Heat (The Grizzly Brothers Chronicles Book 2)
Page 1
Heat
The Grizzly Brothers Chronicles
Alyssa Rose Ivy
Contents
Copyright
Books by Alyssa Rose Ivy
1. Mara
2. Ian
3. Mara
4. Ian
5. Mara
6. Ian
7. Mara
8. Ian
9. Mara
10. Ian
11. Mara
12. Ian
13. Mara
14. Ian
15. Mara
16. Ian
17. Mara
18. Ian
19. Mara
20. Ian
21. Mara
22. Ian
23. Mara
24. Ian
25. Mara
26. Mara
27. Ian
28. Mara
Afterword
Flight
Preface
Chapter 1
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 Alyssa Rose Ivy
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written approval of the author.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Photo and cover design by Sara Eirew Photographer
Books by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Flight (The Crescent Chronicles #1)
Focus (The Crescent Chronicles #2)
Found (The Crescent Chronicles #3)
First & Forever (The Crescent Chronicles #4)
Soar (The Empire Chronicles #1)
Search (The Empire Chronicles #2)
Stay (The Empire Chronicles #3)
Savor (The Empire Chronicles #4)
Storm (The Empire Chronicles #5)
Seduction’s Kiss (The Allure Chronicles #0.5)
Lure (The Allure Chronicles #1)
Lust (The Allure Chronicles #2)
Lost (The Allure Chronicles #3)
Love (The Allure Chronicles #4)
Dire (The Dire Wolves Chronicles #1)
Dusk (The Dire Wolves Chronicles #2)
Dawn (The Dire Wolves Chronicles #3)
Forged in Stone (The Forged Chronicles #1)
Forged in Ice (The Forged Chronicles #2)
Forged in Fire (The Forged Chronicles #3)
Hunt (The Grizzly Brothers Chronicles #1)
Heat (The Grizzly Brothers Chronicles #2)
The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (Hazards)
The Hazards of a One Night Stand (Hazards)
The Hazards of Sex on the Beach (Hazards)
The Hazards of Mistletoe (Hazards)
The Hazards of Sleeping with a Friend (Hazards)
Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology)
On The Rocks (Mixology)
Derailed (Clayton Falls)
Veer (Clayton Falls)
Wrecked (Clayton Falls)
Beckoning Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #1)
Perilous Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #2)
Enduring Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #3)
Life After Falling
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1
Mara
I never imagined it was possible to miss someone I hardly knew. I’d barely known Ian a week, yet I was desperate to see him again. Every time I closed my eyes I saw his face. His bright emerald green eyes sent a pang through my heart. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, I needed someone. I needed him.
Maybe the need came from the messed up situation I’d found myself in. It was impossible to know, and it didn’t actually matter. I wasn’t going to see Ian again if I couldn’t get myself out of this mess.
“Mara?” Bryant called through the closed door. He was pretending to give me a semblance of privacy, but I knew it was all an act. He wanted me to trust him, but that was never going to happen.
I ignored him. He would barge in whether I responded or not. There was no reason to waste my energy.
As expected the door flew open. He stormed into the room. “You are awake.”
“Seems I am.”
“Then why didn’t you answer me?” He walked right up to where I sat in a chair beside the window. Of course it was a locked window I couldn’t open, but it at least hinted at the possibility of freedom.
“I knew you’d come in anyway.”
“Still, common courtesy dictates a reply.” He moved the curtains over enough to let in a small stream of light.
“Common courtesy dictates you don’t kidnap people.”
He released the curtain, sending the room into near darkness again. “What you call kidnapping I call bringing you into a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“How is any of this beneficial to me?” It was the exact opposite of beneficial, and I was frustrated with how long it was taking me to find a way out of it.
“I’m going to arrange for you to get your abilities.”
I pushed the curtain aside to let some light in again. Being in a dark room with Bryant was even worse than being in a bright room with him. “I don’t want any dead people related abilities.”
“You say that because you don’t understand.” He pulled up a chair beside me.
I turned away from him.
“Listen. I get where you are coming from.”
I laughed dryly. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“I am being serious here.” He touched my arm. “Look at me.”
“I’d prefer to stare at the wall.”
“There are lots of things I’d prefer, but it doesn’t mean I do them.”
I turned around. “Really? You actually hold yourself back from getting what you want?”
He grinned. “Knew that would work.”
“Ugh.” I groaned.
He laughed. “You are so delightfully easy to play.”
“Stop playing.”
“I’d like to start working, but for that you need to cooperate.” He stretched his legs out so that his feet touched the legs of the chair I was in. He couldn’t even give me personal space.
“Let me go home.”
“Home? Pennsylvania, is it? The farm?”
“I live in the city now.” It was funny actually wanting someone to know that. Usually it was the other way around, but I didn’t want this jerk to think I was a small town girl he could manipulate.
“Oh yes. I forgot.”
“You didn’t forget.” Everything he did was calculated. “You didn’t know.”
“I know plenty about you.”
“No you don’t.” I gritted my teeth.
“I know you have no close friends.”
“You don’t know that; you’re guessing.”
“And am I right?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I’m done with this conversation.” I crossed my arms.
“You and I are more alike than you’d think.”
“We are not alike at all.”
“We are. Powerful beings constrained by our circumstance.” He leaned back in his chair until it rocked back.
I laughed. This time not dryly at all. “Constrained by circumstance? Right.”
“You have no idea what my childhood was like.” He righted his chair.
“And I’m supposed to care? You kidnapped me. You kidnapped me while I was kissing my—” I stopped. What was I even going to sa
y? Kissing my almost, sort of, kind of boyfriend.
“Go on. Finish that line.” Bryant’s eyes danced with amusement.
I tightened my arms across my chest. “I can’t help you, so you might as well let me go.”
“You haven’t tried.”
“There’s nothing to try.” I looked down at my lap.
“I found someone who can help you.”
“Then have him help you.” I refused to look up.
“It would be different…” Bryant pulled up my chin so I would look at him.
“How would it be different?” I shook off his hand. “You need a Séancer. Who cares who it is?” Maybe I should have cared more about what evil stuff he was going to do, but at the moment my top concern was getting out of there alive.
“You’re kind of pretty when you’re upset like this.”
I scowled.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. You’re not my type at all.”
“Great. The first good news I’ve heard since I arrived.”
He smiled. “Glad you’re relieved about that. All I was saying is I understand why the bears all want you—aside from the power you bring.”
“And you think a guy would only want me for what I look like?” I suppose that was better than wanting me for my dead people powers, although maybe not. Choosing someone solely on physical appearance was about as shallow as you could get.
“No. I’m noting you’re pretty in your own way. Take it as a compliment.”
“I don’t want any compliments. I want my freedom.”
“I untied you.” He rubbed his own wrists.
“So generous.”
“Would you prefer to be tied up on the bed again?” He nodded toward the large bed across the room.
“No.” I definitely didn’t want that.
“Ok then, how about you lose the attitude.”
“Why can’t the other guy help?” I was pleading more than I wanted to be.
“He’s older.”
“How old?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Older.”
“And that matters?” I didn’t understand what age had to do with anything.
“Séancers lose their magic as they age.” He put his hands behind his head. “Maybe it’s because they are getting closer to the grave themselves.”
“So instead of the seasoned old guy you want me, who may or may not ever be able to yield said abilities?”
“The plan is to have both of you.”
“How many dead people are you trying to communicate with?” I stilled. Was the situation even worse than I thought?
“Communicate with?” Bryant leaned back in his chair again. “You know very well that’s not what I need you for.”
“I’m not bringing anyone back from the dead.” I shook my head. “Even if I had that ability, I’m not going there.”
“You’d like it.” Bryant sat up and leaned forward toward me.
“How would you have any clue what I’d like?”
He grinned. “I have my ways…”
“Don’t grin at me like that.”
“Why? I already assured you that you weren’t my type.”
“That doesn’t mean you can grin at me like that. It’s creepy.” I leaned back as far as I could in my chair.
“You can look at me any way you want.”
“The only look you’re going to get from me is an angry one.”
“You’re intrigued. You want to know who you really are.” Bryant smiled. “Don’t pretend otherwise. I can see right through you.”
I got chills. I wasn’t sure what abilities Pterons had, but there was something about him that made me wonder if his words held some truth. “When does this other Séancer show up?”
“We have to go to him.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s less conspicuous that way.”
“And you think I’m going to go with you without putting up a fight?”
“I know you will.”
“Why?”
“Because what good does staying here do you?” He stood up.
“In theory it’s closer to Ian.” And that was a good reason to stay put.
“But he has no idea where you are. And you have no idea where you are.”
“I’ll take my chances.” Leaving led to even more unknowns.
“This isn’t up for debate.”
“You’re not going to get away with flying me. I’m going to fight you.”
“Fight me?” He gave an amused smile. “That I’d like to see.”
“I’ll sic dead people on you.”
He chuckled. “Be careful or I might believe you already have the power and are holding back on me.”
“Except you know I don’t.” Despite how little I wanted the ability, at the moment it may have proved helpful.
“Unfortunately, yes. Which is why we’re going.”
“When?”
“Tonight.” He pressed his lips together in a firm line.
“Why not now?” The delay made me suspicious. If he wanted things done, why wait?
“In a hurry?”
“You convinced me. Being here doesn’t help.”
“Then I’ll bring the old guy here.”
“Ugh! Make up your mind.”
“Why?” Bryant replied. “It is so much more fun to mess with your mind. You’re not escaping, Mara, so you might as well stop planning on it.”
“Who says I was planning on trying to escape?”
“You’re too calm to be doing anything else. Plus you’ve stopped fighting me. I’d like to pretend it’s because you’ve had a change of heart and understand what I’m offering you, but I’m not an idiot. I haven’t changed your mind at all. But you will do as I wish or your precious bear, the one who you aren’t sure if you should call your boyfriend, is dead.” Bryant stormed out of the room, slamming and locking the door behind him.
2
Ian
I would get her back. There was no question in my mind: I would rescue Mara and make her my mate. She needed me. I’d been so blinded by my need for her that I’d let her fall into the enemy’s hands. That would never happen again—and the feathered coward would meet his end.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to try some more human methods?” Noah leaned onto the back of a chair in Mrs. Peterson’s kitchen “Just because the first attempt to track him down didn’t work doesn’t mean it won’t when I try again.”
“You know as well as I do he’s not going to show up in any of your databases.” This guy was off the grid. I was positive of that.
“Then we need to contact someone who tracks paranormals. There is no way this guy has lived his whole life without being on someone’s radar.” Noah made a valid point.
“He’s a Pteron.” Mrs. Peterson folded a dishtowel and added it to a growing pile in the center of the table. “That means he’s part of The Society in one way or another. You just need to find out what family he’s aligned with.”
“Knowing our luck it’s the Laurents, and The Society will shut us down before we start.” Luck wasn’t on my side.
“He’s supposed to be a reasonable king.” Mrs. Peterson added a final towel to the pile.
I’d spent many hours in this little old kitchen, but now it felt different. This time we were plotting what might be the most important mission of my life. “Reasonable or not, they protect their own.”
“You protect your own, except you wouldn’t deny help to one who truly deserves it.” She raised an eyebrow.
“And I’d be seen as deserving of help?” I crossed my arms. “Highly unlikely.”
“No.” Mrs. Peterson folded her hands in front of her on the table. “But Mara would be. She’s an innocent.”
She wasn’t quite as innocent as Mrs. Peterson was making it sound—my body reacted just thinking about how I knew that.
“None of that, Ian.” Mrs. P wagged a finger in the air. “I have no interest in hearing about those things.”
&
nbsp; “I wasn’t sharing.” It unnerved me how obvious my thoughts had been.
“It was on your face. Crystal clear.” She frowned. “But you know what I mean. Until the past forty-eight hours she had no clue of her lineage. She is an innocent. She has no blood on her hands, yet she holds the potential for great power. The Society will take her side.”
“Or want to use her.” There was no question about that. Everyone took advantage of power, even I would. The thought flitted through my mind. But not if it hurt her. I knew that unequivocally, and not if she didn’t want to use the powers she’d been given.
“Do I have the ok to reach out to The Society?” Noah straightened to his full height. “We’re wasting time, Ian.”
As little as I wanted to get more of those winged creatures involved, I knew Noah was right. We had no leads, and time was ticking away. Any time before Mara was back with me was far too long.
“I’ll be back soon.” Noah headed out the front door.
“It’s going to be okay.” Mrs. Peterson said as soon as the door swung shut.
“You don’t actually know that.” I walked over to the table.
“Yes, I do.”
“Last time I checked you weren’t a future Seer.”
She shrugged. “That doesn’t mean I can’t tell when a happy ending is bound to happen.”
“What if she’s hurt?” My entire body tensed.
“Easy there, no need to work yourself up.” She patted my arm. “Assume the best, not the worst.”
“I can’t help it.”
“There will be time enough to use that energy later, but for now you must stay calm. If not for your own sake, for hers.”
“Did you know what she was?” I’d had no clue, but that didn’t mean everyone was blind to it.
Mrs. Peterson shook her head. “No. I would have protected her better had I known.”
“I should have protected her better.” I should have kept her safe, but I’d failed out of fear of scaring her away.
“There is no point in ‘what ifs’. Your mother would tell you that.”
“Where is she?” She’d been nowhere to be seen when I searched the ranch.