Salvation's Kiss (Tales Of Mython Book 1) by Kathryn Jayne (old books to read .TXT) 📗

it’s consuming all my free time. I’ll be sure to make it up to you soon, maybe a movie one night?”

“That would be great. You know we miss you. I can’t believe I didn’t realise Mrs Huston was your gran. How dense can I be?”

“It’s a popular name. There are three others I know of in our academy alone.” He gave her a charming smile, his gaze seeming a little too intense, as if he was waiting for something.

“Ashley!” Tess broke away from her conversation with Ethel, looking at her friend’s purchase for the first time. “You never said it was a dynamo!” Tess gushed, with a girlish lilt to her voice. She dropped to her knees before the bike as Will fully released it into Ashley’s possession. Tess ran her hands across its frame, studying the complex mechanisms that charged the in-built battery which allowed the rider to switch to assisted pedalling if they grew tired, so long as they had stored enough energy. “They don’t even make these any more. Does it work?”

“Of course it works, love,” Ethel chimed. “We changed one of the bulbs in the front light, but other than that it was in good condition.”

“Now I see why you wanted it.” Tess grinned, still running her hand appreciatively down the frame just like Ashley had done moments before. Ashley smiled back, her gaze straying to Will who stood watching them in mild amusement.

“Well, we should get going. I can’t wait to try him.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve already picked out a name?” Will teased, leaning on the counter.

“Afterglow, because that’s all you’ll see of me,” Ashley beamed. “Will you, Tess? Please.”

“Alright, I’ll get the stencils, my dad won’t mind us using his paints.”

“And tagging it?” she posed hopefully. “I’ve spent so long saving for this beauty, I’d hate him not to be registered.”

“Hey, if you wait five minutes I can get it tagged for you.”

Ashley turned to look at Will, wondering whether to accept his offer.

“We’ve got the kit in the back. We’ll throw it in as a complimentary, right, Gran?”

“Thanks, but Tess’s dad promised to check it over for me,” Ashley replied hastily, before Ethel had the chance to reply.

Tess turned to her with a grimace. “I can’t believe you kept it from me. When I asked him, I thought you meant a pedal bike.”

“He won’t mind, will he?” Will scooted around them, holding the door as Ashley began to wheel the bike forward

“Mind? It’s all I’m likely to hear about for a week.”

“Thank you, Mrs Huston,” Ashley called back, before thanking Will for holding the door. “See you later, Will.”

“Yes, thanks, see you tomorrow, Will,” Tess said. “I’m glad he’s looking a little better. I was getting quite worried,” she whispered, once the door was closed and they were far from earshot.

“We’ve not seen him for a while now. I wonder what’s going on? I know we don’t have any classes together, but he always used to join us at lunch. I know he said he has a study project, but… I don’t know, something about him seems off,” Ashley said, realising exactly how long it had been since he last sat at their table.

“I’m not sure. He’s been looking really burnt out, though. I spotted him coming out of one of his lectures the other week, but he wouldn’t even talk to me. Something is going on with him, but at least he doesn’t look like he’s joined the ranks of the walking dead any more.” Ashley felt herself blanch at the reference, earning herself a sympathetic look from Tess. “Sorry, bad choice of words. Now, let’s get this bad boy back to my place.”

Ashley was fighting the urge to sleep, her head dropping as her eyelids refused to obey her will for them to remain open. After the second time her elbow had given beneath her as she leaned on the breakfast bar, dozing in and out of sleep, she surrendered, partially at least. If her eyes were going to betray her, then she would just have to complete the preparation another way. With a freshly-made strong coffee, she settled back on the sofa and, plugging her headphones into her device, she activated the text-to-speech function.

Allowing her heavy eyelids to rest, she leaned back, cradling the coffee protectively as the words washed over her. The soothing voice lulled her into further relaxation and the words became the bridge between wakefulness and sleep as she slowly transitioned between the two. Just as the words were fading into oblivion, a sharp knock at the door caused her tentative grip on the mug to slip. Gasping as the contents spilt, she jumped to her feet, now wide awake thanks to the dark fluid soaking through her pyjama top. Snatching several tissues from the wooden box on the table, she had just started patting herself down when the knock came again.

Tip-toeing across the living room towards the front door, she continued to dab at the stain, grimacing as the wet cloth peeled from her flesh with every step she took. Just as she was wondering who would call at this time in the evening, her vision wandered across to the antique clock that had been in the Ciele family for generations. Seeing it was 8pm, she gave a sigh. It felt much later

Cracking the door just an inch to allow her to see through, a wash of confusion enveloped her as she saw a dark-haired stranger standing on her stoop, looking nervous.

“Ashley Ciele?” he questioned, trying to peer through the door. She opened it a few more inches, instantly regretting the decision as his gaze turned to the almost transparent texture of her damp top. There was something in his expression she didn’t like. Without thinking, her hand slid down the inside of the door jamb, her fingers grasping the handle of the metal baseball bat her brother had got her for protection, her thumb resting on the button which turned this weapon into