Burning Ember Read online

  “What—why? I don’t understand.” Scarlet’s whole body tensed as a fresh wave of adrenalin from her fight-or-flight instinct coursed through her system. “You want to kill me for something I haven’t even done yet? What is the Eternal?”

  “Ah, but you will do it. It’s only a matter of time, darling.” He sounded sure of himself as he stepped away from the tree with smooth nonchalance.

  “I suspected you knew nothing,” he said as if he was confirming something to himself. “Pity, but it doesn’t matter. You still have to die, and just so you know who will force your last breath, pyro, I will tell you who we are.”

  “Well?” Scarlet snapped out of her fear, her patience gone. She wished he’d just kill her and stop sprouting gibberish.

  “Oh, my, she’s a feisty one.” He raised a brow, and the disembodied laughter echoed around her again.

  Scarlet’s head snapped around looking for the source, but she could see nothing. The air temperature surrounding her dropped a few degrees.

  “We are enforcers, little pyro.”

  The laughing voice spoke, making the air feel solid and icy around Scarlet. She shivered in fear.

  The voice spoke again, this time from the trees on Scarlet’s left. “Stop talking and let’s hunt.”

  “I’m so screwed, aren’t I?” she asked the blond man with the burning green eyes.

  His laughter was like summer rain, and it surprised Scarlet.

  “You know, I think I like you. It really is a pity we are going to have to take your life. Now run, so Luke can have his fun.”

  “No. Kill me and get it over with.” Scarlet straightened her spine and faced him with all the courage she could muster, prepared to die rather than carry on with the unending chase.

  He lifted a brow, but didn’t move any closer. A sudden ice wind whipped Scarlet’s hair around her face and she paled as an apparition appeared before her.

  He had dark hair plastered against his head with what looked like blood, along with his white shirt covered in the dark red liquid, too. He had his hands clenched in fists at his sides, but his face was what made Scarlet shiver in terror. His expression was one of pure hatred and malice. Half of his forehead was gone, a gaping hole in his head. She repressed the urge to vomit when she saw brain matter leaking out the hole.

  As she stared at him, he seemed to flicker out and then reappear, like a glitch in a computer, or an old movie.

  He darted closer to her, and Scarlet felt her knees weaken in terror.

  “Run!” He screamed right in her face, and she broke, turning to run from the creature as fast as she could.

  * * * *

  Archer slowed down the car as he drove past the burned out husk that had once been the bus depot in Glen Falls.

  “She did a number on the place, that’s for sure,” he muttered, parking the car on the side of the building, and getting out for a closer look.

  The dark didn’t bother him as Archer mounted the pavement, then climbed over the crumbling wall of the building to make his way through the rubble. Every few minutes, he drew in a deep breath through his nose. He was scenting, trying to find a unique whiff in the building that he could follow to Scarlet. All he was picking up, though, was wet, burned wood and rock. The smell enveloped the area, blocking out all other scents.

  Archer was getting annoyed—no, he was already annoyed. Through one interruption after another, it had taken him much longer than he’d anticipated getting here, and now he suspected he had a dead end.

  He didn’t want to have to call this a dead end, and he sure as hell didn’t want to have to wait for her to burn something else down before he caught up with her.

  She was in danger and he was very aware of it. This whole search had become a race to see who would find Scarlet first—Archer, or the enforcers he knew had to be tracking her.

  Scarlet had caused too much damage in the human world for her to go unnoticed.

  Here he was wasting time trying to find her scent in a burned-out building.

  “You there, no one is allowed to be in this building. It’s not safe.”

  Archer turned toward the voice and saw a police officer standing on the sidewalk, with a hand at his hip as if he was expecting trouble.

  “I’m sorry, was just curious.” Archer smiled and climbed out of the building. Inside, he was seething. This wasn’t a game. It was life or death, and he didn’t have time for a detour.

  “Not a problem. I know how folks can be curious, what with such a big fire here.”

  Archer made his way to the police man. “What exactly happened, Officer?”

  “Fire,” the man said in a monotone voice.

  No kidding, and here I thought it was a flood

  Archer plastered a curious but friendly expression on his face. “But what caused the fire?”

  “As yet, the cause of the fire is unknown. Now, I’ll ask if you’d mind moving along.”

  The officer was stern and Archer smiled and nodded his head, keeping his hands in plain sight.

  Sometimes, Archer’s size intimidated men, especially mortal men. It was if they sensed his hidden power, but couldn’t explain why they found him so disconcerting.

  “Is there a diner where I could go get a cup of coffee before I get back on the road?” Archer smiled again, careful not to show his teeth.

  “Yeah, sure.” The cop finally relaxed and turned, pointing to his right. “Just down the road a bit. Sally’s Diner, it’s a local favorite.”

  “Thank you.” Archer stepped past the cop, putting his hands in his pockets as he sauntered down the road. Local favorite was just what he needed. People gossiped. It was human nature, and if he sat quietly and listened, he might garner some useful information.

  He got to Sally’s Diner and pushed his way through the closed door into the warmth of the florescent lighting. He looked around, then took a seat at the counter that provided the best place for listening to the whole room.

  A waitress in a red and white checked uniform appeared behind the counter in front of him. “What can I do ya for?”

  “Hi.” He read her name tag. “Nancy, I don’t suppose you serve grande, non-fat, no water, one hundred eighty degree Chai tea latte’s?” He wore a playful smile to show he wasn’t really serious about the question. His charm worked, because he was rewarded with a big smile from the waitress.

  “Nah uh, that would be the invisible diner across the street,” she quipped back.

  He laughed warmly. “Just a regular coffee…thanks, hun.”

  “Sure thing, darling,” she flirted right back, and turned to grab a cup off the hook, putting it down on a saucer in front of Archer, before fetching the coffee pot and pouring for him. “Anything else I can get you?”

  “No, thanks, I’m good.” He gave her another charming smile as he pulled the cup closer to him.

  “I bet you are,” she muttered under her breath as she turned away.

  Archer felt his smile widen with the ego stroke.

  For a while, he immersed himself in the atmosphere of the diner, enjoying it as he scanned conversations.

  According to the two women in the corner booth, Jane Edington was having an affair with Philis’ husband, and when Philis found out, she was sure to Bobbit the cheating jerk.

  He couldn’t help but chuckle at that one as he gave a sympathetic wince.

  Archer moved on to another conversation, taking his enhanced hearing for granted as he eavesdropped from across the room with ease. The place was full and the conversation seemed to revolve around the fire at the bus depot, so it took a moment before Archer found the conversation that would give him a fresh lead.

  “I’m telling ya, Sally, Bill told my niece that that little woman started that fire, and I just don’t believe a word of it.”

  Sally leaned on the counter, enthralled as this newest bit of the story unfolded. “Why do you say that, Joe?”

  “Well, I gave Miss Scarlet a ride to the depot, and you couldn’t find a s
weeter woman if you tried.”

  Scarlet!

  Archer’s whole body thrummed with tension. This was the conversation he’d been hoping for and another chance to get back on to Scarlet’s trail.

  “And she sure didn’t set my truck on fire!”

  Sally laughed at the vehemence in Joe’s tone. “That old beat up truck? I’m surprised it hasn’t burned up all on its own.”

  Joe joined her in a laugh, but Archer had enough information, so he didn’t bother eavesdropping any further. He reached into his pocket and put down enough money to cover the coffee and a generous tip before sliding off the chair and leaving the diner.

  Once he was outside, it was easy to find Joe’s truck. Archer had scented Joe as he passed, so he simply followed the smell to a truly beat up old truck. He tried the passenger side door and wasn’t surprised when it opened. The old man was trusting of his fellow man, or he accurately believed that no one would want to steal such a clunker.

  Scarlet’s fragrance hit him in a wave, and his beast roared to life demanding that he acknowledge its presence. Archer felt his fangs elongate and his fingertips start to claw. He closed his eyes and swayed with the impact her scent had on him. It was soft and sweet, like lilac and lavender, and it was like a PCP to his beast.

  “No, she can’t be,” he muttered, drawing a deep breath to try to calm his raging beast.

  Big mistake

  His chest expanded as he started to transform, and Archer had to run, trying to hide his rapidly changing body as he fought with driving desperation to quiet his beast and stop the transformation.

  He darted into the ally next to the diner and pressed his back against the wall, his breaths coming in pants as he wrestled with the urge to change.

  The bones in his jaw cracked and elongated, and his skin itched with such intensity. He wanted to scratch his whole epidermal layer off, but knew it was just the hair sprouting from his pores. The itch would ease as the transformation continued, but he couldn’t allow himself to transform.

  Fight it. It’s not full moon

  Archer staggered deeper into the alley as his clothing started to get too tight. Soon it would rip as his frame grew larger, his shoulder getting broader, his build more muscular.

  He went down to his haunches and curled his head and shoulders forward, balling his body up, and focusing his will power. Inch by agonizing inch, he reversed the transformation. He was almost normal again when he took a deep breath and felt his beast rear up.

  Archer subdued his beast with pure force, his iron will winning the battle.

  She’d been in the alley.

  He’d get control over his reaction to her smell. There was no way that she was who his beast thought she was.

  It was impossible. Scarlet couldn’t be his destined mate—his She-Wolf

  She wasn’t even a lycanthrope. It had to be his connection to her through the vision that was murking up his beast’s response. That was the only logical explanation.

  Archer stood and took in a slow, weary, deep breath. His beast twitched, but he managed to keep the turn under control.

  “Good,” he murmured under his breath. He went back to his car and took the sawed off shotgun out of the trunk, holding it easily in one hand as he started following Scarlet’s trail.

  Archer loped through the town in an easy gait, staying out of the pools of light the street lights cast off, and sticking to the deeper shadows.

  Soon, he was at the edge of the woods. Scarlet’s scent was still strong, but as he ran through the trees, it became confusing.

  He stopped and frowned. Then he heard the chilling laughter in the distance. He recognized it instantly and felt a surge of relief that he’d packed the sawed off shotgun and rock salt cartridges.

  “Fuck… Fuck… Fuck!” he spat out, and started running again, putting in a burst of speed.

  He had to get to Scarlet before Luke had his way.

  “Just stay safe, pyro. The cavalry is on its way,” he said softly as he ran. “There is no way I’ll let that freak hurt you.”

  Chapter Five

  Archer ran through the trees as if he was insubstantial, having no effect on his surroundings. He placed each step with perfection, so he never made a sound. He let his beast have enough control to lead him though the circling deluge of Scarlet’s older scent to the fresh trail.

  It wasn’t long before her unique fragrance became stronger, and Archer added his other powerful senses to make finding her easier. His sharp hearing picked up on the snap of a twig to his left and Archer turned mid-step, running in that direction. He slowed when he got closer to her. It was obvious she was running from Luke and he didn’t want to add himself to her list of reasons for flight.

  Then, Archer saw her hunched over between two large trees, her hands on her knees as she dragged breaths into her oxygen-starved lungs.

  He slowed his own breathing, then spoke in a low voice so that he didn’t spook her. “Scarlet…”

  Her head snapped up, and she looked like she was ready to bolt.

  “No—don’t run, I’m here to help you.” He held out his empty hand in a non-threatening gesture, but her wide eyes focused on the hand that carried the sawed off pump action.

  “This is loaded with rock salt—all it would do is sting you.” He took another step towards to her.

  “Answer…me a question?” she asked through ragged breaths.

  He nodded and fought to control his beast, whose response to Scarlet was starting the transformation again.

  “You are here to rescue me?” She kept a wary eye as he inched closer to her.

  “Your very own knight in shining…” He looked down at himself. “New-Rock boots.”

  “Ah huh, yeah.”

  He almost laughed when she rolled her eyes at him.

  “If you are here to rescue me, what good will rock salt do?”

  He didn’t say anything as he turned to his right, lifted the shot gun, pumped it with one hand, and aimed at Luke. The ghost was speeding towards Scarlet with his hands raised up in claws, a look of diabolical evil etched into his features. Archer almost didn’t pull the trigger in time because Scarlet screamed and his beast tried to burst from his skin.

  Gritting his teeth, he fought his beast as he pulled the trigger. The rock-salt-filled cartridge hit Luke and the spirit vanished in a puff of vapor.

  “That won’t hold him off long.” Archer offered his hand to Scarlet. “Come with me if you want to live,” he said in a fake Austrian accent as he grinned.

  Scarlet looked over at where Luke had been, shrugged as if she had decided on the lesser of the two evils, then she took Archer’s hand. “Hasta la vista, baby.”

  Archer approved. At least she had a sense of humor. They started running, and he slowed his pace, keeping her hand in his, so he wouldn’t lose her in the forest.

  He stopped without warning and held a finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet, as he showed her to stay put. He moved through some trees, letting the blade in his wrist sheath fall into his hand.

  He’d spotted Geo through a gap in the trees and knew he had to incapacitate the Enforcer before they could move on.

  Archer slid through the trees with no sound as he snuck up behind Geo. If he had any hope of taking the Enforcer out, Archer had to have the element of surprise. He didn’t look back to see if Scarlet had followed him despite his instructions not to.

  Archer got behind Geo without the Enforcer being aware and used his left hand to grab Geo’s forehead. Pulling his head back, Archer used the blade in his right hand to slit the Enforcer’s throat.

  Geo fell down clutching his throat, gurgling on his own blood.

  Scarlet gasped. “Oh, my God. How could you do that? Are you a monster?”

  It was Archer’s turn to roll his eyes. He turned to Scarlet and asked, “Would you have preferred me to leave him capable of catching us, and right on our tails?”

  She gaped at him.

  “It’s too dang
erous—the Enforcers are too dangerous for me to display mercy. Besides…” He grabbed her hand again. “That didn’t kill Geo. All it did was slow him down until he can heal—as if I would take a friend out permanently.” He shook his head as if the thought was a no-brainer.

  She gasped again. “These monsters are your friends?”

  “They aren’t monsters, belan.” He used the Lycan word for fire. “They are just doing their jobs.” He pulled her again, setting off at a faster pace. Geo wouldn’t be down long and then he would be after them. Luke wouldn’t be down much longer either. He must have almost rebuilt his essence.

  “Your friends were trying to kill me,” Scarlet huffed as they ran.

  “You threatened the security of the Eternal,” he pointed out.

  “What the hell is the Eternal?”

  “Questions later—run now.”

  * * * *

  “Can we please slow down now?” Scarlet asked, still panting from Archer dragging her around by her hand. She was exhausted. Her whole body was trembling, and she didn’t think there was one muscle in her body that wasn’t screaming in agony.

  They were at the edge of town, and the man hadn’t slowed his punishing pace.

  “We have to hurry. I don’t know how much time we have, and I came without backup.”

  Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “You knew they’d be after me?” She didn’t even touch the question of why she’d suddenly become more popular than a rock-star.

  “I had a hunch,” he hedged.

  “And you came alone… Impressive,” Scarlet had to force herself to admit. Those men-creature-things—whatever they were—had scared the spine right out of her.

  Archer glanced over at her as he pulled her deeper into town. He slowed their pace to a fast walk.

  Scarlet caught his glance and felt her cheeks warm. She hadn’t noticed before—must have been the running for her life thing—but this guy was all kinds of gorgeous. Even in the dark, his stormy blue eyes caught her attention. She wouldn’t mind taking some time to have a good look at him when they weren’t moving at breakneck speed.