Mercy's Battle (Mercy Ashby Book 3)

by A. M. Hardin

  “He grieved for you, too, Mimi. We all did. We had no idea what the hell happened to you after you left us. If it weren’t for the news and random sightings of you, we would have thought you were dead. Hell, we all love you and would do anything for you. For you to suddenly disappear like you did, it was almost like you had died. Even though you were still alive, you were just. . . gone. We weren’t even sure that we’d see you again.”

  War keeps talking for a while as I sit against the tub, trying to calm my breathing and stop crying. When the tears finally stop and I’m calmer War asks, his voice soothing, “You ready to try to go back to sleep?”

  I shake my head. “No. I’m so sick of sleeping. All I ever dream about anymore is what I’ve done.”

  War stiffens. “What do you mean?”

  I sigh. Of course he doesn’t know. I’ve had at least one of the guys in my bed ever since I came back two and a half months ago. Rarely is the same one in here two nights in a row though. “The last three nights I’ve had nightmares about what happened.”

  “Weren’t they spread out before?” He asks, even though it sounds like he already knows the answer.

  “Yeah,” I murmur. “They’re coming more frequently.”

  “Shit,” he hisses. He picks me up, one arm behind my back, the other under my legs and carries me back into the bedroom and towards the bed. “We’ll talk to Kai and see if there’s anything he can do to help you to sleep better,” he swears.

  “Alright,” I whisper, not fighting as he puts me in bed and curls around me, tightening his arms grip around my waist.

  “Try to get some sleep, Mimi,” he murmurs into my hair. “I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

  * * *

  Shockingly enough, I did fall back asleep. This time without waking up because of nightmares.

  Yawning, I walk into the kitchen and find Parker sitting at the bar drinking coffee with his attention on his computer.

  I freeze, the memory of what I remembered last night slapping me in the face.

  Parker glances up. When he sees me his face softens as he smiles. That smile quickly turns into a frown as he takes in my expression. He stands up and moves toward me. “What is it? What’s wrong?” My chest aches at the worry in his voice. How the hell can he be so worried about me? I killed his parents. He puts his finger and thumb on my chin and tilts my head up, forcing me to meet his eyes. His eyes run over my face. “You’re pale as hell, Mercy. Are you okay?”

  A sob gets caught in my throat as I move his arm out of my way and throw myself against him, holding him tightly to me.

  “Mercy?” Parker’s voice is soft and confused as he wraps his arms around me, running a hand over my hair. “What’s wrong, Sunshine?”

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper brokenly against his chest as my tears soak through his shirt. Parker tenses slightly before relaxing and tightening his hold on me.

  “Sunshine,” he whispers. “That wasn’t you. I don’t blame you.”

  I cry in his arms as he continues to whisper soothingly in my ear. Telling me that it wasn’t me, I wasn’t in control. That I am still the same Mercy he fell for. That I’ll always be his Sunshine.

  He holds me like that for a while. I lose track of how much time we spent standing there, me crying and him comforting me. Footsteps coming from behind me make me peek over at the doorway and I see Hunter, Kai, and Talon entering the kitchen.

  “Everything okay?” Hunter asks cautiously.

  Parker runs a hand down my spine and answers. “Yeah. Everything’s fine.”

  The others look skeptical, as if they don’t believe a damn word Parker said.

  “Then why is Mercy crying?” Talon asks.

  War enters then, takes one look at me, red eyed, puffy cheeks in Parker’s arms and his expression softens and understanding fills his eyes.

  “Because she’s remembering,” War says, reading my expression perfectly. I didn’t want to be the one to tell them.

  Every one of my guys stiffen and exchange glances.

  “When?” Kai asks, studying me.

  “When what?” War says as he moves further into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.

  “I mean when did she remember?”

  “I remember when I’m asleep,” I admit quietly. “I’ve been having nightmares the last three nights.”

  “I told her that we would talk to you about finding something for her nightmares,” War says.

  Kai comes forward and kisses my forehead gently. “I’ll have it for you tonight, Baby.”

  He cups my cheek in his hand, meeting my eyes and I flash a smile for him. “Thank you, Kai,” I whisper, turning my head enough to press a kiss on his palm.

  “Anything for you,” he murmurs quietly before moving to the fridge. “Has breakfast been made yet?” He asks Parker.

  Parker shakes his head. “Not yet. It’s still pretty early yet.”

  Kai groans. “I’m not cooking.”

  War laughs. “Because you’ll burn the damn house down.”

  Kai shrugs, looking unrepentant. I laugh. “I’m the same way, War. I can’t cook to save my life,” I point out.

  Talon shakes his head and moves to the fridge, opening it. “Fucking hell. You’d think you weren’t all adults.”

  I smirk. “Technically I am an adult, but I am also technically still a teenager.”

  Hunter rolls his eyes. “I don’t think you’ve ever been a kid, let alone a teenager.”

  I purse my lips as I think about his words. “Yeah, you may be right about that.”

  “Way to remind us that we’re robbing the cradle,” War jokes.

  I stick my tongue out at him, putting it away and stepping back from him before he can sneak attack me with a kiss that’ll leave me breathless and without thoughts.

  He narrows his eyes at me, his eyes glittering playfully.

  “Actually,” Kai pipes up, “you, Hunter, and Parker are the cradle robbers. Talon and I are still younger than you guys.”

  “Hunter’s the ancient one,” War declares making me laugh. “Hell, he’s friends with Mercy’s dad and uncle!”

  Hunter rolls his eyes. “You know as well as I do that this is a pointless conversation that will get us nowhere. So why are we having it?”

  “I’m just sayin’,” War mutters grumpily before he and Hunter exchange a look.

  Hunter shakes his head and moves to sit at the table while Talon cooks us all breakfast.

  Soon enough the smell of bacon, sausage, eggs, and hashbrowns fill the air, making my stomach growl.

  I ignore my stomach and turn my attention to Hunter, opting to sit on his lap instead of a chair. “What was with the stare off with War?”

  Hunter’s arm goes around my waist, keeping me steady, his thumb rubbing my hip in a circular motion. “Nothing.” I narrow my eyes at him as he accepts a cup of coffee from Parker.

  “Bullshit,” I bite out. Hunter’s eyes dart to mine. “Don’t lie to me, Hunter.”

  Hunter sighs. “He was checking that your uncle and dad were still alive.”

  My stomach drops and his fingers grip my hip. “They are.”

  He nods. “Yes. They are. They probably just hate me right now. They’ll get over it. They always do. Though it may take a few decades for them to get over it,” he mutters, so quietly I almost don’t hear him.

  I choke on a laugh. “Wait, how old are you anyway? Last time I asked you just said you were a lot older than me.”

  Hunter laughs. “I’m about three hundred years younger than your dad,” he admits.

  “About? Do you have an exact number for me?” I ask, trying not to laugh.

  “Nope. Not giving it to you, Mercy. Figure out how old your dad is, subtract three hundred from that and you’ll get a good estimate. Though, it won’t be exact.”

  I pout. He shakes his head. “I’m not telling you, Doll.”

  I growl. “Fine. Be a turd.”

  “A turd?” War laughs from across the room. “I’ve
never heard anyone call Hunter a ‘turd’ before.”

  I grin and look around at all my guys as Talon puts breakfast on the table. I wish like hell it was always like this.

  Chapter 15

  Mercy

  I frown down at my hand as the little glowing ball thing that Kai’s trying to teach me to conjure doesn’t show up. It’s the same glowing ball that he had used in the tunnel when we got Xena out of the prison.

  “This isn’t working,” I moan.

  Kai chuckles. “That’s because you’ve only been showing sporadic hints of both my and Hunter’s powers. If you at least learn enough to control some of it, we shouldn’t have any accidents.”

  “Accidents?” I ask, raising a brow at him. “What kind of accidents.”

  Kai’s cheeks tint pink as he clears his throat. “Um, just accidents.”

  “Bull.” I laugh. “What happened?”

  Kai sighs in resignation. “I may have stripped every witch in the room of their clothes when I was younger and still learning.”

  I bite the inside of my cheek.

  I will not laugh. I will not laugh. I will not laugh.

  A giggle manages to escape. Shit. The giggle turns into full blown laughter with me bending over, holding my stomach because it hurts from my laughing.

  “It’s not that funny,” he grouses.

  “Ha! It’s fucking hilarious,” I gasp, trying to catch my breath. A few more laughs escape my lips before I can stop them.

  Kai glares at me. I bring my hand up over my mouth to try and muffle the sound.

  Once I’m in control again he sighs. “Anyway, that was tame to some of the other accidents that witches just coming into their power have had. Azura burnt down her boyfriend’s house because she caught him cheating on her and lost her temper. She didn’t mean to burn down his house, but if a witch doesn’t have a good grasp on strong emotions then their magic can take on a mind of its own.”

  I snort. “I highly doubt that was an accident,” I mutter.

  Kai looks at me, unamused.

  I snicker. “Fine. Sorry. It was an accident,” I agree. Totally lying.

  Kai rolls his eyes and chuckles. “You’re just agreeing with me so we can get on with it, aren’t you?”

  “Uh, yeah,” I say, completely innocent.

  He laughs quietly. “Alright. Try again.”

  I nod once and focus on the task at hand. Holding my hand out, palm up I murmur the words Kai taught me. This time I can feel a flicker of that foreign power build up within me. Other than feeling the flicker inside, nothing happens and I groan as I drop my hand.

  “I felt it that time. Your magic is very. . .” I pause, looking for the right word. “Neutral, I guess is a good way to put it.”

  He laughs outright. “How is that compared to your own magic?”

  “My magic is more chaotic. Destructive. Yours is strong, even with the little bit I can feel inside me, but it’s not-” I cut myself off, grinding my teeth.

  “It’s not, what?” Kai asks.

  “Your magic isn’t evil.”

  Kai sighs and cups my face in his hands, running his thumbs across my cheeks as he meets my gaze. “Baby, your magic is not evil. You are not evil. Not all demons are evil, Mercy. You of all people should know that.”

  “Yeah, I know that. It’s just. . . it’s how it feels to me. I don’t know how else to describe it.”

  Kai studies me closely before placing a gentle kiss on my lips.

  I feel something press between me and Kai and I look down to see Wrath - who has grown a lot since he first came here, his head is now up to my thigh - snuggling into my thigh, not so subtly pushing me away from Kai.

  We laugh and I reach down to pet Wrath’s head and scratch behind his ears.

  “Have you figured out when he became bonded to you?” Kai asks quietly, watching me pet Wrath.

  I shake my head. “No. I have no idea. I haven’t dreamt about him yet.”

  I feel kind of sad that I don’t remember even meeting Wrath, but at the same time I’m glad that I don’t remember everything from when I was rogue. I’m already struggling with what I already know.

  Wrath straightens and a chilling growl leaves his lips as his attention is directed behind Kai. I frown.

  “What’s wrong, Wrath?” I ask softly, being sure to keep my tone soothing so he doesn’t get more upset.

  I notice Kai shift slightly beside me but otherwise keep my attention firmly on Wrath.

  Kai curses from beside me, drawing my attention. “We’re surrounded,” Kai warns.

  “What? By who?”

  Kai shakes his head. “I don’t know. I’ll call the guys and let them know we have a breach. Parker’s vamps have grown slack in the security since you’ve been with us. Mainly because they figured we didn’t have to worry about you attacking us.”

  Kai’s silent for several moments and I know that he’s talking to at least one of the guys. I shut him and Wrath’s growling out of mind and focus on my heightened senses that have improved a lot since I gained Talon’s and Parker’s powers.

  I grab the dagger that I keep strapped to my hip and toss it straight ahead of me at the exact moment that someone enters the clearing. They didn’t see my weapon until it was too late to dodge. My dagger strikes right in their throat, causing them to drop to the ground, not dead, but dying.

  All at once at least fifteen men and women surround Kai, Wrath, and me. What the hell? How did these assholes get past all the vampires here?

  Kai swears under his breath before looking at the man standing in front of him. “You’re from the Order.”

  “Hand us the girl and we won’t be forced to kill you, Kai Griffin,” the man says ominously.

  “Uh, how about he doesn’t hand me over and you don’t kill him.” I shrug, trying not to laugh at the collective glares I’m getting from the group. “Just a suggestion.”

  Kai’s head shakes in my peripherals and I have to fight my smile. At least someone thinks I’m funny.

  “No?” I look around at the faces, recognizing a few of them. I’m mildly curious about why they haven’t just killed me since that’s their ultimate goal but at the same time, I couldn’t give a shit why they haven’t. “Pity. Have you guys met my puppy?” I ask in a cheerful voice.

  The three standing in Wrath’s view pale considerably as Wrath gnashes his teeth at them, saliva pooling out of his mouth. Damn dog looks feral as fuck.

  No one moves an inch and I roll my eyes, starting to get bored. “Oh fucking hell,” I grumble. “Leave it to the Order to send a bunch of pussies after me.” I pat Wrath once on the head. “Kill them.”

  Wrath immediately jumps into action, jumping on the man in front of him. The man doesn’t even have a chance to defend himself before my puppy is ripping his throat out. The sound of fighting beside me doesn’t faze me. My gaze is immediately drawn to the blood gushing out of the two that Wrath has already killed. He’s working on a third as I feel fangs protrude from my gums.

  My stomach clenches and a red haze fills my vision.

  I duck down just in time to dodge one of the women’s swords. Seriously? Who the hell carries around actual huge ass swords in this day and age?

  I bare my teeth at her. Her eyes grow wide as they land on my fangs. I don’t give her a chance to lift that monstrosity for another swing. Instead, I leap at her and grab her hair at the back of her head, baring her throat to me. Without pause, I bite deep into her neck and yank, tearing her throat out before dropping her body to the ground.

  The taste of her blood clouds my thoughts further and I immediately jump on the next attacker, giving him the same treatment. Between Kai, Wrath and myself the threat is gone fairly quickly.

  “Mercy,” Kai says from behind me, gaining my attention as I look around for any other attackers, wanting more blood. I swing around and face him. His face pales a little, but it’s enough to pull that haze back just enough for thought and reason to filter through.

>   My hands shake as I bring them up to cover my mouth, gasping for air. Kai steps closer to me but stops when I take several steps back from him. I shake my head, trying to ignore that nagging instinct telling me to attack him, to take his blood. I squeeze my eyes shut.

  “Baby,” he murmurs.

  “Give me a minute,” I whimper, keeping my eyes closed and my muscles locked up tight so I don’t accidentally lose my shit and attack him. I can feel tears tracking down my cheeks but I don’t bother to wipe them away.

  “Parker’s on his way, Baby,” Kai assures me, still keeping his distance.

  I nod. What can’t be more than seconds later I feel a stirring of the air around me.

  “Sunshine,” Parker says softly, keeping his tone light. “Open your eyes and breathe through it.”

  I shake my head. No. If I open my eyes, I’ll see the effect I have on my own boyfriends. I fucking scare the people that I would never want to harm.

  My stomach is still clenching, acting like it’s starving, but I’m not hungry. I’m thirsty.

  “Sunshine, you’re going to have to open your eyes and move your hands so I can wipe the blood off your face,” Parker says, his tone calming. Soothing. Slowly, I open my eyes and come face to face with Parker.

  He doesn’t look scared of me like Kai did just minutes before. He’s looking at me with understanding. Because he knows what it’s like.

  Kai hands Parker a wet cloth and I briefly wonder where it came from before pushing the thought aside. He most likely just conjured the damn thing. Parker moves closer and moves my hands off my face. He brings the cloth to my face and gently wipes the blood away.

  It helps a little, now that the smell isn’t so strong, but I can still taste it. And I’m still thirsty.

  Once Parker is done, he hands the cloth back to Kai and pulls something out of the deep pocket on the side of his pants. A water bottle filled with blood.

  “Drink this, Sunshine,” Parker suggests. “It’ll help to ease the craving.”

  I don’t want to drink it but I know I need to, or this feeling of starvation isn’t going to go away.

  Parker takes the lid off and hands it to me. My hands shake as I take it from him, keeping my eyes on his. I drink the blood down fast, cringing the entire time. Not because I don’t like it. Because I do. I never imagined I’d ever like the taste of blood.