by Evi Asher
Archer turned toward Zane, and saw Scarlet standing at the back of the room. “Damn it, Scarlet,” he nearly yelled, then remembered Geo was just outside, and lowered his voice. “I told you to stay in the room.” He stalked towards her, intent on shaking some sense into her. Why would she be so stupid and put herself in danger?
He needed—no, both his beast and Archer—needed her safe and locked up in the room where she wasn’t in the line of fire, preternatural or otherwise.
He noted she’d gotten dressed before she’d come out of the room, and that was a good thing, or he would have had to maim Eternals left and right for seeing her in the nightdress.
“Well?”
Her chin lifted in defiance. “I’m not a child, and you aren’t going to treat me like one.”
Her skin was still flushed, and for a moment, he wondered if it was from the pleasure he’d given her.
The thought nearly derailed him, but he got control of his body and plastered a stern expression onto his face.
“I’m not treating you like a child. You need to be protected, and we can’t do that if you are in the thick of the fray.”
“You might as well close your mouth and save your oxygen because I’m not going anywhere. I’ve protected myself my whole life, and if you think I’m going to hand over my independence and act the weak woman, then you’ve got me all wrong.”
Archer didn’t have time to stand and argue with his stubborn She. He let a low growl of frustration trickle past his lips before he barked at Zane, “Keep her here, and don’t let her get past you no matter how sweetly she asks, or how hard she tries to bully you.” A dark look was thrown at Scarlet.
His gaze moved to the others who suddenly were looking anywhere but at Scarlet and Archer. “Are you ready?”
“Yep,” Tate confirmed.
“Bring it.” Sophia grinned as the others nodded.
“Let’s go.” Archer opened the door and stepped out into the sunlight.
He walked up to Geo, keeping a distance of about ten feet between them. He knew how fast Geo could move, and he wanted enough space to react if needed. The other four formed a V behind him—Tate on his left, and Erik on his right. Heath and Sophia flanked them.
Archer’s grip on the butt of the sawed-off was relaxed. His left hand hung at his side, the wrist sheath ready for release.
“Imagine it—allies, no friend, squaring off over one little immortal. Give her over, Archer. I’ll forgive your actions from the other night.” Geo’s stance was relaxed. Archer knew it was deceptive. Geo was one of the best fighters in the whole Eternal, and that’s why the angel was an Enforcer.
“You mean the night I cut your throat, or is it the night I tossed you out of Scarlet’s dreams?” Archer allowed himself a small smirk.
Geo’s expression went flat. “Pick one.”
“I can’t do that, Geo. That Kalick is suspect. Scarlet isn’t going to give away the existence of the Eternals.”
“That’s moot, and you know it. The order was handed down that until she dies, my orders are clear.”
“Do you think we give a shit about your orders? Leave, and take your freaky sidekick with you.” Erik raised an eyebrow. “We aren’t giving her over.”
Geo laughed…a rich warm sound. “Make me, blood mage.”
“You know I can turn you into a llama with a twitch of my thoughts, so go already. I’m tired. I wanna get some rest.”
“I’d like to see you try, Erik.” Geo’s voice dropped an octave as his body started tensing for a leap.
“Stop, both of you.” Archer stepped further forward and twisted his body so he could hold his hands up, palms out, facing both men. “This is not a pissing contest, got me?”
Archer glared at them each in turn. “Erik, let me handle this.” He turned fully toward the angel giving Erik his back. “Tell me something…if Jasmine is collecting humans to worship her, why aren’t your considerable talents being used to enforce a Kalick on her instead of Scarlet, who is pretty much innocent?”
Geo stared at him blankly for a moment. “Where did you hear this about Jasmine?”
Heath stepped forward. “I told him. I was undercover in her little cult. She’s letting humans think she’s a goddess, and her power grows every day.”
“We will have to go and report this.” Luke’s voice sounded like it was coming from the end of a long tunnel.
“You mean you didn’t know? That’s a first—us knowing something before the almost omnipotent Geo.” Tate unleashed a bark of laughter.
Geo looked like he wanted to strangle someone. “No, we had no idea this was happening.” His fists clenched at his side. “Very well. We will leave empty handed this time, but I won’t be swayed next time, Archer. I have a job to do, and I’m going to do it.”
Archer didn’t get a chance to reply because Geo’s form wavered, then disappeared.
* * * *
Anger and resentment bubbled in Scarlet’s gut like a pool of volcanic mud. She was furious at Archer for the stunt he had pulled, treating her like a kid in front of everyone. So not okay.
She wanted to punch him. No one treated her like that—no one. She’d done enough sitting back and letting these creatures dictate to her. It was time to take her control back.
She paced up and down the small space in the room, and when the door opened, she spun and glared at it. Archer stepped into the room, his eyes on a map he held in his hand.
He looked up and gave her a smile that made her legs feel unable to support her weight. She gritted her teeth and denied the effect he had on her.
“Ready for bed?” he asked, his voice a husky brush of pure lust.
More teeth gritting. “Yes.” She walked over to the bed picked up a spare pillow and the top comforter. She turned and tossed them at him. The map in his hand dropped as he grabbed the bedding midair.
“But you can sleep on the floor. I don’t share my bed with bullies.”
“Scarlet, what I did, I did for your own good.”
She turned her back, kicked off her shoes and slid under the top cover fully dressed.
“Belan, baby girl,” he tried again, while Scarlet ground two layers off her teeth and chewed holes in her tongue so she wouldn’t answer, or rail at him.
He sighed, and the sound was one of pure defeat. Scarlet almost caved then, but she held onto her resolve, and she heard him start making a bed on the floor.
* * * *
The need for a glass of water and the bathroom woke Scarlet late that afternoon.
She slid out of the bed, making as little noise as possible. Peeking over the foot of the bed, she saw Archer who was lying on his back, one arm tucked behind his head as if he was relaxing on the beach, the other lying across his bared stomach.
Scarlet swallowed the groan of appreciation that rose in her throat. The werewolf was a beautiful creature, like a living piece of sculpture, every plane and hollow of his form chiseled to perfection.
And he wants to get it on with you. You don’t realize how lucky you are, woman.
Scarlet made a rude sound at her inner voice, her hand flying to her mouth when Archer shifted in his sleep.
Time to get out of the room.
She tiptoed to the door, feeling like she was doing one of those exaggerated sneak maneuvers she’d seen in spoof movies. She turned the knob slowly and tugged the door open.
To her relief, it didn’t make a sound. She slipped out of the room and pulled the door closed behind her.
Scarlet held her breath to listen to hear if anyone else was up, but she didn’t hear anything.
Good. Now to get to the bathroom before you flood the damn place.
She turned left, looked up and stopped.
The swinging doors from the diner side of the building opened up and Heath walked through, his head down as he studied the map clutched in his left hand. In his right, was a red coffee mug that read, Screw Morning People. His blond curls were sleep-tousled, and his feet were bare
.
Scarlet cleared her throat, and his head jerked up. “Oh, evening, Scarlet were you looking for some coffee—” His stare went blank, the map, and coffee mug crashing to the floor. He took two strides towards her, and raised his hands to hold her face in his palms.
Scarlet found herself frozen in place, her eyes locked on his as they swirled. Silver and gold formed a maelstrom in this irises, his pupils disappearing in the eddies his irises caused.
She heard the door behind her open with force, but she was still unable to move.
Heath spoke, and his voice was like something that came from beyond the grave. “I see…” A frown furrowed his brow, and he seemed confused. “Pink? Yes, pink, the darkest shade of pink is a name, the lightest is a color.”
Scarlet was drawn deeper into his swirling gaze. “Without pink, you will find no answers, and answers will provide more questions. Questions will give no answers. I see turbulence, I see fire—lots of fire, I see ash…”
Scarlet felt Archer’s heat pressed to her back, his hands curled around her upper arms as if he knew what was coming.
Heath released her face, and Scarlet sank into Archer as he steadied her weight. She felt drained, as if someone had found a plug in her ankle and pulled it out, and all her energy had swirled away.
Archer pulled her further back into his arms as Heath stepped back. His mouth pulled as he asked. “What did I say this time?”
“You don’t know?” Scarlet felt her eyes widen. “How can you not know?”
“It doesn’t work that way. I never remember what I said. It’s like a hypnotist’s trance, something tells me to forget. So, what did I say?”
“You spoke about questions and answers, and fire and ash, and a lot of pink,” Archer replied.
Heath nodded, “Remember everything I said, Scarlet. Let it burn into your memory, because I don’t trance out unless it’s important? You picking up what I’m putting down?”
She nodded, feeling her strength return in slow measures.
“I’ll remember what you said.”
“Good.” He turned and saw the mess the full coffee mug had made. “Shit,” he spat. “That was my favorite coffee mug.”
Stepping around the cup, Heath pushed through the swing doors to go get something to clean the mess.
When Heath was gone, Archer squeezed Scarlet’s arms, and cradled her back against his chest. “Still mad at me?”
She stepped away from him. “No…yes.” She turned toward him. “No, I guess, but stop trying to make my decisions for me.”
He reached for her to pull her into his arms, and she stepped back out of his reach.
“No! What happened was wrong.” She paused. “We made a mistake, and it can’t happen again, okay?”
“No, not okay.” He stepped forward towering over her. “It wasn’t wrong. It couldn’t have been more right.”
Scarlet tilted her head up to look him in the eye.
“I don’t know what kind of woman you think I am, but I’m not the kind of woman who messes with a guy who’s got someone, it’s not in me.”
“Wait, what?”
Heath pushed through the door with a mop and a bucket.
Archer glared over at Heath for the bad timing, then grabbed Scarlet’s wrist, and dragged her into the bedroom.
“What do you mean, a guy that’s got someone?” he asked as he shoved the door closed.
Scarlet went to sit on the bed, then thought better of it, and moved to stand with her back to the opposite wall.
“Selene told me. So you can’t pretend you are single.”
He sighed, and scrubbed his face with his hands. “What Selene told you is nothing more than a fantasy—her fantasy.”
He walked up to Scarlet, and took her chin in his fingers, lifting her face. “Look at me when I tell you this. Selene is not my She. She never was, but she wanted to be.”
“You are sure?”
“Of course I’m sure.” He gave her the most beautiful smile. “My beast never recognized her. He has other ideas.”
“Oh?” Scarlet was itching with curiosity. Was he telling her that he did have a She?
“Never mind the, oh. Just believe me when I tell you that I’m not with Selene, or any other woman.”
“But what did you mean…”
Someone knocked on the door. “Hey, Archer, how ‘bout you get your ass out here so we can plan the next leg of the journey, and how about you do it before Geo and his sidekick get back,” Tate’s voice growled through the wood of the door.
“We are on our way,” Archer called, then dipped his head to slant a kiss over Scarlet’s lips.
“We’ll continue this discussion later, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Good.” He went and pulled the door open. “Well? Are you coming?”
Scarlet gave him a bright smile, and followed him out the door.
Chapter Seven
Four tables were pushed together in the front of the diner, and everyone was vying for a place around them. The copied map to the Unnamed Oracle was spread in the middle of the table, and the other maps were spread around it.
Scarlet found herself a spot and staked a claim. She was prepared to use elbows to protect it, but the others didn’t try and push her away. It surprised her, because up ‘til now, these people had been happy to make all her decisions for her and keep her out of the information loop.
Sophia came to stand next to Scarlet, giving her a conspiratorial wink. “This is going to be fun, so sit back, and watch males be males.”
“What, no GPS coordinates?” Erik asked as he pushed his way in between Heath and Sophia.
Heath snorted and muttered, “Smartass.”
Tate leaned over the maps, read them for a second, and said, “This is what we are going to do—we are going to take this route. It will get us to the town of Nightingale by nightfall, and then we can find a motel and hunker down for the day.” He used his finger to draw out the route he wanted to take on the map.
“Don’t be an idiot,” Heath chimed in. “If we take that route, we are going fifty clicks out of our way.”
Erik slapped Heath on the back of the head, “Who says clicks, really? We are bounty hunters not Army Rangers.”
“Do that again, and I’ll rip your hand off and feed it to my dog,” Heath growled.
“You don’t have a dog.”
“I’ll buy one especially for the task, a big ass mother, and I’ll call him Tinkerbelle, and when the other dogs tease him, and he gets all pissed off, I’ll tell him you named him.”
Scarlet decided to accept that these people were a total different breed than humans, and in more than just an esoteric way.
“Will you all shut-up?” Archer interrupted before Erik could come up with a comeback. “We are going this way, and stopping in Middleton come dawn.” He gave Erik a hard look. “Then, Heath can go buy Tinkerbelle.”
That began another argument, which had Sophia sighing and walking over to the window to peer outside.
* * * *
Scarlet found her thoughts drifting as she tuned the testosterone fest out.
She had a few questions that needed answers, and they were annoying her. For one, who was the other woman that Archer’s beast had his sights on, and had he been with her, yet. Did that make her letting him kiss her wrong?
Okay, it was more than a few, but they were all about Archer, and whether she could trust him or not.
So far, Scarlet had trusted him with her life, and trust didn’t come easy to her. Could she trust him with her heart?
Heart? What? No!
What the hell was she thinking? Her heart had nothing to do with this situation at all.
Her heart was safe in her chest and so were her emotions. All she had was a hot case of the lusties.
So, if it were just lust, wouldn’t it be okay to give in? So what if she enjoyed Archer’s body. There was nothing wrong with that, and trust wasn’t an issue. No risk of heartbreak, or h
urt, since her heart wasn’t involved, she assured herself.
Not that she was the kind of woman to sleep around. In fact, her experience with that was limited to a few encounters.
Still, if she was going to do it, Archer was the guy she wanted to do it with.
All the towering-broad-shouldered-sculpted yumminess of him. The thought led to the memory of the night before, the way he’d grabbed her, the way he’d kissed her. The strong male power he’d used to make her melt for him.
Scarlet didn’t realize she was staring at Archer while absently nibbling on her lower lip.
“Scarlet…” Archer spoke. “ Hello?”
“Oh, sorry. You were asking me something?”
“What were you thinking of that had your expression so dreamy?” Erik wiggled his eyebrows at her.
“Nothing, and my expression was not dreamy.” She dropped her gaze. Then she realized the gesture screamed guilty, and raised her face again, changing the subject. “Are all of you done arguing about the route now?”
“Yes. Archer wore a knowing grin.
She cleared her throat. “Good.”
“Archer won the argument,” Sophia said, looking over from her spot at the window. “Just in case you missed the end there.”
“No, I didn’t. Of course he…” Scarlet spluttered. “I’ll go get my bag.”
“You do that,” Archer told her, his lips still curled in that wicked grin, as if he knew what she’d been thinking about.
Scarlet stopped half way to the swing door. She felt the blood drain from her face as she turned back. “Are any of you a telepath or something weird like that?”
“Honey, you don’t need to be a telepath to figure out where your thoughts were,” Tate said with an evil grin.
“Tate? Stuff a sock in it would you?” Scarlet lifted her chin and turned to push through the swinging door.
The sound of warm laughter followed her out of the room.
* * * *
They travelled in two cars. Tate and Heath were in the Impala. Archer, Scarlet, Zane, Sophia, and Erik were in the SUV. When Zane had grumbled about his legroom, Erik had told him that if he wanted the back seat all to himself he was welcome to scrunch himself into the backseat of the Impala. Zane had sighed with eloquence, and scrunched himself into the back of the SUV instead.
