Dawn of Destiny (The Warrior Angels Trilogy - Book 1)

Chapter Sixteen

Ashton had to admit the Heavenly Nights festival was gorgeous. He didn't mind that he and Richard had stayed in town to see it for themselves.

Townspeople were gathered around in the square with their iron lanterns and indulging in warm sweets from the bakery. Ashton spotted his sisters amidst the crowd and smiled when they began to dance with each other in a circle, blissfully unaware of his presence. Ailith would be turning eleven in the fall, and she was still determined to enlist in the royal guard. Ashton was quite terrified for that day.

"You made it!" Joseph's booming voice reached his ears.

Ashton flinched and faced forward. Joseph hurried toward him, a lopsided grin turning up the right side of his mouth. His eyes were glossy, and the cause of that rested within the nearly empty tankard he gripped like his life depended upon it.

"Phew!" Richard blew beside Ashton, waving his hand. "Joseph, my friend, you reek."

Joseph glowered at Richard and tossed the remainder of his amber drink at him. Richard jumped back and cursed under his breath.

"Now you do as well," Joseph told him, his amusement returning.

Richard wiped down his tunic and helplessly sought Ashton's eyes. "Can you believe this?"

Ashton sighed and said to Joseph, "There are better ways of handling things. And do you not think tossing your drink at someone is childish?" As if to further prove Ashton's point, Joseph carelessly dropped the now empty tankard and chuckled.

"You need to stop being so serious all the time, Ward," Joseph teased. "It's Heavenly Nights! Relax and have some fun." He stepped closer and turned Ashton around, forcing him to face the crowd. He then moved to stand beside Ashton and flung his arm around Ashton's neck.

"You might even find yourself someone to keep you company tonight," he added.

"Ashton doesn't care about that kind of stuff," Richard—thankfully—intervened, shoving Joseph away from Ashton.

"That is correct," Ashton chimed in, folding his arms across his chest.

"Are you certain about that?" Joseph flashed Ashton another one of his inebriated grins. He then pointed to something behind Richard. "I have spotted a pretty girl with pretty hair that I think you might be happy to see!"

Ashton blinked questioningly at him, though he received his answer when he felt someone pounce on him. He whipped his head to the right and saw Mayra's beaming face. And Ashton excitedly gasped in return. He turned his body toward her and embraced her, then lifted her slightly off the ground.

When he set her back down and released her, he was bumped aside by Joseph.

"Good evening, Mayra," he greeted, using a tone Ashton assumed was supposed to sound sultry but simply came out menacing.

The brightness on Mayra's face dwindled. Still, she stepped toward Joseph and swiftly brushed her lips against his cheek. "Behave yerself tonight." She patted his other cheek—just as she always did.

Joseph scowled at her. "I am."

"It's nice seeing you again, Mayra," Richard greeted, his grin as wide as it always was whenever she was around. Ashton tried not to smile too much himself.

Mayra had been introduced to them during her second meeting with Ashton. Joseph had insisted on tagging along because he was curious to see the girl Ashton had made friends with (as if it were that impossible to believe Ashton could make a friend on his own). Mayra had been delighted to meet them. Ashton thought Joseph's various attempts at flirting would irritate her, except she actually played along.