Burning to Ashes by Evi Asher Page B
Authors: Evi Asher
forward.
Sophia rolled her eyes and stepped between them. “Answers now, brawl later.”
Archer stopped and took a moment to gather his composure.
“For the record, as long as Scarlet is with us, it’s a hands-off policy.” He hoped that warning them all off would placate his urge to mark her, for a while at least.
“Another question.” Heath raised a brow. “Why do you get to call dibs?”
“Watch your tone, Precog, she’s mine,” Archer snarled.
So much for that idea.
“Scarlet is Archer’s She. There, it’s out of in the open—everyone happy. Can we get back to the problems at hand, now?” Sophia smiled brightly at the dumbfounded looks coming from the men around her.
“You shoulda just said so,” Heath muttered.
Archer chose to ignore him. “Your questions—it would have been bad because it’s too early. A created Lycan’s first shift has to be on the apex of a full moon, or the beast will come through completely insane, a monster that will kill without conscience or thought, or any form of control.”
He sighed. “That’s the best answer I can give you. I don’t know why she changed early.”
“Could have been because of the massive amounts of magic around her that the oracle used to move her home?” Tate said.
“Yeah, that’s possible, but another one I can’t answer is when I bit her. I don’t remember biting her, and I’m pretty damn sure it’s something I’d remember doing.”
“It was when you were unconscious, and she had to call for help.” Zane had come out of the trees with no sound and appeared behind Erik, causing a collective string of curse words.
“Damn vampires—do you have to sneak up on a person like that?”
“Shut up, Erik. I want to hear what Zane has to say.”
Zane nodded at Archer. “When Selene and I got to the motel room, I could smell blood, yours and Scarlet’s. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but you must have bitten her when she was caring for you.”
A hand went through Archer’s long hair in irritation. “Why the hell didn’t she tell me?”
“That, you are going to have to ask her yourself. Is she okay?” Zane glanced over to the SUV
“Yes, she’s okay, for now. She’s going to have to change tomorrow night again, and the gods know that first change is painful, but I’ll be with her this time. I’m hoping I can make it a little easier.”
“Well, then, we better figure out where we are going and get going, because my gut is telling me we are being watched.” Heath looked around, peering into the trees as if he could see through to what the leaves were hiding from view.
“I want to double check the map, but I think I saw a lake not too far from here. There should be cabins up there that are empty. That might be a good place to regroup, re-plan, and deal with Scarlet’s issues,” Tate said as he walked towards the Impala. He leaned in the driver’s side window and pulled out the map that looked like someone had used it as a serviette at some point.
Tate spread it on the hood of the car. He scanned it for a moment and nodded, putting his finger on a part of the map.
“Yeah, here it is.”
The others moved around him and looked down at the map.
Archer nodded his approval. “That sounds like a good plan. There are lots of woods for me to take her on her first hunt.”
“Well, then, let’s get going. We need to make it before dawn and not giving prying eyes extra light to see us by.
“I’ve got the passenger seat in the Impala ,” Heath announced to a round of curses.
With Scarlet taking up the back seat of the SUV, more of them would have to squeeze into the Impala .
“Seriously unfair, Heath.” Sophia shook her head and went directly to the passenger side of the SUV. She pulled open the door and got in, not giving any of the men a chance to get that seat.
Archer stopped to check on the still-sleeping Scarlet. He pulled his jacket up higher on her, tucking her in before he leaned down and
Sophia rolled her eyes and stepped between them. “Answers now, brawl later.”
Archer stopped and took a moment to gather his composure.
“For the record, as long as Scarlet is with us, it’s a hands-off policy.” He hoped that warning them all off would placate his urge to mark her, for a while at least.
“Another question.” Heath raised a brow. “Why do you get to call dibs?”
“Watch your tone, Precog, she’s mine,” Archer snarled.
So much for that idea.
“Scarlet is Archer’s She. There, it’s out of in the open—everyone happy. Can we get back to the problems at hand, now?” Sophia smiled brightly at the dumbfounded looks coming from the men around her.
“You shoulda just said so,” Heath muttered.
Archer chose to ignore him. “Your questions—it would have been bad because it’s too early. A created Lycan’s first shift has to be on the apex of a full moon, or the beast will come through completely insane, a monster that will kill without conscience or thought, or any form of control.”
He sighed. “That’s the best answer I can give you. I don’t know why she changed early.”
“Could have been because of the massive amounts of magic around her that the oracle used to move her home?” Tate said.
“Yeah, that’s possible, but another one I can’t answer is when I bit her. I don’t remember biting her, and I’m pretty damn sure it’s something I’d remember doing.”
“It was when you were unconscious, and she had to call for help.” Zane had come out of the trees with no sound and appeared behind Erik, causing a collective string of curse words.
“Damn vampires—do you have to sneak up on a person like that?”
“Shut up, Erik. I want to hear what Zane has to say.”
Zane nodded at Archer. “When Selene and I got to the motel room, I could smell blood, yours and Scarlet’s. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but you must have bitten her when she was caring for you.”
A hand went through Archer’s long hair in irritation. “Why the hell didn’t she tell me?”
“That, you are going to have to ask her yourself. Is she okay?” Zane glanced over to the SUV
“Yes, she’s okay, for now. She’s going to have to change tomorrow night again, and the gods know that first change is painful, but I’ll be with her this time. I’m hoping I can make it a little easier.”
“Well, then, we better figure out where we are going and get going, because my gut is telling me we are being watched.” Heath looked around, peering into the trees as if he could see through to what the leaves were hiding from view.
“I want to double check the map, but I think I saw a lake not too far from here. There should be cabins up there that are empty. That might be a good place to regroup, re-plan, and deal with Scarlet’s issues,” Tate said as he walked towards the Impala. He leaned in the driver’s side window and pulled out the map that looked like someone had used it as a serviette at some point.
Tate spread it on the hood of the car. He scanned it for a moment and nodded, putting his finger on a part of the map.
“Yeah, here it is.”
The others moved around him and looked down at the map.
Archer nodded his approval. “That sounds like a good plan. There are lots of woods for me to take her on her first hunt.”
“Well, then, let’s get going. We need to make it before dawn and not giving prying eyes extra light to see us by.
“I’ve got the passenger seat in the Impala ,” Heath announced to a round of curses.
With Scarlet taking up the back seat of the SUV, more of them would have to squeeze into the Impala .
“Seriously unfair, Heath.” Sophia shook her head and went directly to the passenger side of the SUV. She pulled open the door and got in, not giving any of the men a chance to get that seat.
Archer stopped to check on the still-sleeping Scarlet. He pulled his jacket up higher on her, tucking her in before he leaned down and