Grimm Consequences

By Kate SeRine

The author of Red “takes urban fantasy, crime thrillers and fairy tale characters and creates magic" in this paranormal romance novella (Caffeinated Book Reviewer).
 
To put it lightly, Nate Grimm has a dark past. Fortunately, no one's bothered to look too closely at the Fairytale Management Authority's lead detective and part-time Reaper. And Nate wants to keep it that way. After centuries of torment and loneliness, he's finally found happiness with the hot and hard-charging love of his life, Tess "Red" Little.

Of course, his love for Tess is the reason there's a posse of Reaper judges after him, led by a sadistic bastard acquainted with Nate from once upon a time. Now, Tess will pay the price for Nate's transgressions unless Nate severs his ties to the transplanted Tales—and Tess—forever. His enemy has the advantage in speed, malice and brutality. But the Reapers have underestimated the depth of Nate's love. And the fury of his wrath.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eOriginals
• Release date: Apr 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781601832498

Kate SeRine

Kate SeRine writes award-winning romantic suspense and paranormal romance. A past recipient of an Emily Award and the National Readers Choice Award, she has also been a finalist in the Fire and Ice Contest, Finally a Bride Contest, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. She lives with her husband and two sons outside Indianapolis, Indiana. Connect with Kate at www.kateserine.com.

Book preview

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Prologue

I’ll never forget the moment I saw her. She was lying in a heap on the forest floor, barely noticeable among the autumn leaves that had drifted down into a thick bed that covered the ground. Her simple brown cloak masked her at first, but I caught a glimpse of red boots and knew I’d found my mark.

As I drifted toward her, the wind began to howl like a wolf mourning his lost love, and a long buried sensation unexpectedly tugged at my heart. What was it? I needn’t have even asked the question. In spite of my resolve to feel nothing, this particular emotion was an old friend and once more fell upon me against my will.

Regret.

It sat like a cold stone upon my chest and would’ve suffocated me had I not already died centuries before. Now it was just a special brand of torture. So many regrets, so many choices I wished I could unmake. But already behind schedule, I quickly shoved aside the memories that lurked on the edges of my mind and turned my attention back to the job I’d been given.

Take the girl.

My directives always came to me as a sharp command with no additional information. I never needed more than that. I knew what had to be done. Finely honed instincts forged in fire and blood always led me to where I needed to go. And today they had brought me here, to this woman who lay near death, exhausted, starving, heartbroken.

But in a moment, I would relieve her of her suffering. I’d reach my hand into her chest and gently remove her soul and then shepherd her on to the great hereafter. If she’d let me. Most people fought against me, cursed my name, pleaded for just a little longer.... But, in the end, such resistance was futile. I’d never granted a reprieve. Why should I? No one had granted one to me when I lay dying.

I knelt at the woman’s side and carefully lifted a lock of jet black hair away from her face. I gasped, struck by the loveliness of her. Her fair skin was a startling contrast to her dark hair and ruby red lips. I’d seen beautiful women before. Many, in fact. But this one . . . She stirred something deep inside me that mingled with my old friend Regret and urged me to hold her, comfort her.

Without stopping to think, I gathered her tenderly into my arms and held her close. I placed my hand over her heart, intending to slowly bring it to a stop and offer her a quiet death, but to my astonishment, I suddenly was privy to all she’d suffered, all she’d endured. Never before had I been granted such a look into the deepest recesses of a person’s heart. Staggered by her strength and loyalty, I momentarily forgot why I’d come.

It was then that her eyelids fluttered and opened, revealing to me the most amazing blue eyes I’d ever seen. They were the same shade as robins’ eggs, and they were clear and focused, determined and strong, even though she was mere moments from dying.

You’ve come for me, she whispered, her voice dry from thirst and lack of use.

I blinked at her in astonishment. She could actually see me? Impossible! And yet her eyes met and held mine, forbidding me to lie to her. Yes, I replied. I have.

She nestled closer, grasping onto me as she burrowed into my chest. So cold.

I wrapped my arms tighter around her, willing my warmth into her. She sighed a moment later, a slight smile curving her lips.

Take the girl.

I heard the directive, more insistent this time. Knew I had a job to do. Ignored it.

I smoothed the woman’s hair, peered down at her face, praying her lids would open once more and give me another glimpse of the only eyes that had seen me as I truly was since I’d left behind my own mortal coil centuries before. As if she’d heard my thoughts, she lifted her lids and met my gaze again. She must’ve seen something odd in my expression.

I understand, she assured me. I do not blame you. Then she reached up and placed her cool, slim hand against my cheek, comforting me.

Impulsively, I turned into her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, puzzled that such a small act of kindness could have such a profound effect. And I knew I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t take her. How could I possibly end the life of the one person who’d ever seen me for what I really was? How could I deprive the world—real or Make Believe—of such a woman? I couldn’t extinguish such a magnificent light—not when I craved it so desperately.

Making my decision, Reaper laws be damned, I stood, cradling her in my arms. I would grant her a reprieve, I decided. I would refuse to take her soul and deliver it as ordered. I had no idea what that would mean. I didn’t care. Whatever punishment I’d face, whatever penance I’d be forced to suffer, it’d be worth it.

I carried her away from the site where she was supposed to have died, fearing that another Reaper might be sent to finish the job I’d refused to complete. My mind churned in desperation, trying to figure out how to find one who’d care for the woman in my arms and restore her to health. My corporeal form was fleeting. Soon I’d be nothing more than a dark mist, all that remained of my equally dark soul. I had to find a safe place for her before that happened. But I didn’t know this land called Make Believe. I was assigned to the mortal world. My assignment today had been a fluke. A scheduling error.

But as soon as the sense of urgency came to me, something told me if I just kept walking west, I’d find the perfect place, the ideal person, to take in and care for the woman in my arms.

I’d walked for nearly two miles before she spoke again. What is your name?

My name? Hell, I barely remembered. And it was probably best not to share the truth anyway. Nathaniel, I lied, borrowing the name of the last man I’d collected.

Do you have a surname, Nate? she asked, her voice teasing in spite of her dire situation.

I grasped for a name that I’d heard in my travels in this realm, something that would make sense in her world. "Grimm. My name is Nathaniel—uh, Nate—Grimm."

Hmm, she murmured. Any relation to those bastards who’ve been stealing our stories?

"None whatsoever. And what do they call you?"

My name is Tess Little, she told me, her voice growing weak. But everyone calls me Red.

Through the trees I at last caught a glimpse of a small cottage, its facade warm and inviting. A grandmotherly woman bustled about, inspecting a thriving pumpkin patch. I quickened my pace, altering my appearance with a force of will that would cost me a considerable amount of my remaining time on this plane of existence. Appearing not as my Reaper self but as a construct of how I’d once appeared so as not to frighten, I called out, Hello there!

The grandmotherly one glanced up, then gasped in surprise and rushed forward to meet me. Good heavens! she cried. Whatever has happened to the poor dear?

She needs a warm bed, sustenance, I replied, my tone clipped. Will you help her?

She nodded without hesitation. Of course, my dear. Bring her inside at once.

I placed Tess on a bed and helped remove her cloak, revealing deep scratches on her bare arms, testament to her horrific journey through the forest. A horrible tug at the center of my chest caught me off guard.

Compassion?

Interesting. That was new.

Poor child.

I turned my gaze to the elderly woman. Will you watch over her? Protect her? She has no one.

No one but you, the grandmother amended.

I smoothed Tess’s hair. She does not belong to me, I lamented on a sigh, surprised just how much that disappointed me. She won’t even remember me when she wakes.

"Well, I will remember you, the grandmother assured me. And I will tell her of your kindness."

I shook my head. No, you won’t. I held the grandmother’s gaze and caught her memories of me, extracting them with care so as not to dislodge my request. You will remember nothing of me, only my words.

She nodded, still entranced.

I felt my corporeal form beginning to dissipate and caressed Tess’s cheek with the back of my fingers before pressing a kiss to the top of her head, drawing out the memories of me as I pulled back. I’ll be watching over you, Tess Little. As I felt my essence begin to scatter into a million particles of shadow, I added, And someday we will meet again.

Chapter 1

I woke with a start. I’d been dreaming again, remembering that day so many years ago when I’d first met Tess. For one brief, heart-stopping moment, I was terrified that I was still searching for her, that I’d never taken the assignment with the Tales in the Here and Now to be near her, that we’d never become friends . . . and now lovers. But then I felt her stir beside me in the bed we’d shared every night for the last two months, and turned toward her, watching her sleep. In many ways, my life still felt like a dream. But as I peered down at Tess, I knew it was real. More real than anything else in my life ever had been.

Still, my routine was the same tonight as every night. If I managed to doze off at all, my heart would seize with panic and I’d immediately check to make sure Tess was still safely beside me, within easy reach should something nefarious creep from the shadows.

And then, when I could no longer convince myself that all was well, I’d check all the doors, the windows, every dark corner of the house, and eventually end up back at the window to watch the darkness until the first tentative rays

Reviews for Grimm Consequences

[bookaholiccat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Grimm Consequences is a novella in the Transplanted Tales series by Kate SeRine.

It’s not secret I love this series. Book after book Kate SeRine’s imagination has awed me. Every time she announces a new book a countdown to release day starts in my head. When I heard she was writing a novella from Nate’s point of view that countdown was accompanied by lights and whistles. That’s how much I wanted Nate’s novella.

I knew Nate love Tess (Little Red Riding Hood); it was easy to see every time they were together. What I didn’t know was the depth of Nate’s love. Actually love is such a small word to encompass his adoration and dedication to Tess.
For Nate Tess has been his salvation, his breath, and his reason to live. When he thought everything was lost he found her and she became the light in his life.
Nate’s job as a reaper is not an easy job; dealing with death every day can darken and harden the nicest soul and that’s exactly what happens to reapers. Their job turns them into uncaring and in some cases sadistic beings. That’s precisely what was happening to Nate when he met Tess, but she changed everything for him, she saw him as a man and not a reaper and filled his life with hope. He knew he wanted her, but also knew to have her he needed to change, to be better to deserve her *swoon* and that’s exactly what he did.
Nate and Tess relationship is new but is going strong, the only problem is Nate is hiding things from his past and that past has come to his door and it’s threatening his newfound happiness with Tess.

Nate is a character I have loved since I first met him in Red (first book in the series) and my love for him grew with each installment. What I didn’t thought possible was that I could love him more, and that was exactly what happened in Grimm Consequences. OMFG! Nate is simply M-A-G-N-I-F-I-C-E-N-T.

One thing that amazed me is how Kate SeRine was able to awaken in me unreasonable fear.Grimm Consequences is set between Red and The Better to See You (second book), I have read every single book in this series, so I knew Tess and Nate will be ok at the end of this novella, but Kate SeRine has a gift with words and she made me worry for them; even thought in my brain I knew they will be ok there were moments where I really despaired and thought everything was lost for them. That’s how talented Kate SeRine is.

Another thing I admire about Kate SeRine is how she takes the fairy tales we know since childhood and twist them making the new and completely original. In every one of her books she surprises me with the originality and uniqueness of her characters and Grimm Consequences was not an exception.

Grimm Consequences is a novella that reads like a full-length novel. It’s incredible how much emotion, suspense, action and character growth Kate SeRine was able to pack into this novella.

Grimm Consequences can be read as a standalone, but to get the full effect I recommend you to read Red before, and if you haven’t read this series can I ask you what are you waiting for? Transplanted Tales series is one of the best urban fantasy series in the market. If you like your fairy tales with a twist this novella and this series are for you.
Next book in this series, Ever After, will be release on August 21st and as you can imagine I have a countdown going on in my head… 4 months, 3 days and counting.

[avoraciousreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

*Book source ~ NetGalleyNate Grimm of the Fairytale Management Authority is not only a detective, but a Reaper. His past is secret even from his lady love, Tess “Red” Little, but when an old adversary comes gunning for him it’s Tess who’s in the most danger. Nate’s not going to take that lying down. His enemies seem to have forgotten that he’s not known as the Death Bringer for nothing.This is the 2nd story in the Transplanted Tales that I’ve read and the shiny is still blinding me in this series. Since Red was told from Tess’s POV I quite enjoyed having Nate’s POV in this one. Steamy, paranormal, suspense and humor, this fairy tale retelling has it all and more. Nate is just so damn yummy! And Tess is a badass. I love them! I can’t say enough how much I enjoy Kate SeRine’s writing and I’m so looking forward to continuing with this series.