Read Online From the Ashes (Force of Nature Book 1) by Amber Lynn Natusch - Free Book Online Page A

worked, Piper. I had to explore other options and quickly.”
    “Meaning?”
    “Merc,” she replied with a sigh. “He's been with you this whole time, waiting for you to wake up in pain only to work your mind back to rest again.”
    “What do you mean 'work my mind'?” I asked, knowing that some vamps could mess with the minds of humans to maintain their unknown status, but they couldn't do it to other supernaturals. Not that I knew of.
    What a powerful vampire that would be.
    She exhaled heavily before she pulled up a chair to sit next to me. She looked stressed. Tired. It appeared that she truly had been working night and day to find a way to help me.
    Apparently Merc had as well.
    “Merc is special, Piper. He has... gifts. Gifts that are rather extraordinary, but they come at a price.”
    “How so?”
    “They've left him a bit remote. Antisocial. And, at times, unstable,” she explained. “One of those gifts is the ability to work the minds of other supernaturals as though they were human.”
    Holy shit. A memory flashed through my mind, one of Jase and Dean exchanging a dubious look when the king spoke of Reinhardt's willingness to not seek retribution for his warlocks after the attack in the alley. Had Merc been responsible for that pardon?
    “The night he brought you in,” Doc continued, pulling me from my thoughts, “he'd already been trying hard to keep you calm, your pain suppressed. He's been doing that ever since, but he's nearly pushed himself over the edge in the process. I had to sedate him after his last session on you. By then he had finally found a way to permanently dull your pain to a manageable level, but—”
    “But what?” I implored, my chest tightening at her words. “What happened?”
    “It's your mind, Piper. I don't think he's ever encountered anything like it before. It's like a code he couldn't break, and he nearly broke his own mind trying to.” She took my hand in hers gently, trying not to disturb my body in the process. “There's a reason he's been gone for a long time. He's special beyond compare, but it comes at a cost to him and those around him. From now on, you need to stay away from him for his own good as well as yours. He's only just returned to us and it seems he's teetering on the edge of sanity.”
    “And you think I will be the one to push him over?”
    She nodded silently.
    My mind—my enigma of a mind—was working overtime, trying to make sense of everything that had occurred from the time the attack had happened until the present. It was a lot to try and process. Especially the parts regarding Merc.
    The infirmary phone rang, distracting both Doc and me from our conversation. She rushed over to answer it right away. Her skin grew pale when she saw who was calling.
    “Yes, your highness,” she said, curtsying as though she were standing before him. “Yes. She is. I will put you on with her immediately.” She rushed to my side, hesitating for a moment while the king spoke to her. “Yes, of course, sire.”
    She handed me the receiver.
    “I'll be outside. Please let me know when you're finished.”
    I nodded once and she took her leave.
    “Piper,” the king began before I could even address him. “I am so pleased to hear that you are awake now. I know my timing is unfortunate, but I need to speak with you. It's rather urgent.”
    “Of course,” I replied, wondering what urgent matter the king could possibly have to discuss with me.
    “What happened to you...do you remember anything about it?”
    “Yes. I remember it all.”
    “Who did this to you, Piper?” he asked, concern in his tone.
    “Kingston and his crew.”
    My reply was met with silence that lasted longer than was comfortable. Just as I was about to explain further, the king spoke.
    “This presents a problem, Piper. As I said before, the treaty hangs in a very precarious balance at the moment.”
    “I know...”
    “If certain parties were to be made aware of who did this to you, I