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“CAN…CAN YOU COME BACK?”
Trace looked at her suddenly, the fierceness of his black eyes making Ashla’s breath catch in her throat. How was it that he knew just how difficult these questions she asked were for her? She was ashamed of herself for her fear of being alone.
Trace had taken two strides toward her before he realized he was moving and drew himself to a halt. He closed his eyes briefly, his hands gripping into tight fists as he struggled for control—and to take in a deeper breath so he could get beyond the lilac scent of her body wash and reach the purity of nature.
“Can you?” she asked more softly this time, taking a step that all but closed the remaining distance between them. After all, he had moved first. He had broken his own barrier.
“I shouldn’t,” he whispered.
Also by Jacquelyn Frank
The Nightwalkers
JACOB
GIDEON
ELIJAH
DAMIEN
NOAH
Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.
ECSTASY
The Shadowdwellers
JACQUELYN FRANK
For my father.
You rescued me when I needed it most,
saved me from the worst of villains,
then demanded I rescue myself when
I spent too much time looking for
someone else to save me.
You’re my one true hero.
Vocabulary of Shadese Terms
Please keep in mind no translations are exact. These are meant to guide you to the general implied meaning.
Aiya:
Ajai: Ah-ZH
Anai: Ah-N
Bituth amec: Bi-TOOTH AH-meck: Son of a bitch (or stronger)
Drenna: drehn-NAH: Darkness. The god/goddess of Darkness.
Frousi: Froo-S
Jei li: ZH
K’jeet: K
K’yan: K
K’yatsume: K
M’itisume: Mit-
M’jan: MM-zhan: Brother, Father (religious)
Paj: Pazh: A pair of light silk or gauze cotton trousers with cuffs tight at the ankles, traditionally worn under any skirt that flows away from the body with movement.
Sua vec’a: Swah VEHK-kah: Stop! Cut it out! Desist!
Names:
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
Prologue
Ashla Townsend was afraid to drive on New Year’s Eve.
Since this was a well-known fact, she was at a huge loss when she asked herself for the sixtieth time how she had managed to end up being the designated driver for the night. It wasn’t that she wanted to be one of the drinking revelers herself, just that she dreaded the idea of being on the roads with the untold numbers of other drinking revelers who hadn’t taken the time to choose a designated driver.
“Ashla, sweetie, relax,” Diana Quaid scolded with knowing sympathy from the passenger seat. She reached to touch soothing fingertips to one of the hands Ashla had clenched around the steering wheel in a legitimate white-knuckle hold.
“I’ll relax when we’re all at home safe and sound like all those designated driving ads promise us,” Ashla qualified with a nervous glance in the SUV’s rearview at the four other passengers. They had all finally wound down from the excitement of the party they’d attended, and Cristine, her younger sister, had even fallen asleep against her boyfriend’s tuxedoed chest. “We should never have come so far out on New Year’s. Or we should have at least gotten a room at the hotel or something.”
“Oh, c’mon!” Diana groaned, rolling her eyes. “How could we not go? It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance! To party at the Theodore Hotel with so many rotten rich people? It’s one of the hottest parties in the tri-state area. Plus, that guy who gave you the invites is totally into you. He danced with you so many times you’re going to have to have a funeral for those shoes.”
“Bite your tongue.” Ashla couldn’t help her grin at that. “These cost three hundred bucks.”
“And worth every cent.” Diana chuckled. “You looked hot tonight. That man all but grabbed you at midnight to kiss you.”
Ashla flushed with the memory, keeping her eyes glued