A Kiss of Ashen Twilight (Ashen Twilight Series #1) by Rae Lori Read Free Book Online Page A

clicked the ‘end’ button on his cordless phone and tossed it onto his brown leather couch. He took a peek over his shoulder hoping the noise didn’t awaken the girl. Less than an hour ago he brought her back to rest after he nursed her wounds; but she was resistant to let him remove her dress.
    Fine with him as long as she was comfortable. He wandered into his bedroom where she still slept peacefully. For the first time that evening he got a good look at her in the light. Soft, dark brown skin peeked through the pale lavender dress that was like a cloud of satin ending above her bare feet
    He leaned in to get a closer look at her beautiful, ethereal features.
    A mass of curly, chestnut hair accented her attractive heart-shaped face. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties he guessed, but everything from her scent, to the way his body reacted to her screamed she was immortal. She could be hundreds of years old. Though she wasn’t a Shifter Elf, nor a Lycans, and definitely not a Nightwalker like himself, he couldn’t figure out what she was. The smell of her proved something more metaphysical and indescribably enticing. The power she displayed in the alley proved she was someone who had the ability to either help the houses or harm them.
    Jace inhaled her enticing scent once more. He was tempted to lean in and kiss the full lips of this sleeping beauty yet he didn’t want to disturb her after the stressful night. She appeared peaceful in her rest, not even stirring as he brushed his knuckles against her soft, dark cheek. Interesting . Her warm body didn’t even react to his cold touch.
    Jace had many lovers over his long lifetime. Most of which were beautiful, charming and very influential in their high societies. None of them, however, matched the woman sleeping before him. Why did this woman stand out to him?
    Gently, he caressed her forehead as he focused on reaching the inner depths of her mind. Her smooth forehead furrowed in that instant and she gently stirred with a moan. Blurred images covered his mind and he felt like a brick wall pushed up against his brain.
    Jace broke the telepathic connection and took a few deep breaths. The girl was obviously hiding something. He lifted his head to check the red digital clock on the end table next to his bed. 1:03 a.m. Dawn would be upon them soon. If he was to get one last feed in for the night, the time would have to be now.
    He hoped the mysterious girl would remain asleep for most of the day. On the way to the kitchen, he left her to rest as the unanswered questions remained in his mind.
    * * * *
    Avery gently stroked his brethren’s matted fur, splattered red with blood. His own blood boiled and his skin was on fire as he looked across the corpses of their still bodies. He cursed Jace Archane for interfering on their turf, and their plans. The almighty elite of the Ashen Twilight House thought he had the right for this massacre. Now it was free reign for retaliation. If this ceremony worked as planned there would be no more Ashen Twilight House and the mortals would be a feast for their pleasure.
    “Chase, Kason, Ralphie and Billy are down.”
    Avery peered up at his assistant, Raine, who pushed away a strand of shaggy hair from his eyes. “Good thing they changed from human form or else we’d have a Shifter hunt on our hands,” Avery said.
    “Humans wouldn’t know what they were anyway,” Raine mumbled. “Pathetic wastes of flesh and good blood. They still believe they’re on top of the food chain.”
    “Can’t risk it either way.” Avery stood and began to collect the dead carcasses while Raine looked around
    His lanky body looked like a wavy noodle as he leaned back to take in the scene. “She really did a number on them.”
    “What makes you think it was just her and not Archane helping her out?”
    “Blakedon said she had the most power, right? Unless she’s as dim as she is hot, I can see her wiping out the Shifters left and right,