Ashes (The Beast King Brides Book 6), page 1
ASHES
THE BEAST KING BRIDES: BOOK 6
CHARLENE HARTNADY
Copyright © May 2023 by Charlene Hartnady
Cover Art by Aura
Copy Edited by Brigitte Billings
Proofread by HF
Beta Reader: Shelley Charlton
Produced in South Africa
charlene.hartnady@gmail.com
Ashes is a work of fiction and characters, events and dialogue found within are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, either living or deceased, is purely coincidental.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews no part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to digital copying, file sharing, audio recording, email and printing without prior consent in writing from the author.
Created with Vellum
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
About the Author
Also by Charlene Hartnady
Excerpt of Chosen by the Vampire Kings
1
Everleigh
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
I can hear my heart beating over the sound of my breathing, which is saying something since I’m wearing a full-face mask. If I ever truly needed this particular piece of equipment, today is that day. I reposition my helmet. Sweat drips off my brow, and I can’t see shit.
The smoke is thick. Like a gray wall. It’s hotter than hell, but I’m grateful for my jacket and boots. My gloves, too.
There is a raging fire on the lower floors of this building, but it’s the smoke that will kill the final few remaining residents of this apartment building if we don’t get to them first.
“Anything, Jones?” I hear in my ear.
“Nothing,” I say.
“Keep looking.”
“You have to find her,” I hear a woman say in the background. “Oh, god! My baby!” It’s the girl’s mother. She’s with my captain out front. I flinch because she sounds distraught. I can’t say that I blame her. If it were my daughter… I ignore the thought, as well as my emotions. They have no place here. They won’t help me or the missing child.
“Cassy!” I yell. “Call out if you can hear me!” I yell again.
I know from my five years in the department that kids sometimes hide. Cassy is only five. Her mom left her to go get clothes from the laundry room. It was only supposed to take five or six minutes, but in that time, all hell broke loose.
The fire might have started on the east side, but it also started on the ground floor and very quickly blocked all entry and exit ways of the building. The stairs and elevator included. Our buddies from the ‘29s’ and the ‘82s’ are here to help evacuate the twelve-story building. Cassy is one of three who are still unaccounted for.
“Lewis here,” a deep voice sounds in my ear. “I have Mrs. Parker.”
“Good work,” the captain says.
That makes two unaccounted for, and Cassy is one of them. I walk slowly, careful not to bash into anything. A flashlight is useless, so I don’t even bother removing it from the pouch on my belt.
“Cassy,” I try again. I’m in their apartment. I’m trying to find the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. I’m pretty sure she’ll be in her room. Under the bed or in the closet. I hope so.
I inch my way along the wall and around a dresser before finding an entryway. This looks like a hallway to me. Then I walk down the hall, moving my ax from my left to my right hand.
Sweat trickles down my right cheek. The back of my neck itches as more sweat drips. I ignore it and keep walking.
“Cassy!” I shout as I reach the first doorway. I note that the wallpaper, which is right in front of my face, has a green print. It looks like leaves or vines. It isn’t childlike at all. I shout the girl’s name one more time before continuing down the hall. I’ll double back if she isn’t in her bedroom.
“I’m on my way back,” Lewis says over the comms system.
“Copy,” I tell him. “I’m in Cassy’s bedroom.”
Time is running out for the little girl. I hope that she is staying low. Maybe she has her shirt over her mouth. I need to find her soon.
I sigh in relief when I see pink. Pink wallpaper with a motif I can’t quite make out. This has to be it. This apartment only has two bedrooms.
“Cassy!” I yell. “I’m Everleigh. I work for the fire department. Your mommy sent me to find you.”
I hear something. I’m not exactly sure what it is. It almost sounds like a noise a kitten would make. Does this family have a pet? They don’t allow pets in this building, but that doesn’t stop people from getting them, anyway. We’ve already rescued three cats and a couple of dogs.
“Cassy, honey,” I yell, getting down to check under the bed. Other than a sock, it’s clear. The sock is small and yellow, bringing home to me how young and alone Cassy is.
I hear that mewling noise again. It’s coming from behind me. The closet. It has to be. I turn and quickly find it, opening it up and checking for a little girl. Nope! Not there. She’s here. I just have to find her before it’s too late.
“Hang on, Cassy,” I shout.
“Jones! Come in, Jones!”
“Jones here,” I say. I’m crawling on the floor.
“Any luck?” my captain asks.
“I’m close. I think I can hear her,” I say between pants.
“I’m about to pull all units. It’s getting too dangerous in there. The fire is spreading. Most of the lower floors are engulfed. The building is at risk of collapse.”
“I can hear her, Cap. I’m close!”
Don’t pull me yet! Please! Don’t!
I’m not sure I’ll be able to live with myself if she dies.
“You have one minute, Lewis.” I hear the frantic screams of the mother just before the sound goes dead.
Holy shit!
“Cassy!” I’m the one who sounds frantic now. “Cassy, where are you?” I can’t see a damn thing. My eyes are stinging despite wearing the mask. The sweat is pouring off of me.
I crawl straight into a wooden item. It’s a…a… I think it’s a toy box. I hear a clunk against the wood.
“Cassy!”
“Get out of there!” my captain shouts directly into my ear. “All teams, evacuate the building now!”
“Cassy, honey.” I open the lid to the toy box, and she’s curled in a tight ball. “Oh, thank God! I have her!” I yell. “I repeat, I have Cassy.”
“Get out of there, Jones. Good work!” my captain says. “Both of you need to move. Now!”
I pick the little girl up. She weighs nothing.
“On my way out now,” I say. “You need to get out of here, Lewis,” I tell my partner.
“Not without you,” he tells me. “We’re still good.”
“All teams, evacuate the building. Everyone has been accounted for. I repeat, everyone is accounted for,” my captain says. I can hear the fear in his voice. It chills my veins. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him sound this way.
“Go, Lewis!” I yell. “Go, now!” Cassy is coughing and wheezing as I make my way out of her bedroom. I need to get her out of here, stat.
“Not without—”
“Don’t be a stubborn bastard. Go!” I say. “I’m right behind you. I have the girl. We’re getting out of here. Do you hear me? All of us.” I have an idea of the path, so I’m moving more quickly.
“Okay, Leigh, but you’d better be right behind me. You know I don’t like waiting. I’ll be on the ladder.”
“Copy,” I say. I’m acutely aware of how the temperature is rising. The floor beneath my fire-retardant boots is killer hot. The smoke is growing thicker by the second. The little girl in my arms goes limp.
“Shit!” I mutter. She has passed out. There is no time to check on her. The best thing for her is to get her out. The quicker, the better. The clock is ticking. I am going as fast as I can.
“Jones! Where the hell are you?” my captain shouts.
Good! That must mean that Lewis got out.
“Nearly there,” I say, tasting my salty sweat as it trickles down my face. I cough. I need to hustle. I think of fresh air and sun. I think of water. What I wouldn’t do for a glass right now.
I turn left in the hallway that takes me out of the apartment. Nearly there. It’s twenty or so meters to the window.
Light.
Yes!
“I swear to god, Jones!” Le
wis yells.
“Quit shouting in my ear,” I say. “I’m right here.”
“Do you want me to die of heart failure?” My partner’s grinning face greets me as I reach the window.
I hand him the child. “She passed out a few minutes ago.” I hope I wasn’t too late. I pray that she passed out, and that she isn’t— No! I can’t think like that.
Just as I’m about to climb out of the window, the floor falls away below me. Flames lick up around me as I fall. And then everything goes first very bright and then pitch black as I die.
2
Ax
I land hard on my ass, grunting as I make contact with the earth. Smoke swirls around me. It isn’t the fragrant smoke of a fire. This stuff is insipid and wispy.
It’s magic.
I’m not a fan, so I wave my arms, causing it to dissipate faster. Asshole mages get on my nerves. Tassos more so than most.
The ground beneath me is thankfully soft. I smell pine and fresh air. The sweet scent of home. Right in front of me is my cabin, and to my left is my shed. It’s filled with ashes. They’re my ashes and useless to me right now, since I can’t shift or feel the pull of the fire.
I’m not dwelling on it right now. Nope! That line of thinking won’t do me much good.
I keep my eyes on the shed for a long minute. Just before he sent me back here, Tassos told me that a surprise awaited me within the wooden structure. What kind of surprise? I’m not big on surprises or bullshit. This feels a little like bullshit to me.
I stand and swat the dirt from my jeans. Then I pick up my Stetson and place it back on my head. My eyes don’t stray too far from the shed doors. I rub my chin, feeling my thick beard beneath my fingers. I tilt my head, picking up sweet nothing.
My senses are crap. When I still had my animal, I used to be able to see, smell, and hear so much better. My healing abilities were superior, too. Although all of these things are still much better than your average human, they leave a lot to be desired as far as shifters go.
I sigh and saunter over to the shed. I’m tempted just to go inside my cabin and forget all about this stupid surprise. I know I’m going to be disappointed.
I know it!
I mutter a cuss as I swing the shed door open. Light shines in through the back window. Dust motes fill the air. I look around.
Hmmmmmm.
My ashes have been disturbed. They’re not in a neat pile anymore. Lying in the middle of the pile is…a dead squirrel.
Is this that asshole’s idea of a joke?
I shake my head. I knew it was going to be bullshit. I do feel disappointment, but it’s fleeting. I mutter another curse, this one a little more choice than the first. Then I leave, shutting the door behind me.
A dead squirrel. I shake my head. I pause for a moment and contemplate taking a shower since I’m outside already, but I decide against it. I’m hungry. Fighting fires and dealing with bastard mages will work up an appetite. Food, a nice cold shower, and then…who knows? I might go hunting. Smoke a cigar on my porch. Although I envy the rest of the beast kings for finding their mates, I also don’t. Their lives are complicated. Mine is simple. Sure, it can get lonely sometimes, but I’ll take simple over a female to wreck things.
Talking about complications, my mind wanders to Elena. I am no longer the only phoenix shifter. There is Elena, who plans on trying to wake up more of my people. They should stay asleep. Waking before one’s time is unnatural. It destroys the balance. At least, that’s what the elders always said. I’m not sure how, but they always had this grave look in their eyes when they said it… It destroys the balance. Hopefully, they were just being dramatic. I look down at myself. Then again, I’m proof that it might be true. No beast. A fuck up. I sigh heavily. Forget hunting or chilling on my porch; I’m going to have to stop Elena. I sigh.
I walk up the stairs leading to the back door of my cabin. First, food, and then I’ll get hold of Thane and the others.
I open the back door and almost swallow my tongue.
It’s a female. A naked female. A wet, naked female.
She is holding one of my shirts in her right hand. She gasps loudly, dropping the shirt. Then she reaches down and grabs it up, clutching it to her torso, but not before I get a good look at her. Short of gouging my eyes out, I can’t help but see her.
She isn’t tall. Suffice it to say, she’s fucking tiny. Everything but her tits and hips. The latter flare enticingly and the former are nicely rounded with plump pink nipples. I’ll bet she has some ass on her, too. Not too much, but just enough. Enough to jiggle during sex. Enough to grab onto. Enough to make a man salivate.
“What are you doing in my house?” I growl. Apparently, that’s the best greeting I can muster. This must be the surprise that Tassos was talking about, and therefore I can’t trust her.
Her eyes are big and very dark, like good-quality chocolate. Her hair is blond, falling in wet tendrils about her shoulders. A pretty thing. Sexy too. Nope, I can’t trust her one bit.
I sniff and get the strong odor of fire. It might be coming from me. I can’t be too sure.
She takes a step back. “Don’t hurt me.”
3
Everleigh
“You can drop the sweet, innocent act. What the hell are you doing in my house?” The caveman narrows his eyes on me.
His eyes.
Holy shit!
They’re like looking into fire. Swirling, flickering orange flame. Not normal. Not normal at all. Is he wearing contact lenses? Then again, no contact lens can give an effect like that. They are burning and bright and…not human. Not possible. I dismiss the crazy idea.
“Has the cat got your tongue?” he says, his voice a little less gruff but not by much.
I clear my throat. “I don’t know how I got here.” I look around. “I…” I shake my head, feeling overwhelmed all over again.
“You don’t know?” He gives me a look that tells me he thinks I’m full of shit. “That doesn’t make any sense.” He folds his arms. “You’re here. You got here somehow. Car, plane, bus, on foot? And why are you naked?”
I’m still clutching the shirt to my body. Goosebumps have risen all over my body. That outside shower was frigid, to say the least.
I look down at myself. “Do you mind if I get dressed before we talk?” I ask.
“Go ahead.” He just stands there watching me. He’s huge. Massive is a better description. To the point where even his muscles have muscles. I don’t think he has even an ounce of fat on him. It’s all defined and honed power, from his wide shoulders to his washboard abs, to his corded thighs.
The only thing he is wearing are jeans, which are stretched tight around thick muscles. Even his feet are bare. The Stetson doesn’t really count, and neither does the beard – I don’t think. Even though it’s thick and bushy. There is a big black tattoo on one of his shoulders, spanning across the top part of his chest and collarbone. It looks like flames and swirling smoke. He’s powerful and badass, and…he comes across as dangerous. It’s a feeling I get. An instinct.
Am I about to become a wrong-turn statistic?
“Are you going to turn around or what?” I ask him.
He mutters something about humans being shy, but I might have misheard. I heave a sigh of relief when he gives me his back. It’s muscular as well. His ass, too.
I should not be looking at this caveman’s ass, so I get to work pulling on the shirt. It’s huge on me, falling to just above my knees. I do up all the buttons except for the top one. Even though I’m sufficiently covered, I fold my arms over my chest, feeling self-conscious. A set of underwear would be nice. A baseball bat, too.
