Dark Siren

by Ashley, Eden

  When they broke apart, Gabriel lunged. All twelve hundred pounds of disfigured flesh were aimed to crush the wolf. The wolf yielded to the brutish impact. And when the moment was right, iron-muscled hindquarters fired into action. Gabriel found himself careening through the air once more. The earth shook when he landed, vibrations reaching the tops of the tallest trees. Gabriel was slow to get up. And he did not attack. Banewolf smelled two more Warekin closing in. No doubt, Gabriel smelled them too.

  With one final, longing gaze, Gabriel spoke to the white wolf. It was a guttural sound, a rasping tremor that should not have formed in an animal’s throat.

  We’ll meet again.

  Turning, Gabriel quickly disappeared into the night.

  Banewolf watched the retreat. On the inside, Rhane was clinging to consciousness. Somehow, Kalista had forced the transformation. But the fight was over. The adrenaline was burned. And Rhane could barely stand. Collapsing heavily onto Banewolf’s haunches, he lifted the wolf’s great head to see her.

  Her gray fire dulled to a warm glow. The darkness consuming her eyes all but vanished. The rain stopped. Her eyes closed.

  Kalista sank to her knees, and Banewolf’s legs gave way. Rhane filled his eyes with the sight of his siren—dark and beautiful and wild.

  And then she, and everything else, was gone.

  Chapter 63

  Kali slowly came to. Someone’s head floated above hers. And very odd eyes watched her with keen interest. But for the blue irises and white lashes that surround them, the orbs could have belonged to Rhane. She sat up and immediately regretted it as a wave of dizziness threatened to make her puke.

  The man who kneeled next to her didn’t appear concerned. His eyes were cold, harsh even. For a split second, Kali wondered if it was Gabriel in human form. Her face must have expressed fear because the man spoke. “You have nothing to fear from me.” He turned to look over his shoulder.

  Kali tried to get to her feet, but only managed to reach her knees. The gaze of burning ice found its way back to her. She ignored the strange man. She could only think of one person. As if reading her thoughts, the stranger moved. And Kali saw him. He was a motionless form on an earth saturated in red. York, War, and Orrin all stood nearby, not moving. Varying degrees of blame, anger, and disgust weighed in their expressions. None of them would meet her eyes. Kali felt ashamed. Compared to them, the harsh stare of the white haired stranger were almost welcome.

  “My brother is dead,” the stranger said.

  Kali felt something shatter inside of her. Something that would never return.

  “Our laws demand justice for this loss.” He looked behind him again. The others had not moved. “For his memory we will spare what he loved. But you must run.”

  She stood up. “Please…let me stay with him.” Rhane. She couldn’t believe he was gone. After everything. She sobbed, but buried the wail of anguish that threatened to tear from her throat and never end.

  The blue-eyed man rose in a flash of movement. And Kali saw the sword in his hands, gleaming even in darkness. The man’s eyes weren’t just cold. They were dead. Dead like Rhane.

  “Do not go home. If we meet again, you will die.” He pointed to her father. “And Greg will die. Your entire family will die. Go. Now.”

  She had no choice. With one final glance at each of their stony faces…Kali turned and ran.

  #

  Epilogue

  Callan’s long body was stretched out on the supple leather of his white sofa. He slept lightly with every thought and dream eventually drifting to Kali. He stirred as a chill entered the room, dropping the temperature steadily. A shiver rippled through him. Cal awoke.

  The cold air seemed to flow from the direction of the bedroom. Cal frowned. He was certain he hadn’t left a window open. Rising from the couch warily, he crossed to the short hallway in darkness. He had lived in the apartment for several years and knew the exact whereabouts of every piece of furniture and door-jamb, never so much as stubbing his toe in a two a.m. trip to the bathroom.

  But as he entered his bedroom, Cal hesitated. Something wasn’t right. Fine hairs at the back of his neck stood on end. The window was open. And it explained the cold and the breeze. But Cal was certain that something else was there. Something was inside the room with him. He felt rather than saw it watching him from the corner, patient but hungrily waiting.

  He considered reaching for the light but stopped. “I know you’re in here. Come out now, before I call the cops.” The darkness sighed in answer. Cal’s weak human eyes outlined the hunkered shape shifting slightly. He swallowed the lump in his throat. “What do you want?”

  The thing spoke. Cal reeled, stunned by the quality of its voice, like serrated knives against rough granite. What do you want?

  Summoned by the creature, images of Kali poured into his mind. Her laughter, her body, and her lips appeared before him as clear as the day. Cal’s hands curled into fists. “Don’t you dare go near her.”

  The images changed. Instead of Kali, the thing in the darkness showed Cal someone else. It was the imposing stranger, the guy with the weird eyes who had taken away the girl he loved. The shadow lured him closer.

  “I don’t understand.”

  The creature’s answer grated into Cal’s head. Have all you want and more. I will give you her. And I will give you power.

  “And what would I have to give you?”

  Gabriel stood, revealing himself. His immense form filled the room. Both shoulders remained hunched, unable to straighten beneath the low ceiling. A thin web of moonlight filtered in through the window, reflecting eerily upon his leathery gray hide. Cal was terrified. But what the creature offered lessened his fear, appealing to some darkness in Cal’s nature the boy hadn’t known existed. He took another step. The step put him closer to Gabriel, too close to turn back.

  “I said… what do I have to give you?”

  It had gotten so cold. Cal’s breath came out in white puffs. But he barely noticed. The creature moved toward him, lowering its massive head to meet the boy’s face. Cal didn’t flinch away.

  Gabriel finally answered. Your soul.

  THE END

  Author Bio

  EDEN ASHLEY was born and raised in a small sunny town in South Carolina. But it’s the summer thunderstorms that have inspired her best ideas. When she’s not writing, there are few things she loves more than curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee on a rainy day, (except maybe chocolate cake. She loves cake.) often reading into the wee hours of morning when something really grabs her. Dark Siren is her first novel. Don’t miss the reunion. Get the thrilling sequel, Banewolf, in 2014!

  Join Eden Ashley’s website at http://edenbynite.blogspot.com and get the latest news on Dark Siren and the upcoming sequel.

  If you loved Dark Siren, like Eden Ashley on Facebook to get news about the paperback release (which will include a three chapter excerpt of the sequel) and to see the unveiling of Banewolf’s cover! https://www.facebook.com/EdenAshleyAuthor

  Aspiring writer? Follow Eden Ashley on Twitter: Eden_byNite, for writing tips, publishing help, and daily updates.

  To Pixie

  You were mean. You were patient. You were overly critical. You made me spend an entire year rewriting this book.

  In short, you were everything this story needed.

  Love you to the moon!