Mercy's Battle (Mercy Ashby Book 3)

by A. M. Hardin

  Once the blood is gone Parker studies me. “Better?”

  I pause as I think about it. My stomach’s not cramping anymore and I don’t feel like I’m going to attack anyone because I’m so thirsty. I nod once and turn my attention to the ground. Parker lifts my head up, forcing me to meet his eyes.

  “It will take a bit to get used to, Mercy, but it does get easier,” he promises.

  I bite my lip and nod. “I’ll hold you to that because that’s really gross and I don’t ever want to do that again.”

  Parker smiles sadly. “I know, Sunshine. Unfortunately, it will happen again and you’ll deal with it, just like you did this time.”

  “I almost attacked Kai.” My voice breaks as I admit it, looking at Kai over Parker’s shoulder. Kai gives me an understanding smile.

  “But you didn’t,” Kai counters.

  “You controlled yourself. You barely needed my help at all,” Parker says. “It’ll just take time, Sunshine. This will get better.”

  I sigh, nodding my head. “Alright.” I look down at the blood covering me. “I need to take a shower and change my clothes,” I mutter.

  “Head on in with Parker, Baby,” Kai says. “I’ll take care of the bodies with some of Parker’s people.”

  “I’ll send a few out to help,” Parker swears as he takes my hand in his and leads me back inside.

  Chapter 16

  Mercy

  Parker and I get out of the shower and get dressed before going to join the others.

  "You okay?" War asks, studying me as I walk towards the couch.

  "I'm alright," I mutter, suddenly exhausted. After all of the training I've done today, the attack, then the amazing sex with Parker in the shower I'm ready for a nap.

  "You look tired," Talon says softly, an odd look crossing his face as I sit next to him. It's gone before I can think anything of it or recognize it. He moves his arm to wrap around my shoulders and pulls me to him. I lay my head on his chest and cuddle into him.

  "Just a little. All this extra training you guys have me doing is kicking me right in the ass," I mumble sleepily.

  "And the nightmares?" Hunter asks from his seat in the chair.

  I shake my head. "They aren't coming as frequently thanks to Kai's nifty magical dream catcher."

  "But you still have them?" War asks.

  I hum a bit, my eyes closing. "Sort of. It's more flashes again, instead of big picture."

  "Big picture?" Parker asks, sounding like he's trying to stop a laugh.

  I nod against Talon's chest. His hand runs up and down my arm, soothing me. "Yeah. It's not like a movie. Too tired to think about what the hell I'm saying anymore."

  All the guys chuckle. Talon's chest vibrating beneath my cheek makes me smile.

  "Take a nap, Sweetheart," Talon murmurs. "We were just talking about maybe watching a movie to unwind a bit."

  "Sounds good," I slur, already slipping into the darkness.

  * * *

  I wake up to a black blur of sulfur smelling fur barreling onto my lap.

  A grunt leaves my lips as I open my eyes, frowning. Talon pushes the hellhound off my lap.

  "You didn't have to wake her up that way, mutt," he grumbles.

  I take in the darkened room. The curtains are drawn, which means that it's daytime out already. With all of us on some kind of warped version of a night schedule, it's always hard to sleep at the same time each day.

  "Did everyone go to bed already?" I ask as I sit up and stretch, making myself wake up a bit more.

  Talon's expression softens as he watches me. "Yeah. I didn't want to disturb your sleep so we just decided I'd stay put and then we can go back to bed when you wake up."

  I nod still a little sleepy. "Sounds good." I yawn. "Fucking hell, you guys are killing me with all this training."

  Talon smirks. "Is it the training that has you so tired today or was it the shower after?"

  I laugh and smack his arm. "Both."

  He grasps my hand in his and pulls me onto his lap. I straddle him and run my free hand down his stubble-free jaw. He must have shaved today. He usually has a little bit of a five o'clock shadow going on.

  I grin as I feel him harden beneath me. I rock my hips a little, teasing him a bit.

  Talon's head falls back as a groan leaves his lips. "Fuck, Mercy. That's not why I pulled you over here."

  I smirk and lean down to press my lips against his neck, kissing him gently. "So why did you pull me over here?" I ask, my lips moving against his skin.

  He's quiet for a minute before he sighs. "Nothing. Never mind. We'll talk about it later," he says gently.

  I smile and trail kisses up his neck to his lips. "Okay,” I easily agree. “We’ll talk about it later.”

  Talon grins against my mouth for a second before quickly switching our positions so that my back is on the couch and he’s hovering above me. His hand trails down my side as he kisses me hard, thrusting his tongue in my mouth to dance with mine.

  I curl my legs around his waist as I slip my hands beneath his shirt, drowning in his kiss, his scent, his touch. He nibbles on my lip. A gasp slips from my mouth, turning into a moan as he presses his body against mine, giving me a small taste of the friction I desperately need.

  “Fuck,” Hunter’s voice washes over us. Talon breaks the kiss and looks above my head toward the sound of his voice. I was so dazed that I hadn’t even realized he walked in. “You have no idea how much I don’t want to interrupt this,” Hunter says.

  I tilt my head back so I can look at him from an upside down position. It’s not really comfortable, but I can see him, at least. I bite the inside of my cheek at the heat blazing in Hunter’s eyes as he looks at me, wrapped around Talon.

  “What’s wrong?” Talon asks, his fingers gripping my hip tense slightly.

  Hunter sighs. “We got a hit on Torn.”

  I burst upright, almost knocking Talon on his ass off the couch. Talon barely moves out of the way on time to avoid getting headbutted. “What?”

  “Jerome didn’t have any information about his whereabouts -which is why his ass is dead now- but I got intel from one of the demons under me that he’s going to be at a shipping dock in about three hours.”

  I frown. “What is he doing at a shipping dock?”

  Hunter scratches the side of his neck, seeming hesitant to tell me.

  “Hunter,” I grind out. “I’m not this fragile little girl that you seem to believe I am.”

  He groans. “Human trafficking. He’s getting a shipment of young girls in tonight and he always checks out his property when they arrive.”

  “They’re not his fucking property, Hunter,” I bite out, standing from the couch and placing my hands on my hips.

  “I’m well aware of that,” he snaps. “I could say property or merchandise, Mercy. Either way you would have snapped at me. The point of all of this is that he will be there and we can get to him. We can also free the girls,” he points out.

  I inhale deeply as Talon moves behind me and runs his hand soothingly down my spine.

  “Mercy, you should probably stay here,” Talon says softly.

  I whirl on him. “What?” I bite out. “I’m not staying here. I’m going with you guys!”

  Talon’s eyes run over my face, his jaw clenched. It takes him a minute before he finally realizes that I will not budge on this. No way. No how. That fucker took six months of my life from me in the last year alone. That’s not including all the torture he made me endure as a fucking kid. I am not letting him get away with that shit.

  “Fine,” Talon finally growls.

  “When do we leave?” I ask as I turn to face Hunter. Hunter frowns as he looks at Talon before shaking his head, pulling him back to the conversation.

  “In an hour. I want to be sure we know what exactly we’re getting into. My informant didn’t have any information on how many demons he will have with him or guarding the docks, so I want us to be prepared.”

  “Al
right. Is everyone coming?” I ask.

  Hunter nods, meeting my eyes. “Yes. We don’t know exactly what we’re up against so it’s best to have a good amount of us there instead of one or two.”

  “Good.” I look between my two men. “Let’s go get the fucker.”

  Chapter 17

  Mercy

  The cool air rushes over me, pushing my hair in my face, bringing the smell of fish, the sea, and metal. I growl silently and throw my hair up in a quick ponytail before looking down from the shipping container I’m standing on at the demon below me. It’s one of the lower-level demons. From what the guys have reported, all we’ve found is lower-level demons “guarding” the dock.

  These assholes couldn’t fight their way out of a wet paper bag, let alone a trained group of fighters and killers.

  Great guard dogs. Truly.

  Okay, not really. It’s fucking stupid to have the lowest level of demon guarding your little area. Yeah they’re tough but they aren’t smart. At all. They’re extremely slow and just gigantic so that doesn’t help their speed. Their mental power is shit too—they can’t fucking think for themselves.

  “Mercy, how’re things by you?” Hunter asks after getting another report from the guys.

  “Boring. I don’t see anyone besides Bozo the clown in front of me.”

  “Boring is a good thing, Mimi,” War says, his tone playful.

  “Not really. The sooner we get out of this stinkhole, the happier I’ll be.”

  “I’ve got movement,” Kai announces. “One car pulling in.”

  “Why doesn’t he just teleport?” I ask no one in particular, not really expecting an answer.

  “Draws too much attention,” Hunter explains. “Talon, you ready?”

  “Ready boss.” He pauses. “Mercy, be careful tonight.”

  My upper lip curls. “Seriously? I’m not helpless, you know.” I let my annoyance color my tone.

  “I’m aware. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  My annoyance melts away as I smile. “The feelings mutual, babe. For all of you.”

  “Talon, he’s almost on you,” Parker warns.

  “Got it.”

  I watch as a black car drives past the shipping container that Talon is on top of. Talon jumps from container to container, keeping pace with the car as he goes, only stopping once the car does at the end of the dock. I frown when I notice the cluster of demons there that I hadn’t noticed before.

  Were they hiding? Just waiting for their master to get back?

  “Um, were those demons there the whole time?” I ask, just to make sure I’m not losing my mind.

  “They teleported,” Talon informs me.

  “Ah. Thought I was losing my mind for a second.”

  “Your mind is too cute to lose, gorgeous Mimi,” War coos.

  I roll my eyes. “You’re such a dork.”

  “A dork you love. So, ultimately, I win.”

  I grin but don’t respond. Freaking weirdo.

  The door to the car opens and I tense as Torn exits the vehicle. Rage blasts through my body as I fight the urge to go down there and gut him where he stands.

  I take several deep calming breaths.

  Calm down. You can’t do anything until he has the container with the girls open. You just have to wait until the container is open, then you can kill the bastard.

  I repeat that several times in my head, allowing the thoughts to calm my boiling anger.

  We wait and watch as Torn chats with several of the demons.

  After twenty minutes of just standing there I snap at the guys, “I wasn’t aware this was a country club meeting. What the fuck do they have to talk about? Why can’t they just get in there and get their shit over with and leave.” I pause, pursing my lips. “Well, okay, not leave, but you know what I mean.”

  Each of my guys’ laughs filter through my mind.

  “Yeah, Sunshine. We know what you mean.”

  “You forget, my brother likes to make himself seem important.”

  “Right. That fucking ego.” I roll my eyes. “Can I throw a ball of hellfire at them to hurry them up?” I ask hopefully.

  Hunter snorts. “No. Stick to the plan.”

  “Your plans have me hanging out of this fight. I want to be the one to kill him.”

  “And you will be, Doll.”

  “Baby, we aren’t sure if he can still get his claws into you and turn you against us again,” Kai reminds me. “We need to be sure he can’t get control of you.”

  “So I get to kill him when he’s knocked out?” I ask in disgust. “I want him to know it’s me.”

  Just as I’m about to say “fuck waiting” and toss a hellfire ball at the group to get them moving, Torn moves to one of the shipping containers beside Talon and opens it.

  “Now!” Hunter barks.

  We all move at once. War and Hunter teleport to the entrance of the container as Talon jumps off the one he’s been standing on. Parker and I use our nifty vampire speed to get there in record time and Kai uses his levitation spell to fly towards us. Lucky bastard. I wanna learn how to fly. I could teleport, but I haven’t quite figured out the kinks to it yet. We found that out a week ago. Scared the living shit out of me and I really don’t want to do it again.

  Torn grins as he looks around at all of us. “Really little brother?” Torn’s eyes land on me and a wicked smirk takes over his face. “And you brought my little half-demon with you. I see you turned her back to normal.” Torn runs his eyes down my body, making me shiver in disgust. Yeah, I knew that Torn wanted to fuck me and as far as I know I never touched him like that. That’s the bitch about not remembering shit unless I dream about it. “Have you all taken a ride on the Mercy train, too?” He asks, clearly having a death wish as he rolls his shoulder slightly.

  “What was that?” I bite out, taking a step forward. Several of the demons at Torn’s back also step forward, but stop advancing when Torn holds a hand up, stopping them in their tracks.

  “You know, Mercy, I’m hurt. I thought we really had something.”

  “Mutual hatred for you? Yeah, I’d say we have that.”

  Torn scowls. “No. I mean all those times that I fucked you in my home,” he says, nonchalantly. My stomach drops and ice fills my veins.

  No. Even as a rogue, I couldn’t be that stupid.

  “Quit filling her head with lies, Torn,” Hunter growls. “She never touched you and you know it. You wanted her to, but she wanted nothing to do with you, or anyone else sexually while she was with you.”

  Torn cuts a glare to his brother and opens his mouth to talk, but I interrupt him. “Hunter’s right, isn’t he?” I laugh, a dark, menacing sound. “So fucking glad I’m not that stupid no matter what’s taken over my mind.” I push past my guys, ignoring their protests. I discreetly grab a throwing knife from my wrist. “You made a mistake trying to control me, Torn. And you won’t live to regret it.”

  Without any warning, I throw the knife in my hand into his shoulder, making him cry out in pain. That noise draws everyone into action. The demons at his back attack me and the guys, but I have eyes for no one but Torn. I grab my shortsword from my back and cut through the demons that stepped between me and Torn, trusting the guys to take care of themselves, I ignore everything else but the jackasses in front of me. Cutting them down, one by one. Getting cut up myself, but nothing too bad.

  I watch as Torn tries to teleport away, but he can’t. He cries out in alarm as he looks at me, fear flashing in his eyes.

  I grin. Oh, this will be good. “What’s wrong, Torn? Can’t get away?” I kill the last demon in front of me and pout. “Aw, so sad for you.”

  “Mercy,” he says, holding his hands out, palms up. “I’m not a threat to you. Not anymore.”

  A growl rips from my throat. “You’ve always been a threat, motherfucker. The only reason you’re not one anymore is because I’m stronger than you are now.” The moment the words leave my mouth, I know they�
��re true. He was stronger than me before. Now, with all my guys’ powers flowing through my veins, I’m the stronger one. And he loses.

  “I’d rather drag this out, but I find I’m much too impatient to see you dead.” I move into his space. I can tell he’s trying to summon his own powers but he can’t. I laugh.

  “How are you cutting me off from my abilities?” He asks, voice starting to shake.

  I smirk. “Kai and I put a spell on this area before you arrived. Besides telepathy, you and your demons have no powers here.”

  “Then that means you don’t either!”

  I snicker. “Oh, but I do. And I learned something over the last few weeks.” I tilt my head to the side. “Or should I say, re-learned something since as a rogue I could do it effortlessly. I just didn’t know about it until a few weeks ago.” I bring my hand up to my mouth. “I hope you suffer for all eternity, you fucker.” With those words, I blow him a kiss, feeling my deadly hellfire like a weight in my chest, I blow it towards him. His body engulfs into flames.

  Torn’s screams echo into the night as I watch my flames devour him slowly. I purposefully didn’t put all my power into it because I want him to suffer for a little bit before death. I stare into the flames long after Torn’s body collapses to the ground.

  “Mercy,” Talon says, voice hard as he moves to me. He grabs my arm and turns me to face him. I look up into his eyes and flinch at the anger I see there. “Why the fuck didn’t you listen?!”

  “Because I’m not fucking made of glass,” I shoot back.

  “Gods damn it, Mercy,” he growls. “Why the fuck do you have to be so stubborn?” He bites out.

  “Talon, she’s fine,” War says nonchalantly. “Let it go.”

  Talon growls, ignoring him. “Where are you hurt?”

  I frown at him. “I just got a few cuts. Nothing really deep.”

  He looks down and sees the blood on my side, his face paling.

  “What?” I ask.