Forever Burning by Evi Asher Read Free Book Online Page B

good about the support, but still a little lost. He wanted Scarlet back now .
    “We go back and do some research like we said we were going to do,” Tate said with a smile. “So get your ass behind the SUV’s wheel. The sooner we are motoring it, the sooner we’ll get back to Crossroads.”
    He turned and walked towards the Impala, stopping to take the keys out of the trunk where Zane had left them. “Let’s go, everyone.”
     
    By the time they pulled into the underground garage under the Outsiders Inc.’s building, it was late afternoon.
    Everyone was tired, and more than a few of them were bleeding from the skirmish they’d had with Jasmine’s forces.
    Archer felt as if he was functioning in zombie mode, and his beast was strangely quiet.
    Heath got out first, and went around to the trunk of the Impala to open it for Zane. The vampire exited with a groan and stretched his tall body. “Never, ever again,” he said, giving the trunk a dark look.
    “We’ll make sure we have some industrial strength sun block with us next time.” Heath’s lips twitched.
    Zane transferred his dirty look to Heath. “Ha-frigging-ha.”
    “Grab your stuff. Time to face the music.” Tate pulled a green duffel bag out of the back of the Impala , slung it over his shoulder, and started walking towards the elevator. Then he turned to look at Archer. “Dude, you look like someone kicked, ran over, then cremated your puppy.”
    “Shut up, Tate. I’m coming, okay?” Archer grabbed his duffel and walked past Tate, the others following. The mood was subdued, and Archer had a feeling it was because of him. So, as he passed Tate, he bumped him and said, “You only want me to go first ‘cause you are scared of big-bad-Dimi.”
    Tate released a bark of laughter. “Damn skippy.”
    They filled into the elevator, which was a tight squeeze, but they managed to fit and Zane pulled down the grating and hit the button to take them up.
    When they reached the reception area, they were greeted with, “About bloody time.”
    Poe unfolded himself from behind the reception desk, a big grin plastered on his face, and walked over to open the elevator for them. “You suck at keeping a vampire updated,” he told Archer as he straightened. “And the point of owning a cell phone is to bloody well answer it.”
    “I was too busy to deal with cell phone calls, Poe, so stop pouting.”
    That got him a dirty look and a raised eyebrow. “I see you’ve brought the other chapter of Outsiders with you.” Poe then greeted everyone as they exited the elevator.
    “And you.” Poe cuffed Zane across the back of the head as Zane walked past him. “You just up and disappear, and leave me holding the reception baby.”
    “Hey.” Zane swung around and glared at Poe. “Archer needed me. You work here, too, so it didn’t kill you, did it?”
    “I’m already dead, you dork, but if I wasn’t, it might just have.”
    “What the hell is going on here?” Dimi’s voice boomed across the reception, and Archer nearly grinned when Tate flinched.
    “Now, Dimi, try to stay calm.”
    A vein on Dimi’s temple started to pulse. “You are supposed to be in Mayborn. What are you doing here?”
    “Well, you see there is a problem with the headquarters in Mayborn.” Tate scrunched up his eyes.
    “What’s the problem?” The vein pulsed faster.
    “There is no headquarters in Mayborn anymore.”
    “What?”
    “That was so three weeks ago.” Erik shrugged. “We had a run-in with Jasmine’s crew and they took the place out.”
    Erik’s butting in only made matters worse when Dimi bellowed, “Jasmine?”
    “Where is the pyro?” When no one answered immediately, Dimi growled, “I want a full explanation for all of this, and you are all going to give it to me now.”
    Archer sighed and dropped his head back. “Dimi, please, just breathe. I don’t have the strength for demon histrionics right now.”
    Dimi’s skin started turning a violent shade of