Free A Kiss of Ashen Twilight (Ashen Twilight Series #1) by Rae Lori

didn’t deter him from holding his ground. “Don’t make me ask again,” he said with a challenging tone.
    “I have powers too, and I’ll defend myself if I have to.” Even if I never killed , she thought nervously. She planted her feet on the ground and tried to ignore her trembling hands.
    “No, you won’t,” he said slowly approached her. “You’re not a murderer, you never have been.”
    “Get out of my head!”
    “Please.” Jace held up his hands in defense. “I said I don’t want to hurt you, I mean it. Just tell me who and what you are.”
    Ariya held his gaze. She studied the look in his eyes. Sincere, yet still it could be a trick all the same. “You give your word you won’t hurt me?”
    Slowly he nodded, carefully taking slow steps to close the distance between them. “I give my word as a gentleman, and as an Archane man of honor.”
    Ariya stepped back quickly, unsure she should trust him. Then again what choice did she have at this moment? “Well, just in case you don’t—”
    “I won’t. Look.” He took a few steps away, and straightened his posture with his hands folded behind his back. “See?”
    Fair enough. Ariya lowered her hands and took a deep breath. She was taking leave of her common senses. That had to be the only logical reason why she was mad enough to trust a man such as this one. With slight hesitance, she slipped the short sleeves of her gossamer dress over her shoulders and allowed it to cascade to the hardwood floor, baring her curvy body.
    * * * *
    Shelly held her jacket at her side as she strode down the street. The night was calm and unusually cool for the Arizona desert evening. It wasn’t enough to calm the storm inside her mind. Who was that girl that Jace felt so compelled to protect? She couldn’t have been from any of the houses. Where did she come from? If Jace had allowed it, she could’ve torn the girl to pieces and they would have finished their night together. Perhaps this was a matter she should take to the others of the house. It was still early enough in the night that they would be hanging outside the Torch club. She hoped Vex didn’t notice her and Jace talking together earlier. The questions he would propose to her about her whereabouts already filled her mind and she prepared the answers.
    She’d be ready for him. Besides, it’s not like they were completely exclusive yet. Just how close could a Lycan and a Nightwalker get anyhow? Jace was the one who understood her needs and hit all the right spots. Granted, she was growing to love Vex with all her heart, although she still had doubts about their relationship together. She was always attracted to Jace Archane since she first met him long ago. He was a man who took what he wanted and right now she wanted that to be her. She couldn’t quite give herself over to Vex just yet. Not until she explored other options.
    Things would have worked out just perfect between her and Jace. If only—
    Just as she came to the “who were you with” question yet again, a crunching sound made her freeze. Shelly looked over her shoulder, there was no one around in the darkness of the street. Shaking it off, she continued toward the end of the street using the light of the moon to guide her way. The sound of footsteps crunching on tiny pebbles along the sidewalk invaded her keen hearing sense. She quickened her steps and reached the bright yellow streetlight ahead in seconds.
    Keep it together, girl. Nothing can touch you.
    Her body involuntarily shivered despite the mantra she repeated to calm herself.
    The footsteps quickened behind her again and she broke out into a run. Once she reached the next streetlight, she whipped around hissing with her sharp fangs bared and her elongated fingernails ready at her side.
    Nothing.
    Part of her was thankful for no mortals in the area or else she’d have to make a call to Angel Polidori for a new pickup. That girl must work around the clock for such a thankless job. She