Burning Ember by Evi Asher Read Free Book Online Page B

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 dangerous—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.
    No, I’ve got to get moving away from here.
    She swallowed the sudden and unexpected wave of disappointment that thought brought, and tried to focus on where she was going next.
    “Hey, thanks for the rescue and all that, but I can make it on my own from here.”
    He looked over at her again, with a frown creasing his brow. “Sorry, Scarlet. That’s not an option.”
    “Listen here… whatever your name is—”
    “Archer.”
    “Archer—thank you—I’m a grown-up and I can look after myself. So thanks again, but I can take it from here.” She dug her heals in, forcing him to stop, or pull her arm from her socket.
    He turned to face her and