Ashes

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 [email protected] 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.