A Kiss of Ashen Twilight (Ashen Twilight Series #1) (21 page)

BOOK: A Kiss of Ashen Twilight (Ashen Twilight Series #1)
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“Did I miss the party?” He said holding his hands out.

Ariya stood to the side and watched with interest as Jace, Rich and Gael took turns greeting each other. It was a ritual she hadn’t quite seen before, but it reminded her of a dance between brothers. Shake hands, pull each other into a half hug, lock arms and pat each other’s backs. Fascinating.

“Ariya, looks like Rich help spread the word for us. I’m pleased to introduce Gael Almadovar. Shifter Elf and the third end of our musketeer trio.”

Ariya held out her hand to shake his and was surprised when he turned it over and brought it up to his lips in a gentle kiss.

“Charmed, I’m sure.” His smooth accent, a sultry mix of cultures, sent a tingle throughout her body.

Ariya couldn’t help smiling widely and she knew her dark cocoa cheeks tinted with a shade of red in that moment.

“Well now,” Jace said grinning as he moved in between them. “I suppose we should get to work.”

“Any idea how we’re going to take this thing out?” Gael leaned back against his car.

Ariya stepped forward in front of the three. “Jace was thinking maybe we can call it.”

“Call it?” Rich shifted his weight on his other foot. “How would we do that?”

“By our energies.” Ariya looked up at the clear blackened night absent of the twinkling stars that always spellbound her. The streets were eerily silent on this fair
Arizona
night. A freeway loomed nearby though it was far enough away not to be heard. Spots of light hung around the open desert, yet not enough to shine on their area and draw attention. She was thankful for the peace, although she still felt nervous about how to seek help if they needed it. Thankfully the boys had those traveling phones to call for help. If anyone would come for them, that is. Ariya wasn’t sure if Julian got the message Jace left earlier. She only had sheer hope to cling to if things got out of hand. The elements of nature remained still, as if in anticipation for the oncoming moments.

Ariya took a breath and knew her time had come. She slowly walked out to the middle of the open road and waited. She wasn’t quite sure what to do or how to get things started. Feeling their time slipping away each moment, she turned back to Jace, Gael and Rich standing against their sports cars.

“I’m not sure how to start this,” Ariya said over her shoulder.

Jace pushed off the car and walked to her, the sound of gravel and stone crunched under his thick, shiny shoes. Without a word, he immediately wrapped his arm around her torso. With his free hand, he caressed her face as he tried to calm her down with the soft look in his eyes.

I’m afraid.

Don’t be. Just trust me now. I’m here for you.

Gently he pulled her close into a soft kiss. Ariya’s body trembled as she finally felt the impact of his lips upon hers. It was the sweetest kiss she had ever received. Her hands snaked around his neck, holding him close. She felt his arms around her side, pulling her toward the hardness of his body. The soft silky strands of his wavy hair covered her fingertips while her other hand dipped down to the hard ridges of his torso. She could stay here forever, surrendering to his hungry mouth and tongue that caressed her eager lips. She couldn’t help giggling faintly once the kiss broke.

“Are you confessing personal feelings or just trying to put on a show for the entity?”

* * * *

Jace didn’t crack a smile. One strong arm held her close while the other caressed her warm cheek with the back of his hand. He had teetered on the edge before, of both death and of falling in love, but never had he wanted to fight so hard to stay alive, and at the same time be so willing to give himself to save Ariya. She was the first woman to ever travel near his heart. Most women he would have for a night and move on, content with the idea of not getting close to anyone. Yet he felt things changing since Ariya arrived. Even though he tried to fight it, he felt close to her and even more protective as the time for the battle for her survival grew near.

“You don’t have to do this, you know,” she said softly.

Jace caressed her cheek, cradling it as he peered into her dark eyes. “Yeah, I do,” he nodded slowly. “It’s something I should have done some time ago when I had the chance. I didn’t because I wanted to protect you and maybe protect myself.” His thumb tenderly caressed her cheek. “Ariya I—” What did he want to say? How he felt? He couldn’t even get a handle on that himself. Before he could open his mouth to answer, he felt movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to follow it as he held Ariya tighter in his arms.

* * * *

A swirl of light raced across the sky in the distance. Ariya felt the movement but she wanted to hold on to Jace’s gaze, his comforting touch spreading from his body to hers for as long as possible. She needed the strength to get through this and then maybe she could leave it all behind once she went back. She tried to seal Jace’s visage in her mind, the way his pale complexion contrasted against the dark night sky. His wavy brown locks framing his handsome strong features as he leaned down toward her. Then she could leave it all behind and let him return to his life while she returned to hers. It was a promise she hoped her mind, and her heart, would keep.

A few feet away, Rich tilted his head up toward the light and nudged Gael next to him. The dark desert area around them illuminated in a shadowy misty white light.

“Uh, guys?” Rich said, catching Ariya and Jace’s attention. “I think your little plan is working. Looks like it’s circling the area.”

Jace turned back to Ariya. “Tell me how you feel.”

Ariya’s mouth hovered open with the anticipation of the words that lingered on her tongue. She couldn’t decipher her own feelings much less voice them. Besides, what if she were to become another one of his disposal women? She couldn’t bear the idea of being treated in such a way. Despite the rapid beating of her heart and her mind rushing a thousand miles a minute, she tried to think of an answer.

“Jace—I—”

Ariya felt the energy rising within her, illuminating a bright glow of light straight from her body. She felt alive and energized like never before.

As she looked down, her eyes widened with the realization that something was wrapping itself around her like a snake enfolding its prey.

“Jace!” her words were stifled as she was hauled off the ground and into the air.

Rich took no time as his human form melted away into a large wolf-like bipedal Lycan, growling and ready to fight. Not a breath passed before Gael transformed into a large eagle and, with a beam of light, he broke from his falling clothes and headed straight for Ariya.

Jace was ready with his claws sharpened and elongated, his fangs protruding proudly with a warning. He leaped off the ground and into the air toward Ariya. Gael clipped his beak on Jace’s collar and hauled him into the air toward Ariya. As they got closer, Jace spotted a form within the mass of energy holding her. Angry sharp claws amidst a demonic face of jagged fire and red horns were prominent and yet still indecipherable if seen as a whole image. Within the blur was pain, suffering and death, spreading across lands. An omen. Another face appeared. A man with sleek, dark hair and a strong square jaw with a timeless European visage. Tiny indentations in the skin cornered his face and right away he could imagine him during his time in 15th century when they lived among the vast green lands in
Inverness
.
Did he know this man? Why now did the image of this particular face, time and space pop into the cloud?

“You want someone to fight? Fight me!” Jace’s voice broke into her mind. His voice combined with an underlying growl. Gael descended so Jace could wrap himself around the elemental. He tried with all his might to absorb all of its energy away, use his talents like his Uncle had taught him. The power of ‘psychic vampires’, as the mortals called them, but the ability was available to all Nightwalkers if they focused hard enough. Gael flew nearby, expounding bolts of sonic fire from his beak hitting the elemental. The creature groaned in response with each bolt it took. Jace held on as much as he could, feeling the creature turn his attention to him.

Suddenly, his cold body warmed and combusted into a giant flame. With an ear piercing yell, he fell away like a ball of brush fire against the warm wind.

“Jace, no!” Ariya turned her head, struggling as she screamed. She felt her strength disintegrating but still she couldn’t turn away as she willed Jace to live. “Rich! Get him!”

She sent all her power to push the elemental away. Gael fired off a streak of ice from his beak, sending it right into the elemental. Its rippling body retracted with a loud rumble before it expanded and formed a ripple of an arm to knock Gael away with a hard smack.

“No!” Ariya felt helpless as the large eagle fell away and out of her view. It was up to her now. She had to stop this creature before it hurt anymore of her friends. The line had to be drawn here and now.

Ariya forced herself not to get distracted and take her eyes off the creature no matter how desperately she wanted to look and see if Jace and Gael were okay.
They had to be okay.
She would make this creature pay with more than its life. She forced her way through its hold to bare her hands to send another force of sonic energy toward it. Right away it absorbed all of the power she sent and, for a moment, she was home again feeling the comfort of her sisters and parents. It was as if their lifeforces surrounded her in comforting warmth. Then, just as it came, it went. The elemental released an outer shockwave of its force, pushing her body away and down toward the ground.

Pain shot throughout her entire body as she was completely drained while freefalling through the air.
This must be how Shelly felt when she died.
Ariya concentrated as her wings flared to life, battling the G-force of gravity that pulled her rapidly toward the desert gravel. She tried to rise, fighting against the air but her wings felt damaged from the elemental’s hold. With the last strength she had, she slowed her flapping wings and raised her hands calling a shockwave of air between her and the ground. Slowly her body eased down as she continued to descend. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Jace on fire, the flames slowly dying on his body as Rich and Gael used their jackets to put it out. Ariya finally took a breath once her feet hit the ground.

How were they going to destroy this thing?
They needed much more energy than they had at the moment and, from the looks of them, everyone was already worn down. Ariya felt her heart sink as the dying flame consumed Jace’s body. He roared like a pained, caged animal and his voice echoed throughout the surrounding air.

Ariya went to Jace, her dragging steps quickly turning into a full on run. Each movement pained her but the adrenaline overtook her body with a will to reach him.

“Ariya! Get down!” Gael’s voice invaded her ears. She didn’t see what was happening behind her, but she dove down and felt the whoosh of wind over her head. She looked up again to see the ripple of air waves just ahead in the distance.

On the ground right below the creature, a line of cars pulled up to the scene. The front car, a black
Lincoln
, came to a screeching halt in front of the line. Two figures jumped out of the back seat with a blanket ready to throw on Jace’s body.

Julian stepped from the
Lincoln
, removing his black leather gloves from his long, pale hands. His dark eyes focused on the creature as he walked toward it. A strength and quiet will was expressed in his steady eyes and clenched jaw. Michael, already standing more than seven feet tall in his full Lycans form, stood at his side. Behind them a massive band of Nightwalkers, Lycans and Shifter Elves filled the area; a crowd big enough to fill a small town.

Julian held out his hands and, although the energy was invisible, Ariya felt her body draining of its lifeforce before she was completely reenergized with the strength of the houses combining their powers as one.

A strong metaphysical force echoed throughout the area. Ariya looked up to watch the houses standing as one powerful force that slowly overcame the elemental. Jace was right. They couldn’t do it alone.

The creature’s rippling form growled and writhed within the air as it descended down toward Julian and the others. The energy from all the houses seemed to be working to overcome the elemental’s power. Psychic vampires. Ariya thought she heard the words in a flash as she felt Jace’s thoughts just minutes ago. Could it be dying by the strength of their energy and their blood at the same time combined with the Lycans and Shifter Elves? After all, from what he told her, they were the undead and the elemental had infected the mortals with some sort of preternatural virus to get the house’s attention. Perhaps that was its fatal mistake. She watched as its end formed into a funnel, reaching out toward the Ashen Twilight House. Deep down, Ariya hoped the error of its attack on the mortals would hit it then in its last dying breath.

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