Scorched Uprising (Reign of Fae Book 2)

  Scorched Uprising © 2019 CK Dawn

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  ckdawnbooks.com

  Cover Design by Vanesa Garkova

  Most humans have fallen prey to the scorch. Only one will rise…a hero.

  Who would have imagined that the Horseman of War would turn out to be one of the good guys? Yes, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—THAT War!

  Mere mortal, Chloe Etain, did, that’s who.

  She’s still an unstoppable human and he’s still an immovable beast, and now they know how to stop the other Horsemen. But will Bram surrender to his inner beast, losing his humanity completely in the process, to save Earth and humanity...to save her?

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. From the Ashes

  2. Two of Hearts

  3. The Enemy of My Enemy

  4. A Cinder’s Spark

  5. A Hunting He Will Go

  6. The Art of War

  7. Shall We Play a Game

  8. A Time to Kill

  Epilogue

  Reign of Fae Continues

  CK’s Street Team

  About the Author

  Also by CK Dawn

  Prologue

  Burning Down the House

  Death and Conquest are fools! Famke, the Horseman of Famine, thought to herself.

  She paced War’s apartment, in the human realm, looking for clues as to reveal where she might find him. Mortimer and Avery had informed her that another visit to his abandoned dwelling would bear no fruit, but she knew her brother better than they did. So, she had journeyed there alone to investigate, taking along only her most trusted trackers. Black-leather, high-heeled boots clacked across the floor, the sound echoing off the iron walls as she paced.

  This home meant something to you. That’s why you took such care to shield it. But why? She flicked her long raven hair from her shoulders in frustration, hating to admit the other horsemen may have been right. Onyx eyes turned bright cerulean blue as her inner beast’s anger stirred.

  But then, something drew her attention. Long scratches over the floor, running parallel to the wall, revealed themselves to her. Barely visible, even to her fae sight, they exposed a hidden secret; Famke felt sure of it. She reached down and knocked on the iron wall. The sound this produced rang hollow. Laying her hand flat against the wall, she slid the faux panel aside and peered into the cramped, dark cubby. She scoffed to herself. The shelves had been stripped bare, but the overall space was large enough for two bodies to hide within. Serving as proof, she picked up a tiny shaving of silver with her fingertip. If distributed in large quantities, silver shavings scattered across a threshold would disguise anything hidden on the other side.

  You were here...and hiding, no less. I knew it. Primus, you coward!

  Just then, her trackers tried to breach the open apartment door to report on the progress they’d made outside. Screeching in pain, they huddled together in the apartment building’s stairwell, refusing to come any closer. Primus had lined his entire apartment in iron, but that didn’t explain why her trackers refused to enter the dwelling. She knew they would prefer to endure the temporary, albeit excruciating, pain rather than face her wrath. No, something else must be denying them entrance, something to make them feel like caged animals trapped between iron bars.

  Clever boy, Primus. Famke sneered to herself. But not that clever. And now, I know your secret.

  Approaching the front door, she strode into the hallway. Just as she suspected, her trackers were squirming away, just as violently, from the apartment across from Primus’. She approached the other residence and placed her hand upon the door.

  Iron! Famke hissed to herself. “Fan out. Report back on any other unusual iron in this building. Go!” A satisfied, yet deadly, smile settled across her face. “I’ll take care of this one.”

  1

  From the Ashes

  I’m done hiding. Bram’s words thundered inside Chloe’s mind as she watched the approaching naval troops enter Bremerton Cemetery. She gulped audibly as Bram, boldly, pulled the human glamour from his skin.

  Glowing strands of translucent, ethereal light swirled and congealed around him, fanning out like the sails of a ship caught in the grip of a storm. His reveal passed as quickly as a flash of lighting, disappearing almost as soon as it had begun, making Chloe wonder if she'd seen his true form at all—but, in truth, she had. And so had the approaching group. They were closer, then, and Chloe observed some of the soldiers tighten their grips around their weapons, but still, they came.

  Wading through the headstones in the darkened cemetery, the group drawing near continued scouring the darkness for lurking scabs--the real threat--as they closed in on Chloe’s smaller group. Bram had told her he was done hiding, but even after the brief flash disclosing his powerful form, she knew he hadn’t yet shown her the being he was capable of becoming. She looked at him with curiosity, taking in the energy of his overwhelming presence.

  Bram smiled reassuringly at the unanswered questions in Chloe’s eyes. His chiseled, god-like beauty was all fae—royal and perfect—but more importantly, also, all War, the Horseman of the Apocalypse. He was magnificent. Bronzed, beautiful, and so far beyond simply existing as a fierce force of nature; Chloe could hardly breathe. The light was dim, but she could make out each muscle in his arms as they flexed, glistening with sweat from the battle with the scabs they had just defeated. She thought she imagined scales, like those of a dragon, rippling with power just beneath the surface of his skin, but they never re-emerged after the flash, much to her disappointment. The brief glimpse reminded her of the blurred memory of wings the color of rust enveloping and protecting her when Professor Hadley’s building had crumbled around them. When the world had first fallen into chaos.

  Gold crowning jewelry adorning the tips of Bram’s pointed ears shimmered in the firelight as the ship, their ride from Bremerton back to Seattle, burned in the distance. The broken vessel served as a smoldering reminder that the entire world had fallen victim to the fae royals’ destruction. Chloe’s anger roared to a boil, and she hoped to one day see the damage Bram’s metal ear tips were capable of inflicting, hopefully something akin to burying their deadly points deep into one of the royal’s skulls—Avery’s skull in particular. Better still would be a glimpse of Bram’s powerful form in all its anticipated glory, raining down the entirety of War’s wrath upon the royals’ heads.

  The ferry’s bosun, Laszlo, waved to the group, inviting them forward, as he and Sam struggled to catch their breaths alongside Bram and Chloe. The scabs had almost overpowered them as they’d tried to lay Sam’s wife to rest, but, luckily, Bram and Chloe had heard them calling for help and been able to defend them in time.

  “What do you say?” Bram asked Chloe as he gestured to Laszlo and his neighbor in need. He watched as the larger group approached. They too, sadly, carried bodies, o
f those who had fallen victim to the fae. “Today, we help friends bury their loved ones? Tomorrow, we take the battle to them.” He spat the last word as he nodded in the directions of the burning ferry.

  The mental image of her new-found friend dying at the hands of the bloodsucking scabs made Chloe’s blood boil even hotter. She kicked at the dust coating the grass in front of her, all that remained of the scabs who had attacked them. Laszlo had confessed on the ship to her he wished only to return home to his wife as the world turned to ash so he could die at her side—if human’s were ultimately doomed to extermination. Chloe was tired of all the death and destruction plaguing her world. The idea of taking the battle to the fae inside the monsters’ own realm was very appealing to her, very appealing indeed.

  Bram’s smile turned into a know-it-all, sinister smirk, like he knew what Chloe was about to say. His power and confidence was both intoxicating and so damn sexy it permeated her soul and dissipated the sadness and despair surrounding her.

  Chloe could have died happy at that very moment, but she alone guarded the secret which could end the scorch suffocating her world. The responsibility of obliterating the royals’ chokehold on humanity weighed heavy on her heart. So, instead, she took a breath and determined to remain steadfast in following her mission. Chloe returned Bram’s devious smile and reveled in delight at the possibility of delivering a taste of human payback to the royals, while finally taking the battle to the enemy, where it belonged. “No. Tomorrow...we’re bringing War!”

  Bram’s eyes glistened with anticipation and pride.

  “War?” Laszlo looked between Chloe and Bram as Tenebris, Mary’s huge raven familiar, landed behind them. “Yeah, okay. Count us in, whatever you need.”

  Sam grunted in pained agreement as he used Laszlo as a crutch. “You mean if they need anything. What can we do? I mean; look at that thing,” he breathed in genuine awe as he regarded the raven.

  The deep crimson runes carved under Tenebris’ feathers glowed even brighter at Sam’s praise.

  “We’re way out of our league here, Laszlo,” Sam panted. “Don’t get me wrong; I’m all in this fight. But I don’t want to be a burden; I won’t. And it looks like they have bigger things going than we could ever possibly imagine.” The injured man pointed at Bram’s ears. “My bet’s on them winnin’ this whole thing. I think the best thing we can do is stay the hell out of their way.”

  “Still. Whatever they need. I have a debt that needs repayin’ to my guardian angel. Nothin’ll ever be enough for the second chance that Angel’s given me and Cat--” Laszlo stopped talking abruptly, glancing back in regret at the body that had been wrapped with care and placed parallel to the half-dug grave. “Sam, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean…” He instantly regretted bringing up his own wife as Sam prepared to bury the love of his life.

  “It’s alright.” Sam patted his friend on the shoulder.

  “I’m sorry. She? Your guardian angel…you mean figuratively speaking?” Bram queried, interrupting their melancholy.”

  “No. She’s as real as you and me standing here.” Laszlo stated. “Found me on the Kaleetan, half dead and sinking in the middle of Puget Sound. Then, poof, I wasn’t drowning or bleeding anymore and found myself high and dry at the dock feeling a bit strange with my head in a tailspin. That’s right before you two showed up.”

  “Hahaha!” Bram’s loud belly-laugh sounded, just as it had when he’d called on Tenebris to land and reveal himself. He turned to the raven, who cocked his head to the side and appeared to shrug innocently. The fae royal shook his head while looking up into the scorched sky and laughed again. “Mary Bradbury, you meddling old witch. I could kiss you right about now!”

  “Bram?” Chloe scrunched her brow in confusion.

  Bram smiled at her as the naval group joined their party. “Not only do we have a ride off Bremerton…” Tenebris interjected with an eager caw. “…but we have the help of our very own stubborn Spree Witch!”

  Chloe brushed residual grave dirt from her hands and went in search of Bram. He’d only agreed to leave her side after the last grave had been dug, in order to feed the finicky Tenebris, with the promise from three naval officers to watch over her during his absence.

  To fill the hours digging grave after grave, Bram had finally explained what Laszlo had meant when he’d referred to Mary Bradbury being his guardian angel. It seemed the Spree Witch had possessed Laszlo before their ferry ride to Bremerton to ensure they reached their destination. Mary usually kept up the appearance of remaining neutral when it came to the interactions between fae and humans, he told her, but that she had taken exception once the royals had caused the scorch, wishing to aid the human cause. Bram suspected even the life of the lovely and magical Spree would soon be affected by the scorch, so he wasn’t surprised Mary had sent Tenebris to watch over them. He figured the magical raven would be reporting back to Mary, so she could truly learn whether Bram was the witches’ best hope of ending the royals’ chokehold tightening across all the realms. It was only fitting they take care of the large raven, since Mary had practically loaned Tenebris out to help them.

  With her new entourage in tow, Chloe walked towards Professor Hadley’s house. She winced as her palms clashed together, sprinkling burial dirt on the ground. Chloe was determined to wear every single blister like a badge of honor. Though she hadn’t known the survivors well, she’d remained with them for hours until every fallen loved one’s grave marker had been placed…and carved into her memory. Her hands would heal, their hearts wouldn’t. It was a small price she paid.

  Chloe walked passed her late professor’s main house and down a lush, overgrown garden path nearly hidden from view beneath the shrouded gray sky. She had an idea where she might find her fae royal, since he didn’t care very much for socializing. He’d probably found a dark quiet corner away from everyone, somewhere he could tend to Tenebris as thanks to Mary.

  Even so, Bram had opened Hadley’s house to the group of naval officers as a hub from which to coordinate. Their new base was warded, well stocked, and well-armed; besides being perfectly located, strategically, to recapture Bremerton from the scabs.

  The warm glow from several candles radiated out from the windows and illuminated Chloe’s path outside. She tried to imagine the glow was from the sun none of them had seen for far too long. The friendly faces sharing a well-deserved meal together around Hadley’s large farm-style dining table was a welcome sight. Laszlo and his wife, Cat, were surrounded by Sam and his son, Kyle, along with Kyle’s two young ones, Kylie and Kyler. The toddlers were vying for Cat’s attention and grandmotherly hugs. The children had instantly adopted her into their family. It was a bittersweet sight, since the pair had said goodbye to their real grandmother, Sam’s wife, just days before.

  Chloe felt the urge to insist her bodyguards join them and enjoy a much needed break after helping to dig so many graves. She knew she wouldn’t be rid of them until Bram said otherwise. Thinking back to her badassery along their trek through the treacherous, scab filled streets of Seattle, Chloe felt somewhat annoyed Bram had insisted well-trained guards accompany her in his absence.

  Chloe walked further down the path and opened the gate to the back yard. She found Bram there, feeding Tenebris strips of raw red meat. The morsels were loose and wiggly, looking far too fresh for the apocalyptic nightmare in which they were then living. All the death around her had inspired far-too-morbid thoughts, such as that the fresh meat Tenebris was scarfing down might turn out to be, Something a little more recently alive and human? She tried to shake off the macabre thought as she almost allowed a gasp to escape…until she remembered Hadley’s cellar, stocked to the ceiling with freeze-dried food. Their professor had meticulously preserved and packed away everything from strawberries to steaks, ensuring each morsel would taste as fresh as the day they’d been socked away. Chloe suspected this massive stockpile would remain deliciously pristine even twenty years later.

  “There you are,” C
hloe blurted out.

  “Here I am.” Bram looked up. His royal tendencies came out as he waved the naval officers away with a single, slow flick of his wrist.

  The small group, consisting of two men and one woman, nodded and left the couple to their own devices. Chloe suspected Bram had threatened them with horrible and unspeakable deaths if anything were to happen to her in his absence, from what she’d observed of their intense diligence. Apparently, they’d believed him.

  “Were the bodyguards really necessary?” she asked in an annoyed tone. “I think I’ve proven that I can handle myself.”

  “Proven yourself, yes. Of your fighting prowess there can be no doubt, especially when armed with my blade, but this isn’t about only you and me anymore; is it?” He shot her a look she felt sure had crumbled empires and crushed kingdoms. She could read from that glare that he wanted to know the solution she had come up with to bring an end to the scorch. And he wanted it right then.

  Chloe gulped audibly. She had been putting off telling him about her idea to bring about the end of the scorch and could tell he knew it. Right after her epiphany while deciphering Hadley’s notes, which had revealed the secret to defeating the royals, Chloe had also realized what the cost would be to do so…and the price was high.

  She watched as Bram roughed up the feathers on Tenebris’ neck, much like a rider would do to a horse after a long ride. “Is he, like, your, uh…your Horseman steed?” Chloe asked, watching as the huge raven pecked at the contents of the bucket Bram held out to him. Tenebris raised his head, a strip of meat dangling from his beak. He arched his neck and devoured the morsel whole. Hers wasn’t a ridiculous question. The beast stood as tall as a horse and looked strong enough to carry two people on his back easily while soaring through the scorched skies above Washington.