Twilight destiny, p.1
Twilight Destiny, page 1
Books by Amanda Ashley
“Born of the Night” in Stroke of Midnight
“Midnight Pleasures” in Darkfest
“Music of the Night” in Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance
A Darker Dream
A Fire in the Blood
A Whisper of Eternity
After Sundown
As Twilight Falls
Beauty’s Beast
Beneath a Midnight Moon
Bound by Blood
Bound by Night
Dark of the Moon
Dead Perfect
Dead Sexy
Deeper Than the Night
Desire After Dark
Desire the Night
Donovan’s Woman
Embrace the Night
Everlasting Collection
Everlasting Desire
Everlasting Embrace
Everlasting Kiss
His Dark Embrace
Immortal Sins
In the Dark of the Night
Jessie’s Girl
Maiden’s Song
Masquerade
Midnight and Moonlight
Midnight Embrace
Midnight Enchantment
Night’s Kiss
Night’s Master
Night’s Mistress
Night’s Pleasure
Night’s Promise
Night’s Surrender
Night’s Touch
Quinn’s Lady
Quinn’s Revenge
Sandy’s Angel
Seasons of the Night
Shades of Gray
Sunlight Moonlight
Surrender the Dawn
The Captive
The Music of the Night
Twilight Desires
Twilight Destiny
Twilight Dreams
Books by Madeline Baker
A Whisper in the Wind
Apache Flame
Apache Runaway
Beneath a Midnight Moon
Callie’s Cowboy
Chase the Lightning
Chase The Wind
Cheyenne Surrender
Comanche Flame
Dakota Dreams
Dude Ranch Bride
Every Inch a Cowboy
Feather in the Wind
First Love, Wild Love
Forbidden Fires
Hawk’s Woman
Kade
Lacey’s Way
Lakota Love Song
Lakota Renegade
Love Forevermore
Love in the Wind
Midnight Fire
Prairie Heat
Reckless Desire
Reckless Destiny
Reckless Embrace
Reckless Embrace
Reckless Heart
Reckless Love
Renegade Heart
Shadows Through Time
Spirit’s Song
The Angel and the Outlaw
The Reckless Series
The Spirit Path
Under a Prairie Moon
Under Apache Skies
Unforgettable
Warrior’s Lady
West Texas Bride
Wolf Shadow
Twilight Destiny
Amanda Ashley
Twilight Destiny
Copyright © 2023, Amanda Ashley
All rights reserved.
This edition published 2023
Cover by Cynthia Lucas
ISBN: 978-1-68068-315-8
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
This book is published on behalf of the author by the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency.
You can reach the author at:
Email: darkwritr@aol.com
Websites: www.amandaashley.net and www.madelinebaker.net
Dedication
For Annie Hill Grabiak
and
Carol Ramsey
Who both sent me suggestions
for one more story
and
For all those
who love Rylan Saintcrow
as much as I do
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Epilogue
Midnight Enchantment
Midnight Enchantment: Chapter One
About the Author
About the Publisher
Chapter One
Hands shoved deep in the pockets of his jeans, Rylan Saintcrow strolled through the business district of Morgan Creek. All the stores and shops were closed at this time of the night. The only place still open was the hotel. He knew a moment of satisfaction as he passed by. Rooms and campsites were booked a solid year in advance. No one looking at the town now would ever guess it had once been a haven for a coven of vampires. Sometimes he could scarcely believe it himself. There was a hell of a lot of history here, all of it bad, he thought with a grin, until Kadie Andrews—now Kadie Saintcrow—stumbled into Morgan Creek. From that fateful night on, things had never been the same.
His head snapped up as a car drove across the bridge that separated the town from the highway. He muttered an oath when he recognized the young woman behind the wheel. Rosa Ravenwood. He’d had dealings with her brother, Micah, and the Ravenwood family in the past. What the devil was she doing here?
She slammed on the brakes when he stepped in front of the car.
Rosa switched off the engine and rolled down the window. “What are you trying to do?” she exclaimed. “Get yourself killed? Oh, it’s you.”
“What are you doing here?” Saintcrow growled. “Why aren’t you in Italy with Kadie and the rest of your family?”
“That’s not a very nice way to greet a guest.”
“No one ever accused me of being nice.”
“Well, I can certainly see why,” she retorted.
He blew out a sigh. “What are you doing here?”
“I have a favor to ask and it isn’t something to discuss over the phone.”
“Yeah? Must be a hell of a favor.” Sliding into the passenger seat, Saintcrow closed the door. “You can tell me about it when we get to my place.” He gave her directions, then stretched his legs out in front of him. With Kadie away from home, the big old house was too quiet. It might be nice to have a little company for a day or two.
Rosa recognized the big, white house her brother-in-law, Ethan, had built for her youngest sister, Sofia, as they passed it by. Sofie had sent her numerous photos during and after construction.
Rosa frowned, thinking it would have been nice to stay there while Sofia and Ethan were on vacation, but she hadn’t been able to think of a single logical reason why she would visit Morgan Creek when Sofie wasn’t there. And she could hardly tell her sister why she’d come here.
Her brother, Micah, had lived in Morgan Creek for a while, but about a year ago, he had moved back to Arizona to be close to their parents. Micah had always been her favorite brother. He and his wife, Holly, had bought a house not far from her apartment and she was glad to have him back in town again.
Saintcrow’s house was nearby. Large and sq uare, it was made of weathered gray stone. There were turrets at the four corners, which gave the place the look of an old English castle. Thick iron bars covered the front door and the windows.
Rosa parked her rented Kia in the driveway. She was reaching for the handle when Saintcrow appeared at her door and opened it for her. Surprised by his show of manners, she followed him through the heavy wooden door into a spacious living room that was beautifully decorated with expensive furniture and tables. Several paintings adorned the walls. Fancy draperies covered the windows.
When Saintcrow gestured for her to sit down, she perched on the edge of a leather couch, hands tightly folded in her lap. She had been around Saintcrow a few times before, but she was suddenly aware of the fact that they were alone in the house, and that he was a vampire. And friend of the family or not, she was prey. The thought should have frightened her. Instead, it filled her with an odd sense of excitement. It was easy to see why Kadie had fallen in love with him. He was one of the most handsome men she had ever seen, broad-shouldered and lean-hipped, with inky-black hair that brushed the collar of his gray shirt, and eyes that were black and unfathomable. A thin, white scar ran from the outer corner of his left eye, down his cheek, and disappeared under his shirt collar. His preternatural power danced lightly over her skin.
He stood with his back to the fireplace, watching her through narrowed eyes. “It’s for damn sure that neither Micah or Sofia knew you were coming here.”
Rosa shrugged. That was for darn sure. If her brother had gotten wind of the real reason she hadn’t gone to Italy with the rest of the family, he would have locked her up and thrown away the key! No doubt her sister, Sofia, felt the same way.
“So, what brings you to Morgan Creek?” Saintcrow asked for the third time.
“I want to meet a vampire.”
“Don’t you think you’ve already met more than your share?” he remarked dryly.
“I want to meet one who isn’t family. Or a friend of the family.”
He wasn’t surprised. Ethan had told him Rosa had asked a lot of questions about vampire life, the kind of questions that had led him to believe she was toying with the idea of becoming one. “I’m not running a dating service.”
“I know, but … maybe you could tell me where to find one. Or two.”
With a shake of his head, Saintcrow dropped into the overstuffed chair across from her. “I’m guessing neither Sofia or anyone else in the family knows what you’re up to.”
“Of course not. They think I went to Florida with a couple of girlfriends.”
“Why this sudden urge to meet a vampire?”
“I’m just curious.”
“Uh-huh.”
She shrugged. “Sofia’s one. Micah’s one. Holly’s one.”
“And you’re feeling left out?”
She made a face at him. But it was true. In a way, she did feel left out. But it was more than that. The last time she had talked to Sofia, Rosa had mentioned she was thinking she might like to be a vampire, too. To her surprise, Sofie had tried her best to talk her out of it.
Rosa wasn’t sure why. Sofia and her husband, Ethan, Micah and Holly, Rylan Saintcrow and Kadie, were all vampires and seemed happy to be so. Her brother’s objection was that she was too young, blah, blah, blah. How could she be too young when she was older than Sofie? Besides, she was intrigued by all the cool powers vampires possessed—they could think themselves wherever they wanted to go, read minds, they never got sick, never grew old. Not only that, they could light a fire with just a thought, run faster than The Flash, dissolve into mist. So many cool things that she couldn’t do. Why did they want her to wait? She was old enough to know her own mind and make her own decisions.
Of course, she knew there was a downside. She would have to give up all the foods she loved and exist on blood. Say goodbye to the sun. Hunt for prey like some kind of wild animal. The blood thing gave her pause, but Sofia didn’t seem to mind it, and neither did any of the others.
Whether her family liked it or not, she was determined to meet a vampire, preferably one who would give her the Dark Gift if she decided she really wanted it.
“Why is everyone trying to talk me out of it?” she asked. “Why is it right for them and wrong for me?”
“You might want to enjoy being human for a few more years, that’s all. Most of us were turned against our will,” he replied, his voice quiet and thoughtful. “Some accepted it to save their lives. I don’t know anyone who went looking for it.”
“What about Sofia? She asked Ethan to turn her.”
Saintcrow nodded. “True enough. But Lilith turned Micah against his will. The vampire who made me turned me and left me. I never saw her again, never even knew her name. As for Ethan, he was dying when I brought him across. You’re a healthy, young woman. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t wait a few years. You can’t change your mind, you know. Once it’s done, it’s forever.”
“I don’t suppose you’d turn me?”
He shook his head. “And bring your whole family down on me? No way, darlin’.” He frowned at her. “How old are you, anyway?”
“What difference does it make?”
“None, I guess.” Sofia was the youngest girl in the Ravenwood family and she was over twenty-one now, so Rosa had to be a couple of years older than that, certainly old enough to make up her own mind, no matter what anyone else thought.
“You won’t tell Micah or Sofie that I’m here, will you?”
“No.” Saintcrow scrubbed his hand over his jaw. He had never known anyone so determined to give up their humanity. And if he couldn’t talk her out of it, well, it was better for her to go trolling with him than go out on her own. And he would be there to keep her out of trouble.
Besides, with Kadie out of town, he didn’t have anything better to do.
“I know a place or two where you might find what you’re looking for,” he said. “Come on, I’ll show you where to bed down. We’ll go vampire hunting tomorrow night.”
Vampire hunting. Saintcrow grinned inwardly, amused by the thought of one vampire hunting another, not for revenge, but matchmaking.
Chapter Two
Rosa woke slowly. She experienced a moment of panic when she opened her eyes and found herself in a strange bed in a strange room. And then she remembered. She was in Saintcrow’s house in Morgan Creek, and he had agreed to help her find a vampire. She hoped it wouldn’t take long. She only had two weeks off and then she had to go back to work. Her rent was due at the end of the month, and she couldn’t afford to get fired. Not now, when jobs were scarce.
Bounding out of bed, she threw open the windows and gazed outside. It was a beautiful, clear day. Blue sky, a slight breeze, and endless possibilities. Saintcrow was an old vampire. She knew he could be awake during the day if he wished, but if he rested until the sun went down, she had a whole day with nothing to do.
Rosa frowned when her stomach growled. “I don’t suppose there’s any food in the house,” she muttered as she grabbed her robe and padded downstairs to the kitchen. As she’d suspected, the cupboards were bare, as was the refrigerator. The appliances looked relatively new and she guessed Saintcrow had bought them for Kadie before he turned her.
She found a note on the counter, written in a bold, masculine scrawl.
Rosa, I’ve advised all the businesses in town that you’re my guest. Buy anything you want and charge it to me. RS
Rosa grinned as she read it a second time. The man was full of surprises. When her stomach growled again, she hurried upstairs to shower and dress.
On the way into town, Rosa cruised along a residential street lined with well-kept homes. She recognized the pale yellow house at the top of the hill from photos Sofia had sent. Her sister had told her it was known as Blair House and that it had once been the lair of the Morgan Creek vampires. Like Saintcrow’s house, this one also had iron bars on the doors and windows. Ethan had remodeled the place and he and Sofia had lived there for several months while their new home was being built. The thought of living in a house where vampires had lived sent a shiver down her spine. Which was odd, she mused, since she was thinking of becoming one.
Sofia was deeply in love with Ethan and Rosa knew her sister had never been happier in her whole life than she was now. And even though envy was one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Rosa was green with jealousy, not just because Sofia was married, but because she had a husband who was not only strikingly handsome, but a vampire.
Morgan Creek was nothing like she had expected and certainly didn’t look like a town that had once been inhabited by a coven of bloodthirsty vampires. The hotel was modern, a dozen specialty shops lined both sides of Main Street. Ordinary people strolled along the sidewalks, talking and laughing as if they were in any small city in America instead of a town once filled with vampires who had imprisoned humans to feed on.
