From the Ashes (Force of Nature #1)

by Amber Lynn Natusch

  Seeing the futility of denying her, I sighed heavily, preparing for the conversation I really didn't want to have.

  “I said,” putting a little heat behind my words, “that it isn't anymore.”

  “Isn't what?”

  “A temple.”

  “Oh. Wait, why isn't it a temple?” she asked. There was a brief moment before her body went rigid, her hands white-knuckling the steering wheel. “What exactly happened to you that night?” Her voice was soft and sorrowful when she asked her question, but her tone belied the anger building inside her. Per the king's instructions, I'd kept all details of that night to myself, claiming that I couldn't remember anything other than going for a run and waking up in excruciating pain when the boys found me.

  “I was burned,” I answered sarcastically.

  “Yeah. I got that, Piper.”

  “I said what I said because I'm not the same anymore,” I explained before she could start in on me. “My body was hardly perfect before, but it sure as hell isn't now. That's what I meant by what I said.”

  “How is it not the same?” she asked, stopping at a red light.

  I closed my eyes and slowly drew up the bottom of my shirt just enough for her to see the scars. The sharp inhale of her breath let me know that she'd never expected to see that.

  “Now do you see why I'm not really up for going out? Or bathing, for that matter?”

  “I'm so sorry I said that to you, Piper.”

  “Please don't. Don't pity me. That's the last thing I need,” I snapped. “You didn't know why I was acting the way I was. You said it because it's your way of caring. I get it. Really, I do. Just drop it, okay?”

  “Sure, Piper. Whatever you want.”

  “And don't you dare tell anyone else about this, Kat. Not even Jensen.”

  “I won't say a word,” she agreed as the light turned green. She pulled away, heading off toward the Brooklyn Bridge.

  “Good,” I bit out, turning to look out the passenger window. “The last thing I need is for all those models of perfection back at the mansion to catch wind of this. I'm already a leper at the prissy little vampire get-togethers. And God forbid that the bitch squad hears about it. I'll never be able to survive those parties again.”

  “They won't,” Kat replied. I could hear the honesty in her voice.

  “Great, now can we just go get some food and head home? I'm getting antsy just seeing all these people on the street.”

  “Piper, you're safe. You're with me. And beyond that, the king said the warlocks were on shutdown after their last little performance. You told me so yourself. There's nothing to be worried about. I promise.”

  If only that had been true.

  As we sped onto the bridge, I turned to ask her why it was that we needed to go to Brooklyn to get groceries, but the question never left my mouth. It was cut short the second I saw Monroe, one of Kingston's minions, walking along the pedestrian bridge. He smiled at me as we drove past—an ugly, all-knowing smile that sent a chill up my spine.

  Seconds later, Kat's car went careening toward the bridge's guardrail. Then it flew through it, picking up speed as it hurtled over the side. Kat and I were soon plummeting toward the East River.

  “Fuck!” she screamed, trying to undo her seat belt. I, however, was paralyzed by fear. I watched silently as the dark water came nearer and nearer, finally crashing against the windshield of the sports car.

  I felt Kat reach over to undo my belt, but the water was coming in fast through the open windows. It wouldn't be long before we no longer hovered near the waterline, but were settled on the river's bottom. I fought against the stream of water surging into the car and managed to get myself out, grabbing hold of the roof that had yet to submerge. I wriggled my body out and swam toward the driver's side of the car.

  The side that no one had emerged from.

  “Kat!” I screamed, panicking as the car started to fall below the waterline. The situation posed a major problem for my werewolf friend; I knew she couldn't swim. As I understood it, none of them could. If I couldn't get her from that car and fast, she was a goner.

  And it would all be my fault.

  I took a massive breath before diving down, holding onto the edge of her open window. I reached in to find her belt still done up and Kat struggling to unfasten it. She was batting at my hand, her way of telling me to get the hell out of there, but her blows were weak and slowing. She was running out of time.

  Once I was able to free her, I grabbed her under the arms and kicked for dear life, trying as hard as I could to drag her out to the surface. My lungs burned, screaming for oxygen while I exerted myself to save her. She was heavy, far heavier than I ever could have imagined, but that only made me better understand why they couldn't swim. Too much body density.

  My mind begged for someone to help us. For something to pull me to the surface. I knew I wasn't going to make it without aid.

  Then suddenly my adrenaline kicked in, shooting through me like a rocket. I swam like a fish to the surface, gasping in ragged, frantic breaths once I reached the air. I scanned the area, looking for the nearest bank. I didn't know how I got her there; all I did know is, the second I did, I pulled her from the water and started to assess her. She wasn't breathing. Her lips had the faintest hint of blue to them.

  I was already too late.

  “Somebody help me!” I screamed, hovering over her to start chest compressions. I set my hands on her sternum and felt an intense warmth. There was no way she was dead yet. Werewolves always ran hotter than normal and she was no exception in that moment.

  Then I felt a heartbeat. It was subtle and erratic, but it was there.

  “Help me!” I yelled again, putting my face down by her mouth to see if I could feel her breathing.

  Just as I pulled away from her, having felt nothing, she coughed up an insane amount of water.

  “Kat!” I screamed again, rolling her to her side so that she could purge the East River from her body. “Oh my God, you're alive!”

  She tried to sit up, but faltered at first. When I moved to help her, she waved me off, giving me an ugly look between coughing fits.

  “What...happened?” she asked, her voice hoarse.

  “We went off the bridge,” I replied, unable to hide the confusion in my voice. Did she not remember?

  “We did? How the fuck did that happen?” Before I could reply, her eyes widened, looking over to the river I'd just pulled her out of. Then they turned back to me. “Piper, how did I get out of there?”

  “I pulled you out.” She stared at me in disbelief. “I know what you're thinking—that I shouldn't have been able to—but I did. I could feel the adrenaline, Kat. Maybe I was like those moms that lift cars off their kids or something...”

  “Or something sounds about right.” I could feel her assessing me, trying to figure out just how this tiny little nothing had dragged her heavy werewolf ass out from a sinking car. But I had nothing to offer her, and luckily we were interrupted before she could ask any questions.

  “Are you two all right?” a police officer called from his boat on the water.

  “Yeah. We're okay.”

  “The ambulance is coming for you. Just hold tight.”

  “That won't be necessary,” Kat said with a smile. “But we sure could use a lift home.”

  Not long after our ordeal, we pulled up to the mansion in an NYPD cruiser, dressed in New York's Finests’ sweats. The kind officers let us out and Kat thanked them, pouring on the charm. They both blushed, got back in their vehicle, and drove off.

  “I need to get this stench off of me,” Kat groused, walking up to the front steps. “And you're showering too. No arguments.”

  “No arguments,” I agreed, holding the door open for her.

  She stopped just in front of me, pinning deadly serious eyes on me.

  “I know I didn't just drive off the bridge, Piper. Something happened up there and I want to know what.”

  “Kat, if I h
ad a damn clue, I'd tell you, but I don't. One second we were headed to Brooklyn, the next we were headed to the bottom of the river.”

  “To sleep with the fishes...”

  “Yep.”

  She frowned.

  “I don't like this. Something about it doesn't sit right.”

  “I know, Kat, but I don't know what you want me to say,” I replied with a shrug. “Can we discuss this once we don't smell like rotten fish and garbage?”

  “Yes. We can.”

  I followed her into the breezeway and waited for her to enter the code for the security door. Once inside, we parted ways. I made my way to my bedroom, all the while mulling over the implications of the day's events. I had no doubt that Monroe was behind our impromptu dive into the East River, but what I didn't understand was why. If the king really had settled things with Reinhardt, then either the warlock leader had boldfaced lied to him, an act that would bring about his death, or worse yet, Kingston and his boys had gone rogue. The latter seemed far more likely. If I was right, it meant that I would never be safe again.

  And judging by what had happened that day, neither would anyone near me.

  6

  “Tell me again how you two ended up in the East River in the first place,” Jensen said, his confusion barely masking his fear-driven anger. He knew how lucky Kat was to be standing in front of him, but that didn't stop him from releasing his frustration with the situation on us both.

  “Like I said before,” Kat shrugged, “one second we were driving, the next we were plunging into the river.”

  “And you don't remember anything after that?” he asked, skepticism in his tone.

  “I blacked out at some point.”

  “I remember,” I interjected, trying to calm him. “But I don't know that you want to hear about it. It was scary. You shouldn't have those visuals in your mind.”

  “Do you know why the car went over?”

  Sort of...

  “No. Not exactly. It felt like the steering yanked us to the side. Maybe there was something wrong with the car?”

  “I just had it serviced!” Kat argued, not wanting to blame her baby, who was currently being fished off the riverbed for a hefty price.

  “That doesn't mean it didn't have issues, Kat,” I countered. “Sometimes problems occur when cars have been worked on. I've seen shows about it on TV.”

  “I don't know, Piper,” she replied, looking doubtful.

  “I'm not saying that's the case. I'm just offering it as an option. The reality is that we won't likely find out why or how we drove off the bridge. I'm just grateful we're both okay.”

  “So are we,” Jase called out from the hallway before entering the room.

  “How long have you two assholes been listening in?” Jensen asked, finding a new outlet for his irritation.

  “Long enough to hear what happened.” Jase turned questioning eyes to me. “I don't know how you two are alive.”

  “Well, we are, so can we just move on? Please? I don't like reliving this. I almost watched Kat drown. It's not a fond memory.”

  He frowned.

  “You're right. I'm sorry,” he said, coming over to hug me.

  “I just want to find someone to blame so I can kick their ass,” Dean added, coming to stand beside his brother, who refused to let me go.

  “You're going to kick the car's ass?” I asked him, feigning amusement, though in actuality, I was freaking out. I needed to divert their attention from retribution. “Besides, you two are on especially short leashes with the king at the moment. Merc too. There's no indication that this was anything other than a mechanical defect in the car. You can't go on a proverbial witch hunt, cracking skulls until you get an answer you like. You know what the king said about the treaty...”

  “Fine,” he grumbled. “You're right. I'd just feel better if I got to kick somebody's ass.”

  “Kick Jase's. He could use a good beating,” I suggested.

  “Hey!” Dean's brother exclaimed, pushing away from me.

  “I'm just sayin'.”

  “Some thanks I get for being concerned.”

  “Are we done here, Jensen? I'm exhausted. Hauling your mate's heavy ass out of the water has me beat.”

  He nodded once, his eyes darting over to where Kat stood.

  “Thank you, Piper,” he said solemnly. “I forgot to thank you in all of this. I don't know what I'd do without her.”

  “You'd get laid a lot less, I know that,” Kat added to lighten the mood. She never was one for being sentimental.

  I burst out laughing, as did the others. Leave it to Kat to bring everything back to sex somehow.

  “I'll leave you two to that,” I said, turning to exit. The brothers fell in behind me, closing the door behind them to the sound of Kat and Jensen crashing into the wall. It appeared that they were going to have quite the evening.

  The thought made me blush.

  The boys and I parted ways when they headed toward the media room and I made my way to my bedroom to crash. As I walked, I thought about the dream I'd had of Merc and me doing exactly what Kat and Jensen were at that moment. The heat that spread through my body made my cheeks even more flushed and chased away the remnants of fear from my afternoon's excitement. I rounded the corner to the wing of the mansion that held my room, smiling to myself.

  Then I walked right into the source of my lustful thoughts.

  “Gah!” I squealed, grabbing my chest. “You scared me. You have to stop doing that.” He eyed me curiously. I almost thought I saw a hint of a smile cross his face. “Jase and Dean are in the media room, if that's who you're looking for.” I started to slip past him, my awkward avoidance of him so obvious it was painful.

  “I was looking for you,” he replied, which startled me yet again.

  “Oh.”

  “I overheard Kat talking about what happened.”

  “You were eavesdropping?”

  “Strategically listening,” he replied unapologetically.

  I shrugged, letting out a heavy sigh.

  “Yeah. It was a rough day.”

  “Do you truly believe it was the car that led you over the bridge?”

  I tried to suppress my rising panic.

  “I really don't know what it was.”

  “Just as you don't remember how you came to be burned the night we found you in the park?”

  “No. I remember going over the bridge very clearly. I don't, however, remember the night I was attacked.”

  His eyes narrowed as he leaned toward me. I instinctively took a step backward.

  “You care deeply for your friends, don't you?”

  “Yes.”

  “You would protect them at all costs?”

  “I would,” I said softly. “They're my family.”

  His jaw tensed at my reply, flexing so hard that the tension cut deeper angles into his face.

  “Be careful the choices you make, Piper. Your desire to help them may very well endanger you, as well as those you endeavor to keep safe in the process.”

  He hovered for a moment, looking as though there was more he wished to say. Then, abruptly, he walked away, disappearing around the corner.

  I let out a loud exhale.

  I couldn't explain it, but it was as though he knew that I was lying, that I was withholding information. But how could he? He could manipulate the minds of others, but I knew nothing of his ability to read them. Regardless, he'd struck a nerve. He spoke the truth, though I was loath to admit it. I was a danger to myself and others. My track record supported that wholeheartedly.

  I schlepped my way down to my room and locked myself in, not wanting to see anyone. Why bother? I already had my guilt to keep me company.

  * * *

  I’d fallen asleep easily, exhausted by the entire ordeal Kat and I had faced. Soon after, I found myself sitting on the edge of a bed that was not my own, but I recognized it. I’d been pinned down by Merc in it once before. What a sweet dream that had proven to b
e.

  A sound from behind me startled me, and I turned to find Merc leaning against the wall on the far side of the room. Only the bed and an expanse of open floor separated the two of us. He lingered there in silence for a moment before pushing off of it to approach me.

  “Wait!” I blurted out, throwing my arm out to ward him off. To my surprise, he stopped. Then a smile spread wide across his face. “What’s so funny?”

  “You.” He continued to stare at me, creating conflict within me. Part of me wanted to run from him. The other wanted to run into his arms. “You don’t fear me when you are awake. Why now do you choose to be afraid?”

  “I don’t choose to be afraid…” The fall of his expression told me he didn’t agree. “Am I dreaming right now?”

  “Do you think you’re dreaming?”

  “I have no idea.” Everything there seemed so real—so clear. I just couldn’t be sure. “Why are you here?”

  His smile returned.

  “It’s your dream, Piper. I can’t answer that for you.”

  “Fine, then answer something else for me,” I countered, hopping off of the bed. “Why are you and your brothers always having silent conversations about me? And why do they selectively tell me what you’ve said?”

  The smile morphed into a smirk.

  “You’d have to ask them about that, Piper. I can’t speak for them.”

  “Ugh,” I groaned. “Okay, then tell me something else.”

  “Such as?”

  “Tell me why you saved me the night that Kingston attacked us.”

  His expression sobered.

  “Would you have preferred that I didn’t?”

  “No, but—”

  “I saved you for more than one reason that night, Piper.” He started toward me again, but this time I did nothing to stop him. “My brothers love you. That point was made very clear to me before we left for the club. Jase was busy with Kingston when we realized what the warlock was doing. Dean was guarding the vortex they’d opened. That left me. And I had no intention of being the reason that they lost you.”