A Kiss of Ashen Twilight (Ashen Twilight Series #1) (29 page)

“Good.” Julian headed back to the door when he stopped and turned. “Oh, and welcome back.”

Once he left, Ariya couldn’t help smiling as she went to Jace. “Did something happen while I was gone?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, is that the same Julian?”

Jace chuckled as he walked to the door. As she wrapped his arms around Ariya, he couldn’t help wondering the same thing.

* * * *

Later that night, Jace held the door open for Ariya as she stepped through the threshold. He closed the door behind her, but she almost didn’t hear it as something else caught her eyes. Pushed back in the corner of the living room was something she hadn’t seen before. An extravagant sturdy wood framed easel against the wall holding a large cotton duck canvas with a large white blanket draped over it on the opposite side. Jace remained behind her. She felt his eyes watching; was he waiting for her to discover the piece? She circled the easel and when she laid her eyes upon it, she gasped and clutched her hand over her mouth. A beautiful picture perfect rendition of her image was depicted in extravagant color. From her long dark chocolate curly hair, to her dark brown complexion and the innocence of her brown eyes, she saw herself the way Jace saw her. A tear fell from her eye and there were no words that crossed her mind or fell from lips.

Jace appeared beside her, his gaze darting from her to the image. “The night you left I promised myself if I were to forget you in my mind’s eye, I would always have a picture to remind myself of you. And to keep you immortal in this realm as the days went on. But I couldn’t forget you no matter how hard I wanted to. When I saw that ring on the dresser—”

She turned to him and immediately wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. “Jace, please. I had my reasons for leaving that ring. It wasn’t time. We couldn’t know what would happen—”

He reached down to gently cover her mouth with his fingers. “Shh. I understand. We have some time to talk about that in the days ahead. For now I have to go get something to eat before the night is over.”

“Will you not stay here? You’ve shared your home with me and you’ve fed from me before. Why not now?”

“You know my flaw, Ariya. I don’t want to put you in that kind of danger.”

She shook her head. “There was no danger before, Jace. I was perfectly well after you fed.”

“Even so, it’s not something I want to risk.” He cradled her face in his hands. “Please trust me on this?”

She forced a smile, feeling his gentle kiss upon her forehead before he moved toward the front door.

Thinking over the past few hours and what they had deduced, her thoughts fell on Julian and the way he looked at her. Her nerves were gone now and perhaps she wasn’t crazy in what she saw earlier before in the daytime. Maybe it wasn’t even Julian at all. “Jace—”

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him stop and turn to face her.

“I think I may have seen Julian earlier today.”

Jace’s shoulders tensed as he lifted his chin. “When?”

“This afternoon he was standing out on the terrace—”

Jace quickly stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “Wait a minute. You saw Julian during the day?”

Ariya nodded slowly. “I didn’t think it was him at first until I looked closer. I could have been wrong.” She tried to ignore the sharp sting in her heart she felt whenever she stretched the truth a little. She
knew
it was Julian the moment he looked right at her. The one thing she didn’t know was the “how’s” and the “why’s” of it happening. “I didn’t want to say anything back there for fear he would read my thoughts. He may not have wanted anyone to know.”

“Ariya, it couldn’t have been—”

“Who, Jace? Who else could it have been?”

“How was Julian able to walk in the day?”

Ariya shrugged. “I’m not sure exactly. It could’ve been the power of the first elemental. Remember your uncle, Daoine and Michael all absorbed it that night. That was the same night it infected the mortals. And if it’s true that the elemental absorbs power then they could’ve absorbed the mortal’s ability to withstand the sun.”

Jace shifted his weight. “Well, if that’s true I hope he hasn’t absorbed their faults as well.”

“Maybe—But maybe not, considering it was the same creature to attack my friends and family. If it really did integrate itself into him, then he should have our powers as well.”

Jace sighed and held up his hands. “Either way, we can probably figure this out later. I’m too tired from a wild night as is.”

“You don’t have to go out to eat, you know.” She smiled. “What about the bottles in the fridge?”

Jace frowned and shook his head. “Sometimes a guy needs a change of pace, you know. New blood and all that.”

Ariya nodded, trying to ignore the nagging disappointment tugging at her nerves. “Where are you going to sleep when you get back?”

He slipped on his jacket and pointed to the couch nonchalantly. “Over there is as good as it always was.”

“Well,” she batted her eyes and softened her voice, hoping he would catch her hint. “Your bed is pretty big as I recall.”

He turned toward the couch. “It’s not a problem, really. I can just close the blinds to keep the sun out during the day.”

“Yeah but still—” She stopped to study the look in his eyes. “Are you uncomfortable with me being here?”

Jace shrugged and smiled. “Why do you ask?”

“I guess the way you were earlier. Pushing me away. It’s as if you weren’t sure how to feel with me around.”

Jace walked back to her and looked down into her eyes as he cradled her soft face in his hands again. “I just need to go out for a little while, okay? You stay here and rest. I promise I’ll be back before you awaken.”

With that, he walked to the door. Once he placed his hand on the doorknob, he peered at her over his shoulder. She wondered if part of him really wanted to leave, or stay here with her.

“Don’t worry,” Ariya said with a smile. “I’m not going anywhere this time.”

Jace chuckled then took his leave, closing the door behind him.

* * * *

Hearing the door slam, Ariya wished deep down he would turn around, change his mind and come back. She didn’t know why she wished him to stay and feed upon her. The act was merely a way for him and the other Nightwalkers to survive. The memory of him with Shelly brought an acidic feeling within her stomach. She couldn’t verbalize it, but she knew she wanted to share that with him. She wished even more that he wanted to share it with her. After all, the kiss he shared with her earlier had to mean something based on the passion that coursed through their bodies. Ariya sighed and shook her head. She never met a man before who was passionate one minute and closed off the next.

Pushing the issue aside for now, she turned and started toward the bedroom to change. Now wasn’t the time to address such issues. She still felt Jace’s presence hadn’t faded as the physical distance between them grew and that was pleasant enough for now. It was then she realized he was still standing outside the door, perhaps sensing her thoughts and feelings at the same exact moment.
Did he feel the same way?

She started toward the door, wondering if he remained for a reason. As she closed in on it, she felt him jolt to life as if noticing her presence closing in on him. Seconds later, he started down the hall, leaving her to herself.

With the questions in her mind she changed for the night and climbed back into his bed. She didn’t realize how tired she was once she climbed in. Mmm—warm and comfortable. As perfect as she remembered. She snuggled up under the covers and sighed to clear her mind. Thoughts of Jace painting the portrait filled her thoughts as she felt her body relax. As she was about to fall asleep, she sensed something down in the corner behind his bed stand. Slowly she climbed out of the bed, gingerly reached behind the stand to grab a shimmering object. Right away she recognized the shiny metal; the Claddagh ring. The same one Jace’s mother had given him.
Where was the other one?

She bent down, carefully searching the floor for the shiny metal. She ran her hand underneath the bed, dressers and tables but there was no sign of the ring. With a soft exhale, she stood and went to the dresser.

Ariya gently carried the ring in her open palm as if it were made of glass. She set it down next the miniature trebuchet. A small glint caught her eye behind the other trinkets. She pushed them aside to reveal her ring sitting idly next to an old sword sculpture. With a smile, she pulled the two rings together before climbing back into bed and falling into waiting sleep.

* * * *

Jace stepped out into the night and stuffed his hands in his pocket. Part of him wanted to go back to her the more he felt her presence on the other end of the door. The stronger part of him reminded himself that he didn’t survive for centuries giving into his feelings so easily. True, he couldn’t drink from mortals the other night and in part it was because all he could think of was her.

You’ve shared your home with me and you’ve fed from me before. Why not now?

Why not now, indeed? He knew he shouldn’t uproot his lifestyle just for her, no matter how much he felt for her.

He’d lived centuries before he knew her and he’d taken many women during that time. How could he let himself go so easily like that?

Jace cursed himself for falling so hard. Ariya had awakened something deep within him that he thought was long forgotten; the ability to love and to care about another in a way that transcended mere survival and lust. The life of an immortal made everything and everyone disposable, perhaps he had forgotten to treasure the emotion of love.

Or perhaps this was the first time he had come anywhere close to it.

The notion sent chills down his spine and he tried to push the thoughts away.

He peeled his gaze away from the ground and realized he had reached the corner of his block. The air was rather silent in his suburban neighborhood with hardly any cars passing through. He was thankful. The primal hunger that haunted him had slightly receded, yet still remained.

A car revved up in the distance preparing to zoom by. He checked his watch: 4 a.m. Usually, just about time for a good late night drag race. Perfect for late night partiers looking for a thrill. Bad for late night walkers like himself who indulged in the quiet calm. The distant car’s engine roared combined with howling screams from the riders. They drove by and he caught sight of the passenger hanging halfway out the car, screaming into the night. He had to wonder if he was ever that young and wild. Or perhaps he never had a chance to live such a whimsical existence throughout all the wars he faced with his family. One century led to another’s strive for survival for both mortal and immortal cause.

Jace started to turn the corner when he spotted the car pulling into a nearby driveway of a packed house. Loud music and bright lights signaled it was party central.
Was it Friday night already?
With a smile, he started toward the house to get a glimpse of the partygoers. As he moved closer, he couldn’t help sensing the faint scent of immortal blood mixed with human.
Where was that coming from?
He surveyed the area but all remained still, quiet and empty. As he got closer to the house the scent grew stronger until he stepped through the open door and into the crowded living room.

“Heeyyy.”

Jace turned to look at a young college girl wearing a short top that bared her belly button and a short skirt that could double as a tube top. He merely smiled as a courtesy and continued past a crowd of bodies talking and dancing. Every nerve in his body told him to stay on alert as the smell grew stronger. For a moment he realized he shouldn’t be here for fear of running into his students, but his youthful appearance and low key wardrobe would serve as a blessing to help him blend in with the youth of today. At least that’s what he told himself. If they did find him here, they would probably run and hide in another room. Another blessing on his part.