Ash Fallen
Page 20
The scientist mixed the concoction in the empty bottle and stirred it before handing it to Marx. The bottle was heavy, but Marx wondered if it would be enough for the full perimeter of the castle.
“Great, let’s go see what this stuff can do.”
“What do I say if anyone questions what you are doing out there?” Ash said. Clearly, he still thought the ordeal was madness.
“Tell them it’s weed killer. What do I care what you tell them?” Marx said crossly.
Marx used every last drop to surround the perimeter. Rosalie shuffled behind him, desperate to be part of the entire process. Once the Trantilla oil and salt converged with the soil, it gave off an awful smell.
“Smells like rotten eggs,” Rosalie said, holding her nose. Although she felt physically tired, she was energized by the idea of ending whatever dark magic was causing her poor health.
“That means it’s working,” Marx told her.
“Really?”
He chuckled. “Actually, I have no idea.”
Rosalie laughed, slapping him playfully on the arm. “What’s next?”
“Next we have to dance naked around the castle.”
“We what?” She looked surprised, but strangely, not horrified.
“I’m teasing. There’s a chant I have to say over this place, and then, we wait.”
“I’ll help you with the chant,” she offered solemnly.
“You should get some rest.”
“I’ll rest when the curse is lifted.”
Marx, his two recruits, Rosalie, and the scientist all gathered to say the ancient chant believed to break the evil spell. Marx unraveled the scroll and was about to begin when Ash joined the group.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” Rosalie said.
“For you, I’d do anything.” He smiled and squeezed her hand. He felt guilty that he’d given her and Marx such a hard time about it. The woman he loved needed his strength and support, not his snide remarks and skepticism.
“I know you’ve never believed in gods or evil curses. I appreciate that you try.”
Marx cleared his throat, interrupting. “If you two lovebirds are ready, we can begin.”
The chant was brief, but peculiar. Marx read it aloud slowly to the group, then they chanted aloud with him, repeating it three times as the scroll prescribed. Marx was tense as he enunciated every word. Cleansing breath, cleansing spirits.
Ash was a good sport, but in his head, he imagined whomever wrote the scroll was having the last laugh at their expense. Salted wounds and healing oil. It was all nonsense, in his mind.
When the chanting was over, the group dispersed. According to Marx, it would take until the next sunrise for any of their efforts to have an impact.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Rosalie awoke with the sun, feeling refreshed. The window in her room had been left open and she sat up in bed, breathing in the cool air. Beside her, Ash slept soundly. She bent down and kissed his cheek, then arose from bed and walked to the window. She looked out over the castle grounds, admiring the beauty of the fields for the first time. And then she felt it – the evil that had weighed her down was lifted. It was as if the darkness had been chased away by the dawn. She felt light. Rejuvenated.
Assuming Ash wouldn’t believe her, she tiptoed to the bedroom door and slipped into the hallway. She knew Marx would be interested in the results of his efforts.
When she reached his room, he opened the door before she had time to knock. His silver hair was pulled back into a ponytail and he was sporting a huge grin. “I knew you were coming,” he said.
“Was I that loud?”
“No, I mean I could see that you were coming.” He lifted Rosalie off her feet and swung her around. He hugged her tight, then set her back down. “Sorry, I guess I was more excited than I thought.”
She laughed. “I’m feeling much better too. It worked. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical.”
“But you’ve always been such a firm believer.”
She looked down, ashamed. “I guess my faith has been a bit tested these days.”
“What did Ash say?”
She bit her lip and shot him a guilty look. “I haven’t told him yet.”
“What? Why?”
Her cheeks glowed pink. “Well, you saw him yesterday. He didn’t believe in anything we were doing. I guess I needed to tell somebody who would believe me and not make me doubt.”
“Well, you came to the right door,” he laughed. “But Rosalie, you should tell him.”
“Tell me what?” Ash spoke up from behind them, startling them both.
“You really have a gift for sneaking up on people,” Rosalie told him crossly.
He stared at her. Then, for the first time in days, he offered a warm, genuine smile that reached his eyes and softened his features. “Roe, you look…”
The coloring had returned to her cheeks and lips and her face shone brightly. The dark circles under her eyes had disappeared. She had a healthy, radiant glow about her. Until this moment, he’d forgotten how dazzling she used to look; before the battle.
“Look what?” Her green eyes danced with humor for the first time in weeks.
“Beautiful,” he said softly. He pulled her towards him and pressed his lips to hers. “It worked,” he said in disbelief.
“It worked,” she agreed.
“It’s good to have you back.”
“It’s good to be back.”
“If you two are done here,” Marx interrupted, “I’ve got my own things to attend to.” His tone was stern, but his eyes twinkled with amusement.
“I’m sorry to see that lifting this evil curse didn’t cure your snarky attitude,” Ash teased.
“No, but it did cure something else. My visions are back,” he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest with pride.
“That’s good news. Now what do you see for us?” Ash asked, slinging an arm around Rosalie’s slim shoulders and pulling her in close.
“Hmm… red-headed children?” He grinned, and Ash snorted.
“For you two,” Marx said, growing more thoughtful. “I only see great things.”
“Give it to me straight,” Ash teased, “is she going to be more trouble than she’s worth?”
Laughing, Marx shot back, “I don’t think you need my visions to know the answer to that.”
“Hey now,” Rosalie spoke up. “He isn’t exactly easy to get along with either.”
“That I also don’t need a vision to confirm.”
Once Ash and Rosalie were alone in their room, Ash’s mood turned pensive. He pulled her into in his arms and gazed down at her. “Marx was right you know?”
“About what?” Her cheeks flushed with the exhilaration of his embrace.
“I don’t need his visions to know we’re going to be great together.”
Her lips curved into a smile as she stared up at him. “Neither do I.”
He swept her hair back from her face, then bent down and kissed her lips. She shuddered with pleasure as his thumbs caressed her jawline.
“I love you Roe,” he told her, his heart breaking at how close he’d come to losing her. “Always and forever.”
“I love you too, Ash,” she whispered back. Her mind wandered back to the day she’d first met him – the puzzling combination of foreboding and attraction she’d felt. Things were so different now from then, but the same thrilling anticipation stirred within her. “I’m glad you found me that day,” she said wistfully, her eyes misting.
Blue eyes burning with desire, Ash said, “No, Roe. That day we found each other.”
He stroked her cheek, and when his lips met hers once more, he closed his eyes and felt the familiar rush of admiration and desire. He’d fallen harder than he’d meant to, harder than he’d thought possible. But he had no complaints about where he’d landed – in the arms of a woman he would forever love and cherish.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The idea for ASH FALLEN came to
me while I was vacationing on the Oregon Coast; so first and foremost I’d like to thank my friends and family who joined me on that trip and were not offended whenever I snuck away to get my ideas out on paper.
An enormous thank you to my sister, Melissa, who promotes my books with fervor, forces me to get out of my comfort zone to attend book signings, and has dubbed herself my “number one fan.” Thank you to my two brothers, Justin and Ryan, who used their artistic abilities to give the book a final polish (even though romance is not their genre … but it should be, am I right?). And to my parents, Craig and Debbie, for providing their home as a haven for me to write and bounce ideas off them.
To the readers – thank you. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey. Thank you to those who read early versions of the novel and offered encouragement and feedback along the way. To the loyal readers who ask, “When’s your next book coming out so I can have something to read?” – you’ll never know how much that question means to me.
As always, a special thank you to my husband, Joe, and two beautiful daughters, Kiersten and Bella. You sacrifice the most and deserve the most praise. Thank you for being my support system as I pursue my dreams of being an author.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Blake Channels was born in Tri-Cities, Washington where she resides today with her husband and two children. She graduated from Washington State University and is a wife, mother, and finance professional by day and a writer in her heart and soul – and whenever her schedule allows. In addition to writing romance novels, Blake enjoys spending time with family and friends, soaking up the sun, camping, and curling up with a good book.
BOOKS BY BLAKE CHANNELS
Darkened (Romantic Suspense)
The Comforts (Sci-Fi Romance)
Ash Fallen (Fantasy Romance)
Visit blakechannels.com to learn more about the author and available books.