Wild Side

Book seven in the Nate Temple Series.

Wild Side

## Blurb

Almost a year has passed since Nate’s ex-fiancée woke up a Greek god intent on world domination and war. The problem? He doesn’t know which god. And the promised war hasn’t started yet.

With the Four Horsemen refusing to help, and an army of monsters living on his lawn, Nate resorts to the one thing he’s best at—pissing off demigods and Greek Heroes in hopes of jump-starting the war.

But then he receives an ominous invitation that he literally cannot refuse. A dark, deadly place where nightmares roam free demands an audience. The Land of the Fae.

He must forget every story he’s heard about the Fae. They’re nothing like he imagined, nothing like he’s been told… Because to kill a god, he needs to learn how to become a monster.

## Opening

*I smirked at the man across the table, my face shadowed by a blue baseball cap that definitely didn’t match my hot pink, furry cape.*

*“He is a worthless bag of horse shit,” I repeated. “Oh,” I added as an afterthought, “and tell him I said fuck Thebes.”*

*The man’s jaw tightened with barely restrained fury at my defamation of his boss’s hometown.*

## Plot

Out of frustration, Nate arranges to meet Hercules at Achilles Heel Bar for a game of Beer Pong, all to get some information.  Like when will the war with the Grimms and Greeks start?   With the help of Mallory’s special brew and friends Alucard, Ashley and Tory, they set up the Greek hero in a drinking game.  After going a few rounds, Hercules loses but not with any revelations for Nate.

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

So, onto plan B.  Nate and Alucard are off again with Grimm to see Bellerophon, another Greek hero.  Despite tricking him with Camilla’s help, he only reveals that the Greek god Indie has chosen to waken is female.  Bellerophon makes a mistake and loses his beloved Pegasus as a result.  He dies heartbroken. Plan B fails.

Nate returns to Chateau Falco for time alone.  He has had it and hates waiting for Indie to make her move.  He goes to the Sanctorum with Mallory and Gunnar.  While there, Mallory tells him about an invitation from his “brother”, the Goblin King.  It isn’t optional but Nate thinks it is bad timing.

To get away, Nate goes to the roof and has a conversation with War.  He learns some things about the war and what needs to be done.  What Nate will have to do.  Before leaving, Death joins them.  From the roof to the office, where he finds Othello, who tries to cheer him up by teasing him.

Since the war was set, Nate has not been able to enter the Armory.  He decides to try a different kind of magic, his white power, but thorns burn him.  No entry.

Nate goes to the White World to talk to Matthias.  He makes a deal with him; Nate gets his cane back that his Beast is trapped in, and Matthias gets freedom from the white world.

Callie comes to visit for lunch.  She meets all of Nate’s friends, Carl approves the match.  A chance to relax, they stroll through Chateau Falco where they end up at the Sanctorum.  Callie tricks Nate so he can get a much needed nap.

Nate decides to take Ashley, Carl and Tory to Fae with him.  Sir Muffle Paws insists he must go too.  They enter Fae through Stonehenge.  They change to their wilder sides; much stronger in every way. Carl remains the same.  As a result of a welcome attack, Nate turns into Wylde, and naturally becomes leader of his group in Fae.

Meeting with King Oberon, the Goblin King, he tasks them certain things in order to return back home - find one who has been taken, save a child, steal the queen’s shoes, and find a friend.  Plus, a riddle about the conditions needed for them to return home. All this is a mystery that will be revealed over time.

Talon, alias Sir Muffle Paws, accepts his change since he is from Fae.  Ashley (Wulfra) and Tory (Beastmaster) struggle to keep their true selves intact, and Nate harshly reminds them.  Nate accepts his role as Wylde but must stay in touch with himself.   A fight with spiders forces Wylde to take over to win.

They run into Barbie and Inky, and they offer to help them. More inner struggles continue, including Nate discovering that to Ashley, he looks like Gunnar in his Fae glamour.   They meet Robin Goodfellow, another mystery.  They meet with the Queens; Wylde uses Fae magic and they discover that Oberon wants them to join the Wild Hunt - as prey. And, they do.  Inner struggles overcome Ashley and Tory; Carl finds a way to settle their urges and calms them.  The team finds the Huntress is the hostage and discover everything is to save a child.  Huntress and Tory have a moment.

At the final showdown with Oberon, Tory and Huntress disappear - a shared moment of love, Carl and Ashley disappear - no place like home; and the third key is the child, Alex.   The rest return home.

Nate reassures Alex that he will be protected.  While in the White World, Nate gets the cane back and Matthias gets his freedom.  Nate gets the latest report on the war front; Hercules’ light attacks, Achilles’ and Asterion’s re-appearance, Callie helps at the front, and the Syndicate arrives to help.

Nate meets with Gunnar where he tells him that he must lead in the war, that Nate’s part will only be to kill the god and Indie.  Ashley and Tory reveal their wild sides to Gunnar.  Before the storm, Nate and Callie go on a picnic at Stonehenge.

Nate releases his beast with the power of lightning.  Nate and Callie, with combined power, find a way to enter the Armory.  Pandora promises that she did not betray him, ever.  Facing enemies, Nate confronts Indie and speaks with Ichabod.

Wulfric and Wulfra make a stand to show they will lead in the war. Nate meets with the Syndicate and gets Cindy to promise loyalty, to help within parameters.  Suspicious, Nate asks Talon to run an errand for him.

Nate meets with Ichabod, arranges that Matthias can see him.  Castor Queen, hiding among the Syndicate, attacks, and Ichabod is injured.  As a result of it being at the Chateau, war begins.

The Greeks storm the gates.  Nate gets the Academy to monitor the Syndicate, imprisoning them.  Alex is taken, Indie demands justice for Alex’s life.  Nate discovers that she was kidnapped by the Fae, and it has influenced her thinking.  With Talon’s errand to see Indie’s mother, Indie discovers the truth - she was not killed by the Syndicate as Ichabod told her.  She is alive!  It makes no difference to Indie, she’s too far gone.

Nate confronts the goddess Athena.  Nate sees a glimpse of the battle on the ground.  He witnesses Castor Queen killing Ichabod as Nate’s doppelgänger. Unfortunately, Matthias has seen it, too.  Wylde helps Nate battle Athena; memories assail Nate, and then he uses weapons of the gods to kill Athena. Nate puts on his mask.

A final showdown with Indie; she attacks Ashley from behind. Gravely wounded, Ashley tells Gunnar about a letter she wrote him.  Pan tries to heal her and takes her away.  Nate confronts Indie, where she begs for forgiveness.  Nate stalls her and announces that he will wipe out all hope from the world.  Nate takes back her hope and Indie dies. Matthias attacks Alex in retaliation for Ichabod’s death. Nate prevails and Matthias disappears.

Achilles takes over the Greeks; he and Asterion promise that no one died by their hands.  A deal with War trumped Athena’s authority.  After meeting with War, Nate promises Alex a home, especially after Matthias’ attack on him.

It is a time to rest.