The Sons of Satrina: A Sons of Satrina Novel by Kristan Belle

little diner had been open since way before Ash had even been born. Her father had been bringing her here for more years than she cared to remember.  They served the best strawberry milkshakes on the planet, and they were not a habit that she’d kicked as she’d gotten older.  It was part of the reason she had managed to land a part time job here - Jean had known her since she was ‘knee high to a grasshopper’.  Although, they did have to limit the amount of free milkshake that she could consume…..
    The place was warm and familiar to her, almost like a second home.  Hell, Jean and her husband, David, were often a hell of a lot warmer than her own parents.  Her mother was strictly old school, keeping to the Matris traditions and shunning the human world. She wouldn’t even admit that she loved TV and Aisline had caught her many times watching her favourite soaps, sitting on the edge of the sofa with a tissue in her hand. Her parents hadn’t even wanted her to work. They believed that a woman’s place was in the home, but Ash had put her foot down.  She’d needed a bit of independence while she worked through her studies, and had been here for the last year or so.
    Jean and Lana were grinning at each other like demented Cheshire cats.  She didn’t need Je an to tell her that it was time. Lana dancing around the diner like a complete idiot kind of gave it away.  Aisline was tempted to ask her again if she fancied taking her place on the date, but she couldn’t get Lana to stand still long enough to talk coherently.
    Aisline ran a hand through her hair as she watched her friend and her boss chatting animatedly.  The girls were as different as night and day.  Both of their families were old, of good lineage and aristocratic, and Lana happily filled all of her parents expectations of the perfect daughter - feminine, quiet, agreeable.  To be totally honest Ash was, well, none of those things.  Sure, she had the attractive thing going on, but those looks were always hidden in clothing that her mother deemed ‘inappropriate’.  Honestly? Are jeans really that bad?  So what if her favourite pair had a few more holes and rips in them than the designer had intended?  Her mother despaired of her.  They were just different people, living in different times.  Ash knew that they would probably never see eye to eye on most things in life.
    That wasn’t to say that her parents weren’t proud of her.  They were, just for different reasons.  She was strong, independent and determined.  Plus, they had her sister to fulfil the role of the prim and proper daughter that Aisline would never be, so they basically just let her get on with it. They had given up the battle.  She knew that didn’t mean that her whole family didn’t wish that she would have a sudden change of heart, but they were ready to bide their time with her, hoping that she was just sewing her wild oats and would see reason one day soon.  Not that that was likely though.  Aisline’s stubborn streak was legendary.
    Her mother, bless her cotton socks, had always tried her damnedest to educate her daughter in the ways of feminine pursuits.  She had always been encouraging her to take up more genteel pursuits, such as knitting.  Knitting?  Really?  Seriously?  All that had happened was that Ash had ended up poking a huge hole in one of her mother’s leather arm chairs with one of the big, awkward needles.  Needless to say, her mother didn’t encourage that sort of activity after that.
    Any sort of physical activity, like martial arts, or any sport that required physical contact were strictly forbidden.  Talk about stunting her growth!  She was ol d enough to do as she pleased. However, while she was still living under their roof, she had to abide by their rules. Blah, blah, blah…  Well, she was seventeen and working her way toward a future for herself.  That was part of the reason she got this job. Independence.
    On the whole,