A Kiss of Ashen Twilight (Ashen Twilight Series #1) (34 page)

“Down at the Ellis’ home. I don’t think you should bother him tonight though.”

“Yeah, tough.”

Raine gestured over his shoulder for his men to turn around.

“Wait! He gave me specific instructions for you to wait here! Come back!” The weasel’s high voice fell into the hall as Raine stomped away. Fire burned his blood. He would get to Blakedon tonight whether he had to fight his way through or not.

* * * *

The three story residential home sat amidst the edge of downtown
Scottsdale
. A row of parked cars remained outside while the owners crowded inside to the massive master bedroom suite. Blakedon walked amongst the crowd with Avery by his side. The boy told him earlier about the meeting and he was ordered to go right away, despite his desire to stay and wait in his office for Raine to report back.

Even though they were in the exclusive home of their leader, Alexandru Drago, he couldn’t figure out what the purpose was—at this time of night, no less.

“Only Blakedon!” The smooth Romanian accent reached outside the bedroom door before he made it to the top of the steps. The Shifter at the door quickly bowed and rushed away.

Blakedon felt Avery’s nervous gaze on him and patted his shoulder with reassurance before continuing to the room.

The large double doors led to an open space room with a high ceiling and a crackling fireplace in the corner. A soft beige carpet gave the room a homey feel that surprisingly calmed him right away.

“Shoes. Take them off.”

Blakedon wondered where the voice was coming from and how its owner knew he still wore his shoes. He quickly removed them and tossed them to the side. Right away, he snapped his fingers and gestured for Avery to do the same.

Straightening out his jacket, Blakedon gathered up his strength and continued in. His mind raced with possibilities and he forced his focus on his surroundings. Ancient furniture decorated the room. A large bed with dark silk covers sat near the wall length window, a shapely woman sat perched on the sheets holding a flute of champagne in her hand. Blakedon took a quick survey of each and every curve of her body before pulling himself away to the man he finally spotted in the corner.

Alexandru Drago stood at medium height. He wasn’t a handsome man by conventional means but he exuded a special something that made him attractive and charming. His body was sturdy yet lean draped in a high tailored black suit. His face was wide with a set of small dark eyes that focused hard on the people in his vicinity. Despite his travels, he retained the old world accent from his home in
Romania
, refusing to give in to what he called “a foreigner’s way of speaking”.

Blakedon bowed to give his respect to one of the older Shifters in existence. “I came as soon as I received the message.”

“I’m sure you did.” Alexandru’s small eyes widened upon seeing Avery at his side.

“My son, Avery.” Blakedon snapped his fingers and the boy quickly gave a bow.

Alexandru’s eyes widened for a moment. A spark gleamed from them as if in recognition before it disappeared just as quickly. “You’ve taught him well over the centuries. Good.” Alexandru walked over to the small bar across the room to fix a drink. “You will need that for the task you will be taking on.”

Blakedon shifted his position. “What, may I ask, is this position?”

The loud clank of ice broke into the room as Alexandru dropped it into the crystal glass.

“You’ve taken on an ambitious task for what our prince has started. I commend you for that,” Alexandru said. “I’ve heard of your previous attempt and I wanted to come down to make sure for myself whether it is true.”

“It is. I managed to harness an elemental power using an outside source,” Blakedon said as he stood straight.
An outside Fairy source.
He stifled a chuckle at how absurd it sounded. It worked, no matter how strange it sounded. And it would surely work again.

Alexandru poured a glass of dark, bronze liquor. “I was there when our prince attempted this matter. Some of my family died in the massacre. I did not leave without taking away a few lessons in gaining power. Considering how you’ve taken this to a whole new level, I think you’ve shown us how capable you are of leading the Southwest.”

Blakedon repeated the words in his mind once more to make sure he was hearing correctly.
Leading the Southwest.
What a nice tone that had to it.

“I’ve been speaking with other Shifters around the area. We’re not as organized as Daoine Oberon, but that matters none. With this creature you will summon, we will be able to overcome him by the numbers and power.”

“That we will,” Blakedon nodded.

“And I want you to lead it. The Shifters who will be brave enough to stand by your side will be the ones to inherit this power to continue our lifespan. I want you to make sure you keep me abreast on all progresses with this elemental.”

Finally he allowed a smile to break upon his face. “Will do, Sir Drago.” Blakedon nodded. He waited for a moment as the older Shifter took a drink, ignoring his presence. Out of the corner of his eye, Avery peered up at him with curiosity.

Assuming the meeting was over, Blakedon turned on his heels toward the door.

“One more thing—”

He froze, stifling a curse in his mind. “Yes?”

“How exactly did you summon this creature?”

Blakedon smiled. “I cannot reveal how at the moment, but I will say that we aren’t the only creatures that roam this Earth. And that will work in our favor once this new elemental has arrived.”

Once that Fairy’s lifeforce is his, Blakedon thought as he exited the large house and walked to his car. He went straight for the front seat of his car and waited for Avery to climb in next to him then buckle his seatbelt. After trial and error of going through her whole family, it was her. Ariya. The youngest of the family, and the one who held the most power for this experiment to work.

“So that’s the oldest Shifter, huh?” Avery finally said. He laughed shaking his head. “Man, I thought that guy was going to massacre us on the spot with his eyes alone.”

“One of the oldest Shifters. He knew Daoine Oberon who would probably be the oldest on record.” Blakedon started the car and turned into the street as a figure stepped in front of the way. He slammed on the break, jolting the car. Blakedon reluctantly pulled the window down as the Shifter tapped on the thin glass of the car.

“What are you insane?” he yelled as he leaned on the car door.

Raine stepped forward with another Shifter behind him. His jaw flexed as he leaned forward. “House attack on the Rens tonight. It was setup. That Fairy led us right into their hands.”

“What happened?”

“Jace Archane was waiting right there to ambush us. His little Fairy whore took out some of our men after she led us into their hands. Any survivors were probably taken, most likely to be interrogated.”

Blakedon slammed his palm against the frame of the door with a curse on his lips.

“Why didn’t you get some reinforcements and take ‘em out back?” Avery said leaning forward.

“Do I look like the armed forces?” Raine scoffed. “I didn’t have a freakin’ team on call, I didn’t have time enough to call for backup before the cops came, and they hightailed it out of there.”

“The cops?” Blakedon said.

Raine nodded. “Sirens everywhere. They must have heard the noise from our little battle.”

Blakedon reached out and grabbed Raine’s collar, pulling him closer so he nearly collided with the frame of the door. “Did they see you?

The lanky Shifter shook his head rapidly. “Naw, they didn’t see us. I’m not an idiot, Blakedon, I know how to keep under their watch or else they’d suspect something.”

He studied Raine’s eyes, careful to notice the subtle movements that protested when he was hiding something. A low growl rumbled through his chest and he felt Raine move back upon hearing it.

Avery slowly backed away in his chair. “Dad?”

With a forceful push, Blakedon freed Raine. “I want you to stay out of the house’s way for now.”

“But Blakedon—”

“Do as I say and lay low. Once the time comes, I’m going to need you to move in on this Fairy so we can finish the job. It’s gone on far too long. You got it?”

Slowly Raine nodded. He opened his mouth to speak but the sound of the car revving up blared out any sound his voice made.

Blakedon slammed his foot on the brakes and continued down the street, leaving the two Shifters alone in the middle of the road.

* * * *

Rich’s home was like the 19th century Victorian gothic homes Ariya saw in books from her studies. It was a white, large two-story house adorned with green glades, French decorated doors and windowpanes. A large green lawn surrounded the front with tall trees to give shade in the summer. It didn’t really matter considering the houses would be relocating Even if they did stay in the shade, it would merely provide a cover and not a dent of relief in hot summer heat.

Jace pocketed the cell phone as the limo pulled up behind a parked line of cars. He left a message on Angel’s answering machine, he was sure she was probably running around with her boys to clear the city. Usually she would answer on the first few rings, welcoming him with some kind of quip to begin their repartee. Perhaps the streets were filled this time of night with feedings from the renegades since most of the houses were at Rich’s celebration party.

“You ready?”

Jace turned to Ariya and noticed she was watching him with sultry dark eyes. He nodded once and slipped out of the limo, turning around to help her out. He couldn’t bring himself to speak much on the ride over. He cursed himself for what he had put her through as he fed on the streetwalker and even more so as he sensed Ariya’s disappointment with him. Deep down he knew it was for her own good. He couldn’t lose himself to her after what happened before she left the last time. After 500 years of living, Jace learned never to get close or else it goes away. And it always fades whether taken from him forcefully or by time itself. It happened to his parents and all the women he ever encountered. That’s why he took what he needed and moved on. Never did he entertain the thought of taking a bride in the house. In fact before Ariya came he was perfectly content with his life of expendable women, parties and all the feedings he could ever want. No one survived his feed before Ariya and he had finally gotten used to the fact.

Now the possibilities of what that implied scared him more than anything.

He told himself he could keep her at a distance while curbing his desire for her. He would just project his feelings elsewhere like with the streetwalker tonight.

All those thoughts left him as his gaze roamed over her warm cocoa body as she stepped from the limo. She was beautiful tonight in her silk corset top and dark skirt. It reminded him of the ladies-in-waiting who would breathe extra hard whenever he passed by, just to make sure their heaving bosoms would catch his wandering gaze. Ariya was different though. There was a certain naiveté she held from the time they met in that fateful alleyway. Something inside told him to wait despite knowing that she would live from the feed.

Feeling her arm slip into his as they walked to the front door, Jace couldn’t help feeling a comfort that was foreign to him for so long. The door swung open as they stepped onto the porch.

Jace’s smile disappeared right away once he saw the tall, blond broad shouldered man towering over him.

“Unfortunately, Rich didn’t tell me of your regrettable appearance at his party,” Vex said before flexing his jaw.

Jace kept his composure as he smiled back. “Well, that makes two of us, considering I’m the one who’s been by his side since before you were born.”