A Draught of Ash and Wine


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A DRAUGHT OF ASH AND WINE
 By
 Kristin Jacques
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * * *
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2023 Kristin Jacques
 
 
 
 Edited by Danielle DeVor.
 Cover Design by MiblArt.
 Illustration by Yorugami.
 All stock photos licensed appropriately.
 
 
 
 Published in the United States by City Owl Press.
 www.cityowlpress.com
 
 
 
 For information on subsidiary rights, please contact the publisher at [email protected]
 
 
 This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
 Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior consent and permission of the publisher.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 To dad.
 It can be so scary supporting creative paths.
 I am so very grateful for every moment you chose to lift me up.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 PRAISE FOR THE WORKS OF KRISTIN JACQUES
 
 
 
 
 
 “Jacques has a talent for pacing that feels effortless, and moves the story along with snappy dialogue, adorable flirting, and winning found-family relationships. This delightful romp, A Bargain of Blood and Gold, is sure to appeal to fans of Cat Sebastian and Gail Carriger.” – Publisher’s Weekly
 
 “Jacques does a wondrous job crafting a world rich with creatures lurking among the shadows… If you love vampires, detective work, mysterious creatures, and a little romance this book, A Bargain of Blood and Gold, is for you! I can’t wait for the next one!” – Jessica Julien, YA Fantasy Author
 
 “In a moment when words are greatly needed, I am at a loss to properly articulate the captivating read, Marrow Charm, was for me. The author writes fluently and effortlessly bringing scenes and characters to life in your mind.”– Permanently Booked
 
 “I fell in love with the characters within the first few pages of Ragnarok Unwound, and the story had me hooked by the end of chapter one. This is one of those books where I didn’t want to finish it because I didn’t want it to be over.”– The Paper Valley
 
 “Zombies vs Aliens is a fabulous mix of rollicking romp through zombie-land, action, and adventure that is pure entertainment.” – Leigh W. Stuart, Contemporary Romance Author
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Find Your Next Read
 
 
 
 
 Chapter 1
 
 
 Chapter 2
 
 
 Chapter 3
 
 
 Chapter 4
 
 
 Chapter 5
 
 
 Chapter 6
 
 
 Chapter 7
 
 
 Chapter 8
 
 
 Chapter 9
 
 
 Chapter 10
 
 
 Chapter 11
 
 
 Chapter 12
 
 
 Chapter 13
 
 
 Chapter 14
 
 
 Chapter 15
 
 
 Chapter 16
 
 
 Chapter 17
 
 
 Chapter 18
 
 
 Chapter 19
 
 
 Chapter 20
 
 
 Chapter 21
 
 
 Chapter 22
 
 
 Chapter 23
 
 
 Epilogue
 
 
 
 
 Sneak Peek of Flipping
 
 
 Find Your Next Read
 
 
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 Acknowledgments
 
 
 About the Author
 
 
 About the Publisher
 
 
 Additional Titles
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Want even more paranormal romance? Try FLIPPING, by City Owl Author, R. Lee Fryar, and find more from Kristin Jacques at www.kristinjacques.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Charley Dalton died a homeless man. He’s not about to be a homeless ghost.
 When Charley’s haunted house passes into the hands of psychic house flipper, Austin Sparks, Charley promises himself and the ghosts he lives with that he’ll haunt overtime to get rid of the threat. Once people start pulling up carpets and tearing down walls, a haunted house is doomed.
 Charley devises a plan to scare Austin off for good. But Austin Sparks doesn’t scare easily. Worse, he’s sexy as hell, and soon Charley has a bigger problem than failed plans. He’s got the hots for the enemy.
 But forbidden romance isn’t part of a ghost’s happily-ever-afterlife.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CHAPTER ONE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Johnathan Newman was about to burst out of his skin.
 This was a literal problem for him now. As he sat, muscles wound tighter than a coiled spring, he feared for the safety of the sleeping passengers around him. Heat surged through his veins, searching for release, for a hint of weakness. He grasped for a mental anchor, focusing on the uneven clank of the train over the tracks. The car swayed and bumped along, the regular irregularity of the movement lulling the exhausted passengers around him into a fitful slumber. The motion did little to quell the uneasiness knotted between Johnathan’s shoulders, his forced calm fleeing from the internal reach of fire.
 His knees jogged up in