Falling to Ash by Karen Mahoney

Author:Karen Mahoney [Mahoney, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic
ISBN: 9780552565264
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

THOMAS MURDOCH WAS tall, even taller than Jace. He must’ve been at least six-foot-three, maybe six-four. He was wearing a long duster that made him look like an ageing cowboy. His hair was a slightly darker blond than his son’s and it was cut short – military short – so I could almost see the pale flesh of his scalp. Silver was generously scattered throughout the golden bristle. He can’t have been all that old, but he looked totally haggard to me.

Vampire hunting can’t have very good health benefits.

We stood in front of him like two kids caught out after curfew. Something about the man’s dark eyes reminded me of Theo when he was controlling his anger, but the rest of him was all Jace – Jace in thirty years from now, after a lifetime of violence.

Jace’s father was looking at me like I was something nasty on the bottom of one of his huge army boots. And all I could think was, He’s back. Now Theo can kill him – and I’ll be safe . . . We both will be.

‘Dammit, son. You’re not banging her, are you?’ Murdoch shuddered and his mouth pulled down into a grimace. ‘It’s as bad as . . . necrophilia.’

Jace’s face tightened with something like anger, only much, much worse. It was like watching storm clouds gather in his eyes until they turned black with murderous rage. If I had been in the position to applaud, I would’ve done. He didn’t say anything, but he was definitely poised for action – and he was still holding the gun.

Murdoch Senior continued to glare at me. ‘I should kill you right now.’

‘You could try,’ I growled, showing him my fangs. They’d fully extended and my gums ached.

‘Dad, let her go,’ Jace said. ‘Just . . . let her go.’

‘Don’t defend it,’ his father snapped. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

‘Where have you been, Dad? It’s been six weeks.’ Jace’s voice was stretched tight. He sounded like he was waiting to explode.

‘On a job, where the hell do you think?’ Murdoch’s body language was relaxed, as though it was absolutely fine that he’d upped and left his son without a word of explanation. ‘You’re not a child anymore. I thought you told me you could take care of yourself.’

‘Of course I can take care of myself. I just didn’t expect you to disappear without even leaving a message to let me know you were OK. What am I supposed to think, knowing the kind of life you lead?’

Murdoch waved his hand dismissively. ‘We don’t have time for this, Jace. I was on a job – deep cover. I couldn’t talk to you about it.’

‘You didn’t even leave me a sign! Just something to let me know you were still alive.’

‘Jason, since when have you ever known the monsters to get the better of me? What happened to your faith?’ The hunter shook his head, as though genuinely disappointed.

Jace flushed. ‘I was worried about you, Dad. Don’t you get that?’

‘Worrying is for the weak,’ Murdoch said darkly.

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