Burning Ember by Evi Asher Read Free Book Online Page A

was impossible. Scarlet couldn’t be his destined mate—his She-Wol f
    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.