The Wolf's Pursuit (London Fairy Tales #3)(69)

Dominique shook his head and rolled his eyes at Hunter as Montmouth polished the gun and then began clearing his throat.

It had been one month since Ash had left in search of Dominique's cousin Sofia, and none of them had heard word about their whereabouts.

"Something has happened," Dominique said quietly to Hunter. "I am not being paranoid. Shouldn't he have contacted us by now? To at least say she was safe? That he had her?"

Dominique wasn't one to worry, but Hunter had the same fears. After all, they had just discovered not but two days ago what Ash had been doing for the past nine years, and it hadn't been taking up the arts of painting or poetry.

No, his twin, his own flesh and blood, had been a gun for hire. To be exact, an assassin for hire. Hunter had even heard of the famous Grimm, for they said every time a mark of ash was found anywhere near a person, they would die three days later, and the Grimm Reaper, or Grimm, would be responsible.

Hunter shivered. No wonder his brother had felt the need for repentance. He had spent half of his life killing people.

Dominique trusted Hunter, therefore Dominique trusted Ash, but now Hunter wasn't so sure Ash deserved that trust.

Gwen placed her hand on Hunter's shoulder and then kissed him lightly on the cheek. With a laugh, Hunter pulled her into his lap and kissed her hard across the mouth.

"Do you mind?" Montmouth roared. "We are eating!"

"I am having my dessert early," Hunter announced between kisses. Gwen laughed as she kissed him back and then the room was somewhat silent. Hunter looked up and smiled as he found Rosalind and Montmouth sharing an intimate embrace, and Dominique and Isabelle kissing as well.

It seemed, in that moment, that perhaps fairy tales did come true.





When Ash Falls


London Fairy Tales

Book 4





Ash didn't want to remember her this way. Her beautiful face, which had been often in a breathtaking smile, was now cold and dead.

The first time he had seen her, he'd thought she was an angel. He'd said that very thing under his breath when she'd made her debut that season.

"Beautiful," he murmured as Lucy took a turn about the room, gaining introductions to all the available gentlemen who came her way. Taking an earth-shattering breath, the kind that every man takes when he is about to approach a beautiful woman, he made his way over to her.

Music faded into the background with each step. All Ash was aware of was the clicking of his boots against the floor as he progressed toward the beauty. One dance, if only she would give him one dance, he would secure her hand forever. He knew it in his heart, in his soul — she was meant to be his.

Heart beating out of his chest, he could barely contain his excitement as she lifted her eyes and met his gaze. Blue eyes twinkled in his direction and then she lifted her hand in a wave. A wave? Something was wrong. Ash paused, and then looked behind him. There was no one but him and then he gazed back at her. She crooked her finger, beckoning him forward.

Completely under her spell, he couldn't deny her anymore than he could cease from taking his next breath. Finally, he stood before her, at least a foot taller than she.

"Where have you been, you rogue?" She swatted him on the arm and gave him a coy laugh. "I have been looking everywhere for you!"

"For me?" Ash questioned. "Are you sure we have met?"

"Must you always joke at such serious times!" The girl laughed again and he was caught at the sight of her dimples as they danced along her cheeks. Carefree. She appeared so carefree, so perfect, unweighted by the things of this world, by responsibility and darkness, by disappointment. He tilted his head and then reached out to touch her, perhaps she truly was a dream, and then a voice broke out into the pounding in his ears.

"Ah, sweetheart, you've met my brother." Hunter stepped beside the girl and wrapped his arm around her. Ash stepped back, his heart sinking down to his feet. She hadn't been looking for him at all, but his older brother, his twin, the duke. It was such a sad joke, a sad existence really. Would he ever be first in anything?

Months progressed into a year as he watched his brother and Lucy fall into such a deep love that all he could do was be happy for them and try to spend as much time away as possible. After all, it was not done to want your brother's wife, to want to care for her and protect her. It was fate's final cruel trick to allow Ash to feel something for another and then have that person ripped away by his brother. Though he loved his brother more than his own life, it seemed Ash was always left with nothing while his brother was given everything.

His name fit.

For he was the ash after the fire of Hunter burned out.

He was nothing but soot, but darkness, and sand. One day, his ashes would trickle away into the wind, never to be remembered and never mourned, but forgotten.

"Ash! Do you hear me! I love you! I love you!" Hunter yelled at his brother as he shook his shoulders and then in one final attempt to thrust him out of his daydream, slapped him across the face.

Ash stared at the blood staining his hands. He tried to wipe it off. Tried but failed as it continued to drip down his wrists into his jacket. "I'm so sorry," he kept repeating over and over again, but it did not matter.

The carriage had come too fast. Lucy had thought Ash was Hunter and ran to him, ran right into the street.