune with his tree, reaffirming his bond. If so, Mina would be forced to return to the Throne until such a time as either Greer or Iva woke. He’d need her strength to continue patrolling without them. Most of the duties of guarding the forest would fall to him.

  As he made his way toward Greer’s birch he considered his options. He could always talk to Rock and request Amara be assigned to him temporarily. As Amara’s boss, Rock had the authority to do so, and Amara would be more than willing to lend a hand. But he didn’t want to leave the ranger station short a staff member if he could help it.

  He blew out a frustrated breath when he didn’t sense Greer in his tree. Where was he?

  “Hey, Ash.”

  Ash turned to find Greer standing behind him, a lazy grin on his face. His pale, orange tipped hair was plastered to his forehead, his eyes bright and glazed.

  Oh, hell. Was Greer sick? “What’s wrong?”

  The lazy grin widened, became evil. “I need you to come with me.”

  The Throne thrashed violently, the branches of the great oak swaying and creaking as if the tree was panicking.

  “Ash?”

  Something flickered at the corner of his eye. Something odd, like a twist of light, or—

  “Ashton?”

  Ash took a step back. “You’re not Greer.” Greer never called him Ashton. He was far more likely to make a joke to get his attention, or call him Ash-hole, or anything other than Ashton.

  The thing that wore his brother’s face laughed. “What the hell, man? Are you feeling all right?”

  Ash called his sword. “How did you get in the Throne?” He narrowed his eyes at the entity, everything coming together in his mind. He glared and held his sword at the ready, preparing himself for the battle that was sure to come. “Selena?”

  “No fooling you, is there, pretty boy?” Greer’s mouth split impossibly wide, showing a row of blackened, dripping teeth that ended in jagged points. “Don’t worry. Your precious witch doctor is clear of my influence, thanks to that fucking exorcism you and your friends performed.” Greer’s voice echoed oddly, a dark, sinister vibrato under his normal singer’s tones. “You, on the other hand...” It shrugged with a smug look. “You’re food.”

  “I know how you’re doing this.” Oh, he could see it now, how the creature had gotten to him, how it could be in the Throne. Kate sprang to mind, how she’d so easily invaded Mina’s thoughts, ferreting out her fears and torturing her with them. He’d also wondered how the hell she’d gotten the power to charm Dragos. He’d wondered how Kate had gotten the power to influence one of the strongest people in Maggie’s Grove. Now he knew. “You’ve done this before.”

  “Figured it out, have you?” Three inch claws grew from its fingers as the entity took its own fighting stance. “How do you think I got to your precious brother, hmm?”

  “Please. You’re no more inside Greer than I am.” Of that he was certain. It wasn’t Greer, not in any way. His brother would not give in to such a creature, not for anything in the world. No, unlike the last time this thing had danced with a dryad in the Throne, it wasn’t tied to another person.

  No, it was here in his dream, in his mind, on its own. They’d cleansed Selena, but somehow some small part of it must have invaded Ash without their being aware of it. All it would take would be a single demonic blood cell. While Ash’s ties to nature would eventually kill the parasitic blood, for now it had a toe-hold into his mind.

  And this time it had no weak, outside link for Ash to attack the way Mina had destroyed Kate.

  By killing Kate, Mina had driven the demon away.

  It was up to Ash to fight this thing on his own. It had been bound to Selena, found a way into Maggie’s Grove through her, but having been banished by the exorcism it was probably trapped behind the reinforced protections the witches had put up around the town.

  Desperate, it was making one final attempt to corrupt the town, to get inside Ash’s head the way it had done to Mina through Kate.

  And that would be its last mistake. Ash knew exactly what he faced and had not been weakened through weeks of fear. It didn’t have a strong hold on his mind, and it was damaged by the exorcism they’d performed.

  Its desperation would be its downfall.

  Ash was going to relish every moment of this.

  “Welcome to your nightmare.” Ash waved his sword at the entity. “You’re going down.”

  Ash attacked, not wanting his enemy to think he had chance to corrupt Ash. He lashed out, swinging for the creature’s head.

  It quickly raised its clawed hand and blocked him, using its claws almost like Wolverine from the comic books. Sparks flew as Ash’s silver sword dragged down its arm, drawing ichor as its skin split.

  It looked at the sluggish flow of ick then glared at Ash. “You’ll pay for that.”

  Ash waved his fingers in a “bring it” motion. “You don’t have the balls. Literally.”

  “The singer isn’t here to help you the way he helped the bitch queen.” The demon slashed, scoring Ash’s stomach lightly. The scratches burned like fire.

  Damn it. The thing had poison claws. Fuck.

  “He’s not alone, dickweed, and you’re toast.” Ash flinched as the sound of Zander Vasilakis’s voice filled his mind. “And guess what? I brought friends.”

  Ash screamed as power flooded through him, nearly driving him to his knees. It was too much, too great, far stronger than anything he’d ever pulled from the forest. It was the whole world, the universe pounding his heart, breathing through his lungs, moving inside him until his mind threatened to break under the strain.

  “No. Not today.” A light touch and Selena was there—holding the power in her delicate hands and whipping it around him like a cloak.

  “Sorr
y.” The power eased enough that Ash could distinguish between his friends, Zander’s voice filled with remorse.

  Zander’s gift, the gift of Air, strengthened the bond between Ash and the rest of the leaders—giving him the ability to sense, and communicate, with each of them.

  They’d come to grant their champion, their Guardian, their power, and Ash couldn’t thank them enough.

  “Take this, and live.” Mollie’s gift was pure energy. Any tiredness he might have felt disappeared under her fiery touch.

  “Remember, Ash. We need you. Don’t die on us.” Rock’s gift was the strength of the mountains, invading his spirit and filling him with resolve. He would not bend, nor break, before the enemy, no matter what it threw at him.

  “More than that, Selena needs you.” Frisco’s gift allowed him to resist the subtle, barely-there pull of the shadow man. He hadn’t realized that the fucker was trying to gain more of a foothold inside him than he already had.

  “You’re the only one who can kick that thing’s ass.” Gideon’s voice was accompanied by a black cloud, glittering with starlight. That cloud surrounded Ash, dripped off his sword with the power of a black witch and coven leader.

  A wolf howled in the distance, and Ash’s physical strength was doubled. His enchanted swords felt lighter than toothpicks. No wonder no one tried to take over Noah’s position. The man could wrap them around a tree with one hand tied behind his back.

  Bark expanded over his chest, forming a thin layer of protection that moved with him, like a living creature. “Go get him, Ash,” Amara’s voice whispered in his ear.

  He blinked, his vision going wonky, a terrible thirst invading him. He could see the demon as if it moved in slow motion. Parker’s voice filled his head. “For, erm, Goddess? Yes, Goddess, and Maggie’s Grove!”

  His wound healed, his brother’s touch familiar and welcome. “Geez, Parker. Way to be enthusiastic.”

  Wings—fucking wings—sprouted on Ash’s back. Dragos’s accented voice whispered through his mind. “Use these to shield you, my friend.”

  Last, and expected the least, Iva’s tired, pain-filled voice filled his head. “Make them pay.”