William Johnstone Ashes Series Complete Set Novels & Stories

John looked at the moon It was almost full now no more room for mistakes Miles away, in the ruins of the barn, the beast knelt in the ashes She held a piece of John’s bloodroot bundle She whispered to it *“Bring them to me.”* And the ashes scattered into the wind

Every one of them looked more tense than usual, and even I could sense the lingering unease clinging to the walls. We descended the staircase and made our way toward the library, where Hamish waited for us. He stood near a large table covered in scrolls, open books, and scattered crystals that pulsed faintly with internal light. He didn’t greet us with calm this time. His expression was stern. Grayson crossed his arms. “Start talking.” Hamish gestured for me to sit, though Grayson stood behind me like a shadow ready to strike. “Ashen,” Hamish said, “did you feel anything unusual when you woke?”

“Mom, don’t cry. I’ll be good. Then Dad won’t hate me. I’ll pray for Ms. White so Daddy won’t be angry with you.” The maid tossed a few pieces of bread onto the floor. “These are Ms. White’s leftovers. She gave them to you out of kindness. Be grateful.” I forced myself to swallow, thinking, 'I can't die. I have to find Oliver.' The maid sneered. “You’ll even eat food thrown on the ground. Pathetic. No wonder Mr. Jackman prefers the noble Ms. White.” Ashley’s so‑called nobility came from the emerald jewelry set I had given Cole. It was my mother’s heirloom. He handed it to Ashley simply because she said she liked it.

Let's get back to what happened with me and Julius when I took him at the back of the Vanta's camp, to calm his nerves. Julius is a sweet boy, he just has a rough past that he is holding onto. And I kinda like him, but it doesn't justify the unholy things I did with him that day, God help me. Asher was packing lots of whiskey and tequila she stole from the pantry for dry days. Asher loves wines and partying, but it's sad her beautiful life was cut short on that very black Friday.

"He's dead. Stabbed three times by enemies. He was still clutching this." I didn't take it. Vincent took it instead and tossed it into a nearby fire pit. "Don't let something like this dirty the Madre's eyes." He handed me a glass of wine, his voice gentle. "Want to visit my docks next week? The new ships were custom-built just for you." I nodded, a faint smile on my lips. The disturbance outside had already subsided—someone had likely dragged the body away. The trading market was brightly lit, the light falling across Vincent's face as he discussed a weapons list with someone. The sharp lines of his profile were calm and steady.

I had no answer. She let me go. Her gaze shifted to the urn in my arms. "You won't take this when it's offered? Then I am taking it from you. "You will not see your father's ashes again." She reached. The blood in my arms went cold. The control I had been holding cracked. "Please… please don't. It wasn't me. I'll do anything, anything you want. Just don't." I was about to fall to my knees again. I would have. The pride and dignity I'd had walking in here had been gone for hours.

Kamman, however, didn't share the same emotions, and his face grew dark when he stared at Asia. "Why did you kill them?" He asked, getting straight to the point. "This again?!" Asia rolled his eyes, thinking about that time Kamman accused him of killing his father. He was hoping for something more fun. However, Kamman continued: "Cheongyeon, you killed the entire gang, and I had to clean up after you." Asia, rumored to have perfect control of his emotions and an unparalleled poker face, was definitely not expecting that, and shock briefly ran through his eyes. He rushed to cover it, but Kamman had noticed it almost immediately. He smiled at the realization. He was right.

He pursed his lips, and cursed under his breath, before closing the warrior's eyes. "Take him away. Ensure he gets a proper burial." Asher ordered, and the guards bowed, picking up the corpse, and carrying him away. "The blade." Asher demanded, and Joshua handed it to him. The slim and sharp surface was covered in drying blood, and the trace of wolfsbane was evident, as the blood took on a greenish, rotting tint. Nonetheless, the hilt is what truly caught the Alpha's attention. It was made of a clear crystal, with only a thin aluminum wire wrapping around it, creating an intricate design. The tip of the hilt itself held a red seal that resembled a bat's wing crossing a full moon.

Sadness. I glanced down at the letter still clutched in my hand, the paper fragile and crumpled from my grip. Slowly, I allowed a sliver of lightning to dance along its edges, watching as the parchment caught fire. The flames consumed the letter quickly, reducing it to ash in seconds, and I let the remains fall to the table in a blackened heap. Ashes. Just like everything else in this cursed palace. I stormed out of the throne room, my footsteps heavy and my thoughts darker than the night itself. The halls were quiet, too quiet, and every echo of my boots against the stone reminded me of how alone I truly was about to become.