Free A Beast For The Eyes: A Steamy Shifter Romance (A Ravenswood Romance Book 2) by Jada Turner

open to see her mother leaning over her. “Hi, Mom.”
    “Hello, sleepyhead. Did you see Bastian?”
    “Ugh,” Ashleigh groaned, shrugging out of her blazer. “Don’t remind me about the toad.”
    Kate Alberts laughed. “He’s not so bad. He
is
your brother after all.”
    “Stepbrother,” Ashleigh reminded her. “I’m staging a revolt.”
    “Ash,” her mother sighed. “Try and get along with him for my sake. Your father won’t be spending Christmas with us. He had to fly to London.”
    “Why?”
    “Being an ambassador has its ups and downs. He wouldn’t tell me why. I think it had something to do with the economic summit.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry, mom.” Ashleigh apologized, and sat up. She wanted to ask her mother if she cared Damien was a vampire. But she supposed it didn’t matter. Her mother really did love her husband. “I’ll try and be civil. But don’t be surprised when he shoves me down the stairs.”
    “You’re being silly!”
    “Not really,” Ashleigh deadpanned. “Brothers do it all time to their sisters.”
    Her mother laughed at this and kissed her goodnight. “There’s roast beef in the fridge if you get hungry later.”
    “Goodnight, mom.”
    Ashleigh kicked off her shoes and went back to sleep.
    She awoke to find her mother downstairs surrounded by mounds of luggage. Sebastian helped her load the limo and barely glanced up as Ashleigh came downstairs.
    “Mom! What is it?”
    Kate turned around, worry etching her delicate features. “Your father has been shot!”
    “Dad…?”
    Sebastian came back, his eyes dark with anger. “Leave it to Dad to ride with the top down.” Ashleigh felt a shiver creep up her spine. If looks could kill....
    “Is he alright?” Ashleigh said, worried about her stepfather. Suddenly it didn’t matter if he was a vampire. Her mind flew through warm memories of Damien laughing, giving fatherly advice, and leaving her mother love notes so she could read them out loud and embarrass Ashleigh. “He’s going to be alright? Isn’t he?”
    Kate rushed to reassure her daughter. “Of course he will. Damien has lived this long. No assassin is going ruin his track record.” She began sobbing. Sebastian hurried to comfort her while Ashleigh felt small and useless.
    “He’ll be alright, Mom,” Sebastian soothed. “Dad just got careless that’s all.”
    “Yeah, mom.” Ashleigh rushed to fetch her coat and purse. “Dad’s indestructible. You’ll see.”
    Her mother nodded. “I’m going to London. Sebastian will take care of you. I’ll let you know how...he’s doing.” She blew her nose. “I’ll send for you as soon as I can.”
    “Sure, mom.” Ashleigh hugged her tight. “Go and take care of dad. We’ll be just fine.” She eyed Sebastian warily. “Won’t we?”
    He grimaced. “Sure,” Sebastian agreed reluctantly. “We’ll be great.”
    Kate rushed outside to the limo, and Ashleigh watched with a heavy heart as it sped off towards the unknown. Sebastian stood beside her, his face grim and taut.
    “Dad will pull through,” he told her. “The silver bullet missed his heart.”
    “That’s good...to know,” Ashleigh said before bursting into tears. When Sebastian took her in his arms she didn’t pull away.
    They needed each other now more than ever whether they liked it or not.

 
     
     
    Chapter 2
     
     
    “What’s it like having a vampire as a dad?” Ashleigh asked over dinner. Sebastian had run out and gotten cheeseburgers and fries as he didn’t like Matilda’s cooking.
    Sebastian dipped his fries in ketchup and took a long sip of his coke before answering cryptically, “It has its moments.”
    “Who do you think did it?” Ashleigh glanced towards the television droning on in the background. The media coverage had been off the wall. “I mean, you don’t think it was those guys from the Order of The Cross?”
    He shook his head. “Nah. They haven’t tried to kill each other in centuries.”
    “Then