by S. K. Yule
Alaina huffed in irritation waving her hand as if his words didn’t matter or register. “It’s simple really darling. I’m willing to spare her if you agree to my terms.”
“And what would those be?”
She strutted back to where she was standing when he first came in and placed her hands on her hips. “You come here and live with me. Once you realize that we were meant to be, we’ll go back to your place and live where we will put into action plans to make you king of our kind. Once that happens, I will be your queen and we will have control beyond our wildest dreams.”
“You are freaking crazy. I don’t want to be king of our kind. We’ve never had a king and I doubt our kind would ever allow there to be one. It’s not possible. Also, have you ever considered the huge holes in your plans if legends about Ragnar are true? Do you honestly believe he would ever allow anyone to rule our kind?” Alaina began fidgeting in obvious agitation.
“Oh come on. No one has ever seen Ragnar and we all know he is just that, a legend. I mean do you think if he were real none of our kind would have ever laid eyes upon him? He has supposedly been around for what, five thousand or more years now? That is just trivial bullshit that doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
“It doesn’t matter anyway. It wouldn’t work. It’s simply ridiculous and I won’t allow Ebony to be hurt by this nonsense.”
“I cannot believe after everything that I’ve done for you that you would choose this loser human over me. I hadn’t planned on hurting her at all, but I’m beginning to wonder if that’s the only way to get your cooperation.”
Ashe roared and Alaina shrank back in terror. “What you’ve done for me! What the hell have you done for me other than torment the hell out of me and harass and threaten the one thing in this world that means most to me?”
“But, I just wanted—”
“Just shut up! I’ve had enough of this shit! I cannot believe even you would do something like this.” He glanced at Ebony. “Don’t worry baby. Everything’s going to be okay.”
Chapter Sixteen
A piercing screech tore through the air effectively ending the argument between Ashe and Alaina. Ashe turned toward the drudge and wondered what had made such an unholy sound come out of it. The drudge was a lot closer than it had been when he first walked into the room. He looked down to see Ebony sit up and scoot toward the far corner of the room on her butt. When the drudge limped toward him slowly he realized what Ebony had done. “I’m going to throttle your beautiful behind when we get back to my place.”
Ebony’s eyes widened. “But I had to get your attention somehow. And, stomping on her foot was the only thing I could think of.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Alaina screamed at the drudge.
“Something that should have been done years ago! You think you’re going to get him. Well think again! He’s mine. And believe me when I say I don’t want to bed him or be his mate. That’s one mistake I would never make again! In fact the only mistakes made here were yours, Master. You think you are so smart and all the rest of us are so stupid. Well, you’re the stupid one. You couldn’t even figure out all these years that I was fooling you. The whole time I had planned this moment, savored it. This one moment in time, this one moment when I will get everything I deserve will make all of my existence in your pathetic service worth it.”
“I will kill you for your impudence!”
“Oh, I have no doubt about that, have known it all along. It will be worth it!”
Ashe was completely confused. What was she talking about and why was she directing so much anger toward him? Did he know her? Suddenly things became crystal clear and the blood drained from his face when the drudge yanked the hood off her head.
“Shara?” He couldn’t quite believe his eyes. This couldn’t be.
“Surprised, darling?” Shara treated him with a cold grin and her black eyes spit daggers of hatred at him.
“You could say that.” Although, surprise didn’t even come close to what he was feeling. Horror, anger, confusion and maybe a hundred other emotions invaded him. “Alaina, why would you do this?” He couldn’t believe that even Alaina had sunk this low. He knew she was a bitch, but hell, this was going way too far.
Alaina had regained some composure. “Do you think I could just let the poor dear lie there after you left her all alone? You know those men you killed had friends and they decided to finish her by sticking a knife in her heart. You shouldn’t have left her there all alone. You should have protected the love of your life.”
“I didn’t leave her all alone. She chose to betray me and our love. She sent those men to kill me and when I left she was whole and alive. You shouldn’t have interfered, Alaina. Why couldn’t you have just stayed the hell out of it?”
”I am going to torture you and make sure you linger on the brink of death for days, begging me for mercy before I finally finish you for this betrayal.” Alaina’s words were laced with venom.
Shara just laughed a chilling laugh. “I died over five hundred years ago and you just happened to come along and give me a second chance to carry out my revenge. Do you think I fear death? God will give me my just rewards for killing this abomination. He will die, and I will do the deed myself.”
Shara leapt at Ashe with speed even he didn’t think possible. He felt her knife slice against his neck before knocking her off him. She screeched in rage and lunged at him again, knife raised above her head aimed at his chest, but before she could land the blow he kicked her in the abdomen and watched her fly back, landing on her stomach then smacking her head hard against the wall. She didn’t move and he turned his focus back to Alaina.
Shara lay perfectly still on the floor, her head cocked at an odd angle against the wall. The knife flew out of her hand upon impact and now lay only inches from Ebony’s feet. She picked it up quickly and held it behind her back.
“Now, can we be done with this? I’m growing weary of this game.” Ashe seriously didn’t condone violence against women, but he was getting close to forgetting that little rule of his for at least a few minutes.
“Ashe, I know you won’t believe me, but I had no idea that she tried to kill you. I know I’m a complete bitch sometimes, but I never wanted you hurt.” Tears pooled in Alaina’s eyes.
“When are you going to learn to leave things alone? You know I should kill you for this. You threatened Ebony and I can’t ever forget that.” He couldn’t make up his mind on what to do with her. He didn’t feel right about killing her outright. Yes, she was a bitch and maybe a little off her rocker, but he thought she was genuinely realizing that she was wrong. Would it even be possible for her to reform? “And, don’t think for a minute that those fake tears are going to work on me.”
“Please, I swear—”
Once again a shriek sounded through the room only to be cut off and replaced by a gurgling noise. Ashe’s eyes widened as he saw Shara’s face, a horrible gurgle came from her open lips. Ebony was standing behind her with a blank expression. Shara fell to the floor with a thump, a huge knife protruding from her back and Ebony promptly fainted. He rushed to Ebony, sat beside her on the floor and gently pulled her into his arms. He decided to give Alaina a chance and hoped to God he wouldn’t regret it.
“Alaina, I would suggest that you pack up and leave, because if I ever see you again, I’m going to forget all my morals about maiming and killing women. Do you understand? Please tell me you understand?”
Alaina just nodded. A tear escaped down her face.
“Ashe, I really am so—”
Ashe threw his hand up to silence her words. “Don’t! Just go. Now!”
Alaina instantly vanished.
“Aldin, you can come in now.”
The door opened and Aldin stared at the scene before him.
“What the hell. Is that . . . is that Shara?”
Ashe nodded and told Aldin everything. When Aldin turned Shara on her back a wickedly sharp dagger gleamed in her han
d. She would have most likely stabbed it through Ashe’s heart if not for Ebony. He would have bled out at an alarming rate had that happened. Ebony had probably just saved his life again. He was sick at how she would handle the fact that she had killed. Even though Shara was a raging, evil lunatic, Ebony would have a hard time coming to terms with what she had done. He would help her through it somehow.
He looked down at her, gently kissed her forehead and took her face between his thumb and fingers and gently shook her. “Ebony, can you hear me? Wake up, baby.”
She moaned softly, and when he gently shook her again she opened her beautiful eyes, stared at him and smiled. The smile turned into a wince and his relief was short lived.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” He began looking at her hands and face closer for signs of injury.
“No. I’m fine, just a headache.” He could barely hear her whisper and watched as she closed her eyes again and slumped against him.
“Aldin, go back to the house and let Aiston, Avril and Estril know what happened. I’ll be there with Ebony shortly.”
Aldin nodded and left the room. Ashe didn’t miss the concern that briefly crossed his brother’s face but he hadn’t come this far for nothing. Ebony would be okay. He couldn’t live without her. He stood up, pulled her closer, found his way back out of the mansion and shimmered them back to his room. He laid her on his bed, covered her with the blanket then went to get her a cold washcloth. He could feel the sickness emanating from her body, throbbing through him. Death was coming for her soon and he didn’t have much time to save her. He had to get her to wake up.
When he returned with the washcloth, Avril, Aiston, Estril and Aldin were all standing by the bed looking at Ebony. He wanted to yell at them all to get out, but he knew they loved her too and were only concerned.
“Aiston, does Avril know that Ebony’s sick?”
“No, I don’t think she ever told her.”
“Don’t tell her. I’m going to turn her as soon as she wakes up.”
“Did she agree to it?” Estril’s worried whisper floated softly through him.
“She didn’t give me her answer as we got interrupted by Alaina’s little charade, but I will get her permission. I can’t lose her. I won’t survive it.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Avril sat on the bed beside Ebony and took her ice-cold hand in her own.
“It’s okay Avril. She’ll be fine. She just took a little knock to the head. Don’t worry about her I’ll make sure she has the best care.” Ashe needed them all to leave, but knew Avril needed a few minutes to reassure herself that her friend would recover.
Avril sat by Ebony while Ashe placed the cold rag on her head. Ebony moaned and Avril’s eyes darted anxiously from Ebony to Ashe.
“Really Avril, she’s fine. It’s just a natural reaction to the coolness.” Ashe was getting desperate to get rid of them.
“Aiston, get Avril out of here. I need to change Ebony soon.”
After a lot of encouragement and coaxing, Aiston convinced Avril that Ebony would be fine and recover quicker if everyone would let her rest. She agreed only if she would be allowed to check on her friend at least once an hour. Ashe agreed and Avril reluctantly left after a few more minutes.
“I’ll make sure all the guests are gone and everything is secure.”
“Thanks Aldin.”
“Any time, bro.” Aldin disappeared out the door and Ashe was finally left alone with Ebony.
* * * *
Aiston walked Avril to her room and pulled the blankets back for her to get into bed. She got in and he covered her up, but when he turned to leave she grabbed his hand. “Aiston, would you please stay. I mean, just until I fall asleep.”
“Of course.” He didn’t mind in the least. She was asleep within five minutes and he sent a small compulsion for her to sleep for several hours. He knew Ashe wouldn’t have enough time with Ebony alone if Avril checked on her soon and Avril needed the sleep anyway. He still didn’t feel completely right about invading her mind in such a matter, but knew it was necessary and the best thing for everyone at this particular moment. He stood, stretched and shut the door after letting himself out.
He found Aldin downstairs and they both decided to play some video games while waiting to see what happened with Ashe and Ebony.
“What happens if Ebony won’t let Ashe change her?”
“She has to. Ashe can’t take another broken heart. We thought it was bad with Shara, but this time it would destroy him.” Aiston nodded at Aldin somberly.
“She’s nothing like Shara. I can’t believe Shara was alive all these years and we didn’t have a clue. She could have tried to kill him at any time. Why did she wait so long?”
“Alaina kept a tight leash on her and she just bided her time for the right opportunity.”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine Ashe’s shock at seeing her again.” Aiston was glad Shara was dead for good this time. He didn’t pity anyone who wanted to hurt his family and Shara had gone way beyond simply hurting Ashe. She had come damn close to completely destroying him. They weren’t for sure if he would snap out of it for awhile after the incident with Shara and he hadn’t been the same since. However, ever since Ebony came, the old Ashe started to surface and it was damn good to see him back to himself after all this time.
“Everything will work out like it should. Ashe has suffered enough. I don’t think Ebony wants to lose him any more than he wants to lose her. Her will is strong.”
“I hope you’re right, bro.”
Aiston put a morbid fight game in and handed Aldin a controller. They both plopped down on the couch and waited for it to start.
“Well at least we can pass the time being manly and beating the crap out of each other.” Aiston laughed as the game began.
“Yeah, but you know I always win.”
“Uh, huh. We’ll see.”
Chapter Seventeen
Ashe sat on the bed beside Ebony. He removed the wash cloth that was now lukewarm and tossed it on the bathroom floor. He brushed her hair back with his fingers and closed his eyes at the silky feel. He should have protected her better. All of the stress from the previous days must have weakened her allowing the disease to speed its assault on her body. He couldn’t perform the change without her consent so she had to wake.
He loved Ebony more than he thought possible. Any lingering doubt that he might have was gone after his confrontation with Shara. He had not felt one thing for the woman. No regret, no love, nothing. He knew then that Ebony had healed the damage done by Shara. She had to stay with him because she made him whole.
“Ebony, please, you have to wake up. Can you do that for me, baby?”
Ashe saw Ebony’s eyes flutter and a small moan escaped her pale lips. “That’s it, Ebony. Open those beautiful eyes.”
After another interminable minute passed he decided he had no choice and commanded her with a strong compulsion. “Wake up now, Ebony.”
The sharp command jerked Ebony out of her unconscious state right back to reality. She opened her eyes only to turquoise ones staring back. He felt her relief pour through him like warm honey.
“I’m okay baby. Most of all, you’re okay and that’s the most important thing.” Her skin was so pale it scared him.
“Oh my God! I killed Shara!”
Ashe thought to never hear anything sweeter than her voice at the moment even if it was distressed. “Relax, Ebony. You had no choice.”
“I know. She was going to kill you. I tried to warn you, but Alaina stopped me.” Her lopsided grin made his heart miss a beat.
“I know, baby. Alaina put up a telepathic shield as soon as she realized we were talking to each other. It’s not your fault.”
“I don’t regret it, although I will probably always feel a certain amount of guilt. Ashe, I would do it again if I had to. I would never have forgiven myself if I had done nothing. I couldn’t let her hurt you, not again.”
Her voice was so fragile and
yet her will was strong and determined. Her strength was one of the things he loved most about her. He bent to kiss her on the top of the head and she threw her arms around him, hugging him tight. He wrapped his arms around her in return and cradled her against him. They sat like that for several minutes, relishing the feel of one another’s warmth, of being safe. He finally sat back and watched her under half-closed lids.
She grabbed her head and moaned. “What’s wrong, baby?” He put his hands on her shoulders and gently massaged the tight muscles.
“I feel like there are a hundred tiny hammers banging away in my skull. Ashe, I feel different. This doesn’t feel like one of my normal headaches. It feels, I don’t know, just different.”