A Kiss of Ashen Twilight (Ashen Twilight Series #1)
A Kiss of Ashen Twilight
Ashen Twilight Series Book One
by
Rae Lori
Blurb
Haunted by dreams of a mysterious yet seductive figure, Ariya awakens to a more dangerous nightmare: a vicious elemental creature nearly wiping out her entire family outside her bedroom doors. Her parents urge her to cross over into the mortal realm and there she is saved from another attack against strange shifter wolves. Her rescuer is Jace Archane, an immortal Nightwalker from the House of Blood within the Ashen Twilight House. The very same man from her dreams. Jace and Ariya's attraction to each other is evident. Yet Jace is reluctant to lower his guard, having spent lifetimes coming to terms with death's curse in his Nightwalker form: everyone he feeds from dies. Ariya is undeterred by his fear of contact and despite his attempts at distance himself, she remains by his side in a desperate bid to stay safe and near to Jace. Now the elemental has followed her. When a woman of the House of Blood is murdered after leaving Jace's home the fight is brought to the doorstep of the Ashen Twilight House.
Now the race is on to find out the origins of the elemental creature and stop the horrific killing spree. As they dig deeper into the mystery, they will uncover a truth that ties the elemental's origins to a forgotten ally with plans to overthrow the Archane legacy and obtain Ariya's fairy blood fueling an immortal thirst for power.
High Praise for
Rae Lori and
A Kiss of Ashen Twilight
"With two strong lead characters, a nice plot and a good writing style this could turn into a
fascinating series."
"This is one novel that I could not put down because there was so much action and emotion
going on between all the characters that held me captivated."
Phoebe Jordan, Talk About My Favorite Authors
"Loaded with action this fabulous tale enthralls you from the beginning. Fascinating characters
from Vampires to Shifter Elves are cleverly set up with a plot that is full of twists and turns....
An exceptional read."
"...this first book in the series is a fun and imaginative voyage and a promising start to a new
series."
Doug Knipe, Sci-Fi Guy
“a well-written, intricate story. Ms. Lori’s descriptions are vivid and beautiful, evoking images in my mind that were like watching a movie as I read it.”
A Kiss of Ashen Twilight
Copyright
© 2009 Rae Lori
A RavenFire Books Production
For information on the cover illustration and design, contact
[email protected]
Cover art
by Rae Lori
Editor:
Stephanie McGrath:
http://thewordfairy.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Second Electronic Edition: January 2010
As an avid reader myself, I want to lose myself in a great book with fascinating characters working through conflicts both big and small. There’s something magical about getting to know characters for the first time (and eventually through the next book in the series) that sucks me in. As I was growing up, this experience made me want to create the same for the next generation of readers.
So to all my readers out there checking out this story, I hope you enjoy it.
For all the vampire aficionados, sci-fi and fantasy readers out there. I hope you enjoy this series.
A special thanks to my editor Stephanie McGrath for all her hard work on helping me strengthen the manuscript, her fun uplifting emails to make the work fun and for sharing her love of vampires, fairies and all that is speculative (especially the radio dramas). You’re the best and this series wouldn’t be the same without you!
I’d also like to thank Lee M., Zaynah M., Natalie O. and Sandi S. for all their help and support in navigating this crazy business.
A big thanks to my crit group RAH for all of your wonderful suggestions and feedback on helping me make the story tip top for submission.
Rebecca G., Z and everyone.
A big appreciative hug to Faith, Melissa, M.E., Tony S., ‘Nate/Jamys’, ‘Skip’ and ‘DJ’ for being so supportive of my work and writing.
Special thanks to my family for being there for me through all the times I disappeared into the writing cave. And to my readers for the emails and for looking forward to each of my releases. I hope you enjoy the new stories.
Prologue
Wallachia, a region within the
Balkan Mountains
- 1461
D
ecay.
The smell was enough to rot the heart of the noblest man. The idea of death is never the same as laying one’s eyes upon its evidence. Jacinus Aurelius Archane had heard victorious stories of his father and uncle in war. His heart swelled and his pulse raced at the elaborate narratives and near deaths in fighting the enemies that dared to take their freedom.
It was nothing like the scene that lay before him.
Massive green valleys of large mountains surrounded them, reminding him of home among the rolling hills of the
Highland
mountains. His heightened senses picked up the sharp taste and smell of salt water from the other side of the castle where the steep hillside led down to the
Arges
River
. A passage led along the back end of the castle allowing them entrance under the soldiers’ eyes.
The castle was situated on the steep hill of the nearest mountain filled with the piercing cries of soldiers battling and falling over the stone walls to their deaths. In the distance, metal clashed against metal in a chorus of sword battles. Vicious grunts and various bodies falling to the ground thudded into the air soon after. It was then something else caught his eye. His gaze veered down to the display in the middle of the road; men and women impaled upon stakes erupting from the ground. The scent of blood and decay turned Jace’s stomach and sent shocks of pain straight to his heart. This was how the enemies were taken care of. Those who dared to defy the prince within the city and those who sided with the enemy would suffer just one of his many forms of torture.
“Our people aren’t among those poor souls,” came a voice from behind him.
Jace turned to face the tall, pale figure draped in blue robes. Daoine Oberon. It was upon his proposal that they came to these lands and it was his ability to shape-shift into a large eagle, allowing them right of entry from
Scotland
—across the Celtic and the Mediterranean seas—to the Balkans. Now Jace stood with Daoine in his human form. Jace’s father and uncle stood on either side of him, dressed in full plaids and armor. Their swords remained at their sides and he didn’t have to look at their faces to feel the shock at what stood before them.
“The monster that caused these atrocities,” Jace said, gritting his teeth and gripping the hilt of his sword tighter. “Is he the same that holds our people? Draining them to their death?”
“Yes, Jacinus,” Daoine’s soft voice was calm. “It is he.”
Jace focused his gaze up toward the castle surrounded by soldiers battling in chainmail armor. The prince’s soldiers.
The Son of the Dragon
. His enhanced vision focused on the small emblems on the shiny silver armor of the Wallachian soldiers. A dragon, with its wings extended, hung on the sculpted relief of a cross. His very name meant son of the dragon, a title symbolizing the continuity of his father’s legacy over their round of knights within The Order. Another war of freedom was fought as the Wallachians engaged in a war with Ottomans. The Ottoman Empire’s flag, bright red with the yellow crest of a moon and star in the middle, clashed with that of Wallachia’s, a yellow flag with a black raven atop a green juniper branch holding a silver and gold cross in its beak.
Jace wasn’t here to choose sides. Like Daoine told them, they were here to free their own people from the prince’s tortuous hold. He just hoped it wasn’t too late.
“We will end this now!” The words left Jace’s mouth moments before he sprinted up to the massive, steep hill of greenery toward the Wallachian castle of stone.