Read Burning to Ashes for Free Online

some of the strongest around. We have to stop her.”
    “That means keeping Scarlet safe, because if Jasmine gets Scarlet’s power, she will be unstoppable. Even the God’s would have a hard time.” Tate poured himself another drink and slammed it back.
    He stopped and looked at them all. “You are all signing up to help us with Scarlet?”
    “Duh.” Sophia rolled her eyes.
    Scarlet felt like crawling under the table when all eyes turned to her.
    “If we can keep her alive,” Heath pointed out.
    “Thanks, killjoy.” Tate shook his head
    “What—I’m just saying, the likelihood that Scarlet will survive her own fire is minimal, and that’s before she has to deal with Jasmine and Geo, and crew.”
    “Wow, everyone, please meet Mr. Optimistic.” Sophia made a face at him. “Don’t worry, Scarlet. You’ve got us batting on your team now. You are going to be just fine.”
    Archer came to stand behind Scarlet. Resting his hands on her shoulders, he kneaded softly, making her want to melt into his touch.
    “We are all beat, so let’s get some rest. The rooms in the back are safe. We can take turns doing guard duty for Scarlet.” Heath stood. “Come, Scarlet, I’ll show you to your room.”
    “That won’t be necessary. Just tell me where I’m bunking, Scarlet will stay with me.” Archer’s voice was like steel, daring any of the others to disagree.
    Zane shrugged his shoulders when they looked to him.
    “Um, okay, the second door to the right,” Heath said. He didn’t seem very happy about Archer’s insistence that Scarlet would share his room.
    “Okay, but I want watches set up for the whole building, through the day, anyway. Zane, you are out, since you’ll get sunburn,” Tate added.
    “I can do a watch from in here,” Zane growled out. “No more pine benches. I mean it!”
    Tate frowned. “Huh?”
    “Let him have a watch in here.” Archer instructed. “Zane is part of the team, suntans or not. Now, do you have any food in this place?”
    “I’m the local fry cook.” Erik grinned. “What ya want?”
    He grabbed an apron off the counter and went into the kitchen.
    “Bacon, eggs, sausage, toast and pancakes all around.” Heath got up and went to the kitchen to help Erik.
    “You aren’t going to help?” Zane asked Sophia, knowing that she hated cooking.
    She sauntered over to him with an exaggerated swagger, bent down and gave him a loud smooch on the lips. “Honey, I don’t do kitchens, but I’d do you.”
    Scarlet’s jaw unhinged in shock before the whole room burst into laughter.
    “Hit me with a feather and call me spanked, but I never thought I’d see a vampire blush,” Erik roared from the alcove.
    “Oh, shut up.” Zane muttered and ducked his head. “I don’t eat, so I’ll just take myself to my room. Call me when it’s my turn to stand guard.”
    “It’s the third room,” Heath called out after the disappearing vampire.
    Archer grinned at Scarlet. “Don’t worry, he’ll be okay. He’s not used to the way this lot tease, yet.”
    Neither am I , Scarlet thought.
     
     
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    Archer shut the door of the bedroom and leaned his forehead against it. He was fuming, and he was frustrated.
    He wasn’t even going to consider the constant state of sexual need Scarlet had reduced him to, but what was getting to him right now was the way the men in the other room had looked at Scarlet, making his beast itch to do damage. Heath, especially, had shown an interest in Scarlet. Archer wanted to hurt the bastard.
    The problem was that even though he’d never been close to Heath, if he gave into his urge, he’d be killing a fellow Outsider, and Dimi would hand him his paws, and nail his head on the wall like a trophy.
    No, he had to find another way to keep his beast happy and he knew how. It was time to satisfy his need. Even as a teen, he’d never had so many damn erections in so short a period of time, and right now, he wanted nothing more than to