by Amber Kallyn
The man next to her fisted his hands and started forward, but Ashlyn stopped him. She glared at him. “And I did not, will not, plea to you, stupid man.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” she said tartly.
“Children, children,” Dalia calmly said from the pathway. “Perhaps I should show Sean the gardens while the two of you argue.”
She walked between Connor and Ashlyn, grasped the demon’s arm, and skipped beside him as she led him away.
“Sean, so that’s the thing’s name,” Connor taunted once Dalia had disappeared.
Ashlyn bared her fangs. “Don’t you dare call him such names.”
With fury rushing through his blood, the thought of Ashlyn willingly taking a demon as her lover the only thought in his mind, Connor took another step forward. “How could you?” he stated. “Unless you were working with their kind when our clan was killed. Is that what happened?”
Her eyes reddened as she growled. “You bastard. I would never betray our family.”
Ashlyn spun and strode toward the castle, as his stomach roiled.
Perhaps she was innocent of such heinous crimes—he believed the vehemence in her voice—but to be with a demon now?
He stomped after her, grabbing her arm and spinning her to face him. “Then how can you take a demon lover now, after all they did to our clan?”
She slapped him, her nails raking down his cheek, leaving stinging scratches.
Furious, unable to see anything other than her face, feeling the pent up frustrations boiling inside him since seeing her, he jerked her closer.
She tried pulling away, but he tightened his grip.
“How?” he repeated, unable to comprehend it, much less understand. “Their kind killed your family, mine. So tell me how you now love one of those bastards?”
Her knee slammed into his groin.
He stumbled back. “Son of a bitch.”
Turning, she raced down the path toward the castle.
Every inch of him wanted to chase her down. But the sadness, rather than anger, that had been in her eyes stopped him.
Cooled him faster than ice.
He slumped on the closest bench, staring into nothingness. His emotions had flown out of control, seeing her happily laughing with a demon half-breed.
For a millennia, he’d thought about her often, feeling the pain of losing her still fresh as the day he’d woken a vampire.
Now, here she was. But no longer the woman he’d once known.
Connor rubbed his chest, but it didn’t help the pain.
Chapter Seven
Hours later, Connor sat alone in a dark room, staring up at the ceiling as if he would magically be able to see through the wood and stone to watch Ashlyn.
What a mess he’d made of things. And the crappy fact was, he didn’t know whether it had been pride or ego which made him lose control.
Either way, he refused to allow it to happen again. He would not stoop to acting like some boorish brute.
A heavy knock came from the castle entrance and voices carried into the room. The sheriff was here.
Connor headed into the hall, curious at the visit. Jordan was leading Shane into the receiving chamber. They nodded for him to follow.
Inside the chamber, Shane paced, hands behind his back. Jordan leaned against a table, arms crossed over his chest, his blue eyes dark.
“What’s going on?” Connor asked.
Shane jerked. “Jordan’s little cousin has brought a shitload of problems to my town.”
Stiffening, Connor glared at the men. “What do you mean?”
Jordan sighed. “Ashlyn is being hunted by a demon. This Laroche followed her from the city. She warned me about it, but we assumed we’d have more time to prepare before he showed up.”
Shane froze. “You knew a demon was coming and didn’t tell me?”
Connor’s head spun. “Laroche?”
“Aye,” Jordan replied.
Reaching for his back, Connor touched the hilt of his katana in reassurance. “Laroche is the demon responsible for the murders I was investigating in the city.”
“How much danger is my town in?” Shane asked.
“A lot,” Connor replied.
“So how do we take care of it?”
Connor stared at his hands, rubbing his knuckles together as he thought. “I wasn’t able to find Laroche in the city, but your town is smaller. I can sniff him out, to a point, but the best way to capture him is a trap.”
Jordan walked to the door and spoke with someone on the other side. “Bring Brandon, and the new warrior, Nora, to me.”
Shane asked, “How is Eric?”
“Not good since his kidnapping and torture,” Jordan replied.
It hadn’t helped the torture had come at the hands of Jordan’s sister. Connor had watched the man over the last months. He was wasting away, no longer the tall, Viking warrior he’d once been. Keeping to his room, the only person he spoke to was his twin brother, Brandon.
A few minutes later, Brandon strode in. Like usual, his long white-blond hair was severely pulled back from his face. He too showed effects of Eric’s torture, with deep lines etched around his eyes and mouth. The serious brother, he’d turned downright gloomy, not to mention he’d taken to carrying weapons strapped all over his body.
Behind him, Jordan’s newest vampire strode in. Nora Miller reminded Connor of Ashlyn in some ways, with her long red hair and pale skin. When she glanced at him, he saw a steely hardness in her blue eyes, a watchfulness that warned others to beware, or she’d kick their ass.
“Take a seat,” Jordan said softly.
Brandon did so, pulling out a short dirk and twisting it in his hands. Nora flashed a smile, showing the tips of her fangs and moved to stand near the fireplace. Jordan filled them in on the problem.
“Connor.” Jordan strode to the table in the center of the room, tapping his fingers on the map of the town stretching over the surface. “Tell me what you think this Laroche will do first.”
“Find humans and any Arcaine he can command, then start hunting innocent souls.”
“We need to stop him. Fast.” Shane joined them at the table.
Staring at the map, Connor picked out the two bars. “He’ll most likely start here.”
Shane nodded decisively. “I’ll take Brandon to The Roost. Connor, you, Nora and Jordan take Henry’s bar. Now, what does Laroche look like?”
Connor blinked. “I have no idea. Never seen the bastard.”
The others stared at him blankly.
Jordan rubbed his chin, slowly saying, “Ashlyn knows.”
* * *
Ashlyn leaned back against the couch, her feet propped on a table, and her sketchpad in her lap. The design for the Morgan’s glamorous new bedroom she was supposed to be creating wasn’t coming together.
But at least trying gave her time to think, to figure out the best way to use Jordan and his vampires to kill Laroche. She needed to have something, some sort of plan, to take to him.
Yet, thoughts of Connor kept interfering.
She couldn’t stop thinking about him, the way he’d acted. Shivers eased along her neck remembering his anger.
“Stupid man,” she muttered.
When she’d first seen him in the city, her heart had leapt with joy, quickly turning to fear as she’d run. Today, the exact same happened.
He turned her into a rollercoaster of emotions she didn’t have time to deal with, and didn’t want to experience.
The past was dead.
He was no longer her lover, her soon-to-be-husband. She had to harden herself. Connor was merely another Judge who despised her son and wanted Sean dead, all because of what he was.
It didn’t matter if Sean had no control over what Laroche had done to him while she was pregnant, turning him into a strange half-breed of vampire and demon.
No one cared about that.
Besides, her son was strong. The fate of most half-bre
eds, becoming raving, crazed monsters of destruction and chaos, happened within their first hundred years of life.
Sean was nearly a thousand.
He would be fine.
But Judges like Connor never considered that, not with their duty-bound-tunnel vision.
No, they only saw someone different from them, something to be destroyed at all costs.
“Idiot man,” she whispered.
Sighing, she laid the drawing pad on the table. She couldn’t work, not with her mind and heart in such upheaval.
A soft knock tapped at the door and it swung open. Connor stood stiffly in the entrance, rubbing his knuckles together.
Her heart beat faster. Anger heated her blood. She wanted to hit him, throw something, hurt him like he’d hurt her earlier.
Instead, she took a deep breath and turned away.
“Ashlyn?” he asked hesitantly.
“Go away.”
“We need to talk.”
“I have nothing to say to a jerk like you.”
He entered, his spicy smell wrapping around her. She pushed it away, refusing to feel anything for the man behind her.
“Damn it, Ash. Will you at least let me apologize?” His footsteps came closer, and electricity zapped through the air, raising goosebumps on her arm.
She fought it. “No.”
He sighed and sat at the end of the couch.
Too close.
She could feel the heat of his body, smell his appealing scent.
Biting her lip, she scooted to the opposite end, keeping her back to him. “Go away. Just leave me and Sean alone.”
* * *
Connor stared at Ashlyn’s back. Her shoulders were hunched tightly, every line of her body a rejection. But he would do this, no matter his pride. She deserved it.
His eyes lit on the drawing pad, and the rendering of a bedroom decorated with reds and golds. Even though it was god-awful, he said, “You’re still a talented artist.”
She turned her head, arching a brow at him. “Really? That’s what you want to say to me?”
Shaking his head, he replied, “No.”
She rolled her eyes at his stiff, formal voice.
He tried to soften it. “Truly. I was... upset.”
She faced him a little more. “Now you make excuses?”
He jumped to his feet and strode around the couch. “My words were inexcusable.”
“Aye. They were.”
Staring at her, he said, “Look. I’ve thought you dead since the night our clan was attacked. Seeing you in the city, finding out you’re shacking up with a demon—the very creatures responsible for the death of our families—it pissed me off.”
She slowly stood, her whole body shaking. “You, Connor, are a bigger idiot than I thought. If you come near me again with your asinine accusations, I suggest you wear some body armor.”
Ashlyn stomped out of the room and Connor shook his head. What the hell was wrong with her? With him, that he kept angering her?
He chased after her, catching up near the hall leading to her bedroom.
“I don’t get it. You keep getting mad at me, when I’m just stating the facts.”
She spun. “Facts? What facts? All you have are assumptions, and I refuse to be an ass with you.”
“Then explain things to me. I find you, and you’re protecting a demon half-breed. If he’s not your lover, is he...” Connor could barely spit the bitter words out, “your husband?”
Ashlyn snarled, her fangs flashing. “He is not my lover. He is my son.”
It was like a punch to the gut. Her son?
Her eyes reddened as she stepped forward, poking a finger into his chest. He stumbled back a step. “His name is Sean Connor MacDougal. And his father is an idiot who can’t see past anything that happened, even though hundreds of years have gone by.”
He blinked, his head light, as her words sunk in. “Sean Connor?”
His heart raced as he remembered one of their talks, so, so long ago. She’d wanted to name their fist son that.
A thump came from around the corner. Ashlyn spun, gasping as her face drained of color. “Sean?”
Connor’s stomach clenched at the sight of the half-breed. For the first time, Connor truly looked at the man. He was seemingly young, but with magic, looks could deceive. Green eyes, startling like Ashlyn’s, assessed Connor with anger.
Son?
He blinked, looking from Ashlyn to Sean. The boy’s eyes widened, and he stared at Connor.
“Father?” Connor repeated. The word came out a croak. His mind whirled, thoughts coming one after another, none of them staying long enough to latch on to. “How?” he asked stupidly.
She put her hands on her hips, stepping forward an inch. “Really? How? Perhaps one of the nights before the attack on our clan?”
“B-but...” He couldn’t comprehend anything. “How’s he part demon?”
“I don’t know.” Her words wavered, as if she wasn’t speaking true.
“I... I must think.” He slowly turned, and walked away, feeling as if surrounded by a numbing surreal fog. A dad? Him?
He reached his bedroom and stepped inside, then leaned against the door.
Son?
The boy was a half-breed, demon and vampire.
The boy was his son?
So long ago, his dreams had been ripped to shreds. Love with Ashlyn, the family they would have created.
Such thoughts had turned to bitter ash after he woke as a vampire. After the change, they couldn’t have children. Couldn’t have a family, no matter how much they wanted one.
He had a son?
It was surreal, as if he walked in a dream of lost hopes.
And he wasn’t sure he dared to believe.
Besides, his job with the Magic Council was to kill all half-breeds on sight.
Hell, he’d relished the hunt, dispatching demon spawn from Earth.
He couldn’t connect things in his mind.
Yet, he realized, the boy was nearly as old as he. If after a thousand years he hadn’t gone crazed from the fight between vampire and demon inside his soul, perhaps, he never would.
Connor didn’t know where these thoughts were coming from. He’d never before considered a hybrid could survive without doing as much damage they possibly could while spiraling toward mindless violence.
Sean wasn’t like that.
His son?
He shook his head, not knowing what to think, to feel. But he couldn’t deny the heat in his chest at the hope spreading through him.
Someone pounded at the door. Still feeling caught in some strange reality, he opened it, then stared blankly at Jordan.
“Did Ashlyn tell you about Laroche...” Jordan trailed off. “Ah, I see she told you something else.”
“You knew?” Connor snapped.
“Aye.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I made an ass out of myself thinking the boy was her lover.”
Jordan shrugged. “It wasn’t my place. And being an ass is all on you.”
“I don’t get it. A son.”
“Deal with it.” Jordan’s voice was harsh, commanding. “We have a job to do. Figure out your personal life later.”
“Aye,” he replied. Shaking his head, he tried to put it out of his mind. He had his duty, to find Laroche and send the demon back to hell.
Ashlyn, and her revelations, were turning his life upside down. He didn’t like it one bit. He needed to concentrate on his job, take care of Laroche.
Then, he and Ashlyn were going to have one hell of a long talk.
Chapter Eight
“What do you mean, my father?” Sean demanded.
She cringed. This wasn’t how she’d meant for either of them to find out, but the damn irritating Connor had pushed her so far into fury, she’d lost control. Sighing, Ashlyn settled into a chair near the fireplace. “Everyone has one, you know.” Meeting her son’s dark gaze, she ignored her own anger. “Look, I’m sorry you overheard
us. I didn’t mean for you to find out like that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me when we met him in the city?”
“I didn’t think we’d see him again.”
Sean slumped on his bed. “My father’s a Judge who wants me dead. Great.”
“He’s not going to harm you.”
“Because I’m his ‘son’?” he asked sarcastically. “You keep telling me he’s one of the worst Judges out there, he’ll never shirk his duty.”
“And he’ll realize he owes you more than that.” At least, she hoped so.
“So he’ll spare the life of a freak like me because you guys had sex?” Sean shook his head bitterly.
Ashlyn straightened. “Love, you’re not a freak.” Trying to lighten his mood, she added, “And don’t talk about your mother’s sex life.”
He tried to smile, but failed miserably.
Her heart hurt for him. He shouldn’t have to feel like an outcast. She’d tried protecting him from the realities of the world. It was the jerks out there who’d undone her efforts.
“We’ll be leaving soon,” she said, adding a silent ‘hopefully’. “You’ll never have to deal with Connor Gregory again, if you don’t want to.”
Sean rolled over, grabbing a pillow and sliding it under his head. “I’m tired. I think I’ll nap for a while.”
With a sigh, Ashlyn left, worried about his confusion, and her own.
She slipped down into the kitchen and loaded a tray with some food and cups of blood. As she turned to leave, she squeaked at the sight of Jordan lurking silently in the doorway.
“You could have said something.” She set the tray back down.
“It’s good to know you’re still turning everyone’s world upside down like you used to,” he replied, amusement in his voice.
“Thanks,” she said wryly. “I do my best to hurt the people closest to me, and open my big mouth, making everyone else dazed and confused.”
“Then you’re doing a great job.” Jordan’s gaze turned serious. “I sent Connor to talk to you about Laroche. That obviously didn’t work well.”
She shrugged. “He just made me so mad, accusing me of sleeping with the enemy, calling my son names...”
“He didn’t know.”
“That’s an excuse?”