Crown of Ash (Blood & Betrayal #1)

Chapter One

“Why did I drive with the window down?”

I muttered as I pulled into the Flaming Wings parking lot.

The warm breeze had been pleasant enough on the drive, brushing over my face and arms like a soft touch. But now it was working against me, carrying with it the tantalizing, irresistible scent of barbecued meat sizzling over an open flame and, with it, a hint of caramelized fat. The smell made my stomach twist painfully with hunger.

I inhaled deeply before I could stop myself, the smell wrapping around me, teasing my senses. My stomach growled loud enough to make me wince, and I pressed a hand against it as if that would help. “Knock it off,”

I mumbled.

The smell brought back memories of summer cookouts and lazy afternoons. Not mine, though. My dad wouldn’t know how to light a grill even if the charcoal stood up and gave him step-by-step instructions. Nope. Those memories came from hanging out at friends’ houses, where parents flipped burgers and kids laughed like nothing bad ever happened.

I leaned back in my seat, fingers tightening around the steering wheel. I could practically taste the brisket on my tongue. My funds were limited, gas wasn’t free, but the longer I sat there, the harder it was to resist. Just the thought of tearing into something hot and dripping with flavor was enough to weaken my resolve.

In the end, the smell won out. I gave in to a moment of weakness, a moment of pure, unadulterated pleasure. But I deserved a little indulgence. I’d been running for months, fleeing Osiris and the memories that chased me through every new town. Ashwood… it felt safe. For now.

But hadn’t every town felt safe, until it wasn’t? I’d learned, after maybe the third town, not to let my guard down, no matter how inviting a place felt. Even now, my heart thumped as I glanced around the parking lot, half expecting to see Osiris eyeing me from some shadowed corner.

No. I shook my head and forced my fingers to unclench. There was no one there. Just my own mind messing with me. Still, the phantom weight of Osiris lingered in the back of my thoughts, heavy and impossible to ignore.

I exhaled slowly, the smell of barbecue filling my lungs again. If this was a mistake, at least I’d head to my doom with a full stomach.

“Stop thinking about him and go eat some of that fabulous-smelling meat.”

I shoved my car door open, stepping into the parking lot.

The summer heat wrapped around me, heavy but not unpleasant. The scent of barbecue hit me harder now. It was impossible to ignore. I squared my shoulders, forcing the tension in my body to ease, and headed inside.

Cool air greeted me as I stepped through the door, along with the lively hum of chatter and laughter. The place was packed—families crowded around tables, kids argued over fries, friends clinked glasses. My stomach grumbled louder now.

I headed toward the counter, scanning the overhead menu. It was filled with so many good choices—ribs, brisket, pulled pork—that my mouth began to water. A friendly voice broke through my thoughts.

“What can I get for ya?”

The cashier was young, maybe seventeen, with bright blue hair and an easy smile that put me slightly at ease.

“Uh…”

I scanned the menu overhead, trying not to drool. “Brisket sandwich and a side of baked beans.”

“Great choice! You want a drink with that?”

Hell yeah.

“Just water,”

I said quickly, keeping my budget in mind. The way my stomach twisted I wanted half the menu, but I wasn’t about to burn through what little cash I had left.

Being broke sucked.

“Coming right up!”

The kid punched in the order, called it back to the kitchen, and handed me a receipt.

While I waited, I leaned against the counter, letting my gaze wander. A dad was lifting his daughter into the air, her giggles loud enough to carry over the din. An older man wiped sauce off his wife’s cheek, both of them smiling like the world couldn’t touch them.

My chest tightened. How long had it been since I’d felt anything close to that kind of peace? I forced myself to look away, clenching my jaw. Envy wasn’t useful, not when my own life was barely hanging together.

The tray slid onto the counter, and I grabbed it, finding a corner table tucked away from the crowd. It was ideal, out of sight but with a clear view of the room. I eased into the chair, my back to the wall, and finally let myself breathe.

As I took the first bite of brisket, tender and dripping with smoky goodness, it was like biting into heaven. The spices danced on my tongue, making me forget everything outside that flavor. Osiris, my past… All faded for just a heartbeat.

“God.”

I took another bite. “This is incredible.”

Whoever had cooked this brisket was a rock star. I didn’t think I’d tasted anything this good in my entire life.

But as good as the food was, it couldn’t silence the whisper in the back of my mind. A feeling I couldn’t shake, like eyes on the back of my neck. I set the sandwich down, scanning the room. Nothing seemed out of place, just people enjoying their meals.

I exhaled, shaking my head. “Stop,”

I murmured under my breath. “Just eat.”

But the knot in my chest tightened. I picked up the sandwich again, determined to ignore it. Just for tonight, I needed one good thing.

“ D o you mind if I sit here? Every other seat is taken.”

The stranger’s deep voice had a soothing quality to it, like smooth jazz on a lazy morning. I slid my gaze up, my eyes landing on a stranger who seemed to take up more space than he should, even standing still. The scent of sandalwood and musk wafted from him, mingling with the aroma of the freshly cooked food on his tray.

Those dark eyes studied mine, and I felt completely stripped bare. Forcing myself to look away, my gaze slid over his black duster that hung loosely over broad shoulders, and when he shifted, the faint clink of metal hinted at something far less ordinary than a belt buckle.

“Sure,”

I managed, my voice quieter than I’d intended.

Holy shit. The faint curve of his lips threatened to tilt my world on its axis. He slid into the seat across from me then set his tray down.

“Thanks.”

He leaned back slightly. “Name’s Malachi.”

“Hungry.”

My eyes widened. Why don’t you outright beg him for a handout. “I mean Dane!”

Clearing my throat, I steadied my voice. “I’m Dane”

The barest hint of amusement danced across Malachi’s lips. He slid his tray toward the middle of the table. “If you’re still hungry, you’re welcome to anything you see.”

I forced my gaze not to slide over him .

“No.”

I shook my head. “That’s your food.”

I’d satisfied my craving for barbecue, and now I needed to keep moving.

Malachi kept studying me, his intense gaze making me want to squirm. I shifted uncomfortably, then glanced around the room.

T hat’s when I saw him.

A man sat alone in a booth, no food, no drink, just a quiet focus that felt like a blade pressed to the back of my neck. His dark hair fell neatly over one eye, and he was staring directly at me.

My chest tightened as that familiar tingle spread through me. There was something about the way he looked at me, calm and unwavering, that sent a chill crashing through my body.

A low, rumbling snarl yanked my attention back to Malachi. The guy was rising slowly, then he flicked his arm out.

My gaze darted around the room, and I realized with horror that Malachi had frozen everything. A woman sat mid-bite, her fork hovering inches from her lips. A kid’s laugh was stuck on her face, her eyes wide and bright but empty. Even the clatter of dishes and hum of chatter had vanished, replaced by a silence so intense it made my ears ring.

“What…?”

My heart pounded as I stumbled back, nearly knocking my chair over. My gaze jumped between Malachi and the man in the booth.

“Osiris,”

Malachi spat. He rolled his shoulders, letting his long coat slip off to reveal a sword that gleamed as he pulled it from its sheath. My breath hitched.

Did he just say Osiris ? If that was the demon after me, he was possessing some poor guy. Goddamn it! I hadn’t been in Ashwood an hour, and the bastard had found me.

A faint buzzing started in my ears as the stranger he’d possessed cocked his head. The move was slightly off-centered and just a little lower than a normal head tilt should be.

His dark hair shifted just enough to reveal piercing eyes that bore into me as cruel amusement simmered in their depths.

Not the kind of amusement that laughed with you. The kind that hurt.

He didn’t rise, didn’t move, but the air seemed to thicken around him, pressing against my chest like an invisible hand.

When the stranger finally stood, it was unhurried, as if the world existed only to serve his pace. His fingers trailed along the edge of the table, a soft scrape that somehow sounded deafening in the frozen silence of the room.

“Did you miss me?”

Osiris’s voice was low, smooth, and mocking. The grin that followed wasn’t a greeting.

It was ownership.

If I’d had any doubt before that this was Osiris, that statement alone cemented my belief.

I took another step back, my pulse hammering so loud in my ears it nearly drowned out everything else. It didn’t stop the icy grip of Osiris’s gaze, though. The way his lips curled lazily upward twisted something deep in my gut.

“You wear fear beautifully. Almost like it was made for you,”

Osiris said, his voice smooth as velvet but with an edge that cut deep. His eyes flicked briefly to Malachi, dismissing him almost immediately before locking back on me. It was the kind of look that pinned me in place, helpless, like a butterfly on a collector’s board.

The restaurant lights seemed to dim as the stranger stepped forward, his presence stretching out like a shadow that had learned how to walk. His hands remained at his sides, relaxed, but the air around him crackled with tension.

He didn’t raise his hands, didn’t reach for a weapon. He didn’t need to. The tension in the air coiled tighter with every step he took, and my chest tightened with it.

“You look good,”

Osiris purred, his smile widening. “But then again, I like my toys intact before I break them.”

I stumbled, the words slicing through my panic like a whip, but Osiris’s grin only grew. That smile, it wasn’t the grin of someone enjoying the chase. It was the grin of someone savoring the inevitable fall.

Steel flashed as Malachi’s sword cut a line through the space between us. Osiris didn’t so much as flinch. His focus remained fixed on me, as though Malachi were nothing more than an afterthought.

Malachi’s gaze was locked on Osiris. His grip on the hilt was firm, the blade angled downward, ready to strike. His stance dared Osiris to make the first move.

My throat tightened, my pulse hammering so hard it felt like my body might vibrate out of existence.

“You brought a friend.”

Osiris’s voice dipped lower, colder, but no less controlled. “How sweet. I wonder…”

His head tilted, the amusement in his gaze deepening into something darker. “Will he bleed for you?”

Shallow breaths clawed at my throat, panic tightening its grip. Osiris’s smile softened then, but it didn’t lose its edge.

It became something worse.

Intimate.

“Do you feel that?”

Osiris’s voice dropped to a whisper, his grin widening as he winked. “That little spark of hope you’re clinging to? Don’t worry. I’ll snuff it out soon enough.”

Malachi moved, stepping between me and Osiris. His voice was calm, firm. “Get behind me.”

My gaze snapped to him, and my breath caught. Black wings unfurled, their feathers rippling unnaturally.

Wings?

What the actual hell? They were huge, making me wonder how no one in the place, including me, had seen them. Could they turn invisible? Did they fold away like a Transformer could go from a robot to a car?

“Um, no thanks,”

I stammered, taking a step back. My heel struck the leg of a chair, and I stumbled, arms flailing to keep my balance. “I’m—I’m good.”

Malachi’s head turned slowly, those dark, piercing eyes locking onto me. His tone dropped, sharp and unyielding. “Get. Behind. Me.”

“No. Fucking. Way.”

My voice cracked, heart pounding. That blade—a two-foot monster with a dragon mid-snarl on the hilt—was reason enough to stay back. I didn’t know Malachi well enough to put my trust in him, even if every inch of him seemed honed for battle, from his strong, corded arms to his long legs.

Malachi shifted, lifting the blade in a fluid, controlled motion. The air around it hummed, vibrating like tension before a storm. The snap of energy jolted me out of my daze. I backed up again, hitting the table behind me with enough force to send pain shooting through my hip, but I barely felt it.

Osiris’s grin deepened. He moved slowly at first, and then his hand quickly shot out toward me. A sharp cry escaped my lips as I instinctively recoiled, remembering the excruciating pain that Osiris’s touch always caused me.

Malachi’s blade was there in an instant, the strike so swift it sang through the air. The tip slashed just shy of Osiris’s outstretched fingers, forcing him to withdraw with a quick, guttural growl. Malachi twirled the blade effortlessly, as if it were an extension of his own arm, poised and ready to strike again at any moment. A menacing aura surrounded him as he stood protectively in front of me, his blade gleaming under the low-hanging lights. His voice was low and menacing as he snarled, “Next time I won’t miss.”

Osiris glanced at his hand, curling his fingers inward as if inspecting his nails. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. Then the air shifted.

E nergy surged through his palm, a blue glow brightening before the air ignited. Malachi spun, so I did the same, his chest pressing firmly into my back. His wings snapped open and curled protectively around us, absorbing the brunt of the attack. Sparks showered outward, the strong scent of burned feathers filling the air.

“The son of a bitch is really starting to piss me off,”

Malachi growled, his wings flexing as if preparing for the next strike.

“Starting to?”

My eyes widened. What did Osiris have to do to earn Malachi’s full wrath? I shifted my weight, trying—and failing—to ignore the strong arms wrapped protectively around me.

Another blast struck, harder this time, causing Malachi to grunt as we stumbled forward a step.

“I think maybe now is a good time to get really pissed off,”

I whispered, my heart thumping so hard my chest ached.

Malachi’s laugh was a low rumble. “Sweetheart, you don’t want to see me that angry.”

His arms tightened before they fell away from me. “Now will you stay behind me?”

Did I have a choice? “Consider me embedded in your wings.”

The chuckle that followed was warm, teasing, leaving a mark on anyone who heard it. “Knew you’d submit eventually.”

“I don’t submit,”

I gritted out, the words too close to Osiris’s degrading taunts.

Warm lips brushed against my ear. “You will,”

he murmured, his tone soft and dark, “if it’s my tongue coaxing you.”

Sweet hell. We were in the middle of chaos, and the guy was trying to seduce me?

Before I could even process it, Malachi’s lips brushed just below my ear. Then he turned, wings snapping open like a shield. The table beside us shot into the air, spinning wildly before rocketing toward Osiris.

It missed by inches. The demon didn’t even flinch.

“Seriously?”

Osiris’s features twisted in anger. “This isn’t a bar brawl.”

The obsidian wings expanded, but I ducked my head around the razor-sharp feathers to see what was happening. Why, so I could see my death coming?

Malachi didn’t seem to notice me. His muscles flexed under his shirt, and black energy coiled around his hand, growing darker by the second. The current pulsed, heavy and electric, before a bolt of black lightning shot from Malachi’s palm. It struck Osiris’s left shoulder, making him stagger.

The storm in the room was building now. The scent of ozone stung my nose, and the hairs on my arms stood on end. My skin tingled, the air buzzing like it was alive. I swiped at my arms, trying to stop the sensation, my breaths short and uneven.

Osiris struck back, his power lashing out like a whip. Malachi countered, the clash of energy shaking the room. The ground trembled beneath my feet as they went at each other with an intensity I couldn’t wrap my head around.

A raw force crackled between them, tangible enough to cut across my skin. This wasn’t a fight.

It was destruction.

This was insane. This couldn’t be real. I had to be dreaming or hallucinating or something.

My gaze darted to the two locked in battle. For a second, I froze, but then instinct took over. I bolted toward the door without looking back.