Grimm

The third novel in the Nate Temple Series.

Grimm

## Blurb

Sharing a beer with Death—one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—really put a few things into perspective for this foul-mouthed, billionaire wizard. Like finally getting the stones to propose to his girlfriend.

But the Brothers Grimm—legendary supernatural assassins—have escaped their prison, and the number one thing they want after their centuries-long incarceration is Nate Temple’s head. With the entire wedding party also on their hit-list and the Temple family fortune in jeopardy, Nate realizes they can’t run and they can’t hide. So, time to do magic and stuff…

But with every flavor of supernatural thug teaming up to help the Grimms, Nate learns that friends have become enemies and enemies have become friends, and he’s forced to cross lines that are better left uncrossed. To use some magic that he really, *really* shouldn’t use.

When magic, claws, and teeth dance to the song of war, the only thing left to learn is who lives and who dies. And if Nate can live with the consequences.

No wonder a guy is terrified to propose…

## Opening

*Alot can happen between now and never. I once read that the phrase it’s now or never was first coined to describe that moment that if one doesn’t act upon right now, that they will never again get a second chance to do so. They would miss their one opportunity. Usually through their own fault, but sometimes that vindictive bitch named Karma could ninja flip out of a closet to give you a solid monkey fist to the stones.*

*You know…*

## Plot

As a result of owing Achilles a favor, Team Temple (Nate, Indie and Gunnar) go to the belly of St. Louis, the sewers, to investigate a nest of vampires who have been kidnapping girls.  Nate’s ultimate goal is to get his mom’s ring, stored underneath Plato’s Cave, for an engagement ring for Indie. After an encounter with vampires, they get in a tussle with werewolves and Nate loses the ring.  Things get really interesting when Barbie pops in with news:  the Grimms are back!

Nate needs answers so they make way to meet with Tomas, the vampire hunter.  He is entertaining a lady so Nate sets him up with an embarrassing prank to get his attention.  Tomas isn’t happy but he appreciates Nate’s weird thought process.  News is not good.  There is a life contract on Nate and all associates.  No one is safe!

### Pause here a moment WARNING, Possible Spoilers Ahead

After chatting with Jafar, head Justice of the Academy, Nate puts Operation White Knight in motion.  What is Nate up to now?

With the threat in mind, Nate decides to check things at home and find everything is secured.  Except he is unable to enter the Armory.  Mallory tries to rile Nate up to force him to use his Makers’ powers, but it doesn’t work.

Things get worse when Nate has to make an appearance at a Temple Industries board meeting where a German investor is presenting a buy out of the company.  “No, hell no” is Nate’s response. Ashley calls him out on his actions: it is hard to make decisions when you never go to work.  Upon leaving the building, Nate and Ashley are attacked and are thrown into an altered reality.  They survive but Nate is seriously hurt; Mallory to the rescue with man on man action.

Before Nate can return home, he discovers that Asterion was attacked.  Nate, with Mallory and Ashley, go to visit King Midas to get the facts.  King Midas puts Nate to the test because Nate was behind Asterion’s pain.  Thankfully, Asterion is fine but gone for now.

The day continues to plummet when Nate encounters Alucard, the Master Vampire.  He is not happy that Team Temple wiped out his nest that morning.  He demands a duel!  Nate agrees to the duel as long as it is done at the Dueling Grounds.  Little known fact that only Nate knows, besides Asterion; in the Dueling Grounds, you fight to the death, but no one dies!  Alucard and Nate duel after Alucard promises to meet Nate later at a designated location.  Alucard is confused but agrees.  They duel and Nate dies.

Next morning, Nate wakes up at Chateau Falco and goes to meet Alucard at Alistair’s home for their meeting. Alucard arrives and is livid because he was tricked.  But, after an explanation, he is impressed with Nate’s cunning.  While there, Barbie appears and she tells them a Fairy Tale about the Grimms.  A battle is coming.

Nate moves everyone to Chatea Falco to safety.  Dean, the butler, makes everyone comfortable.

Gunnar, with a special interest in Ashley, makes an extra effort to protect her as Nate protects Indie.  A surprise visitor arrives that puts Nate on edge, Jacob Grimm!  He threatens Nate with action but leaves without a move.

Jacob’s plot is uncovered.  Temple Industries has been taken over and it looks like Nate and Ashley are complicit.  Apparently, they illegally sold shares and caused a collapse.  There is even video of Nate announcing to the media the sale of Temple Industries.  Nate and Ashley are innocent but even their lawyer suspects them.  The Grimms have been working behind the scenes for months to pull this scheme, impersonating Nate and Ashley.  Nate is resigned to the loss but is determined to beat the Grimms and lock them away again.

Nate realizes that everything turned sour when Achilles asked him to investigate the vampires.  He goes to Achilles Heel and crashes the door down to enter, demanding answers.  Achilles is sworn to secrecy by an oath.  Before anything can be resolved, Nate and Gunnar discover that Ashley has been kidnapped by the werewolves.  Nate is already unhappy because he believes one of them has his mother’s ring.  The alpha demands a duel for her release.  Gunnar fights him and lets loose in anger.  Nate wonders if Indie is safe; he entrusted her to Death so she should be.

Nate then discovers that Raego’s home has been overtaken.  What next?  It’s the Academy of Wizards behind the attack. Team Temple wins but after the wizards leave, the Grimms arrive. A battle against the Grimms is horrible and bloody. The Grimms’ secret weapon is Nate’s grandfather, Ichabod, who can heal the injured Grimms.  Misha, the red dragon from Obsidian Son is killed and Ashley is bitten by a werewolf.  Team Temple has taken a huge hit of defeat.  Everyone grieves.

Nate takes a break from chaos and decides to bake a cake to go along with a surprise engagement to Indie.  Despite the threat from the Grimms, he is determined.  While in the kitchen, with only an Infinity Gauntlet oven mitt for clothing (yes, he took a shower), two Grimms attack him but Dean saves the day.  And finishes the cake.

The engagement is set at a restaurant.  Nate preps the staff but when Indie arrives, it is Wilhelm Grimm in disguise.  Nate is embarrassed in front of everyone because he has proposed to an old man!  With an Infinity mitt since he was unable to get the ring.  What else can go wrong?  The Grimms have Indie!

The final stand with the Grimms is set for sunrise.  Team Temple plan as well as possible under the circumstances.  With grief and anger, they are determined to get revenge.  Battle rages on with more losses; Gunnar loses his eye despite killing Wilheim Grimm, and, as the final nail in the coffin for Nate, Indie dies. With the beast within Nate due to his being a Maker, and his team, they finally win the Grimm battle.

Indie’s funeral is moving and heartbreaking.  With gifts from Nate’s friends, a tree grows from her grave into a massive white sign of life.  Nate asks Raego to reveal Operation White Knight, and the Grandmaster of the Academy appears.  Apparently, the Academy of Wizards were complicit with the Grimms in the Temple Industries takeover.  Suddenly, Nate appears in the White Room again.  What does this mean?

Nate is alone at the White Tree.  He is sad.  Death appears and Nate is furious that he didn’t protect Indie from harm.  Some friend he turned out to be.  Death leaves without an answer.

Weeks pass and Nate is found at the tree again.  He is talking to Indie, missing her and wishing things were different.  All of a sudden, Indie appears to him.  He finally said her name so she could return!  Death arrives and explains the events.  It was time for Indie to die but she was given a choice, to die or become a Grimm.  Indie is alive because she is a Grimm.  Nate finally proposes and Indie accepts.