aHunter4Rescue (aHunter4Hire) (19 page)

“You
mean they left us here all these years?”

“You
were expendable.” It was the reality of being a soldier. You were a pawn in
another’s game of power. “You became a problem when they decided that all
Hunter blood was to be destroyed. They could not risk that you would one day
come back to Cygnus and demand recognition as Hunters.”

Lorcan
pushed his chair away from the table. “We were children. Do you know what happened
to those of us who were captured?”

Fiona
shuddered. “Probably what they threatened to do to us.”

Lorcan
leaned toward her, his face screwed up with anger. “They ran them down like
animals and once they were caught they pulled them apart like laboratory rats.
They had no mercy.”

“I’m
sorry.” Fiona’s voice shook.

Lorcan
slammed his fist down on the table. “You people are monsters. Don’t try and
placate me with words. I will see you dead before I let you leave here alive.”

Ardal
snapped.

He
picked Lorcan up and threw him against the wall. The man tried to stand, but
collapsed on his stomach. Gur, Kerm, and Turlo rushed him next and he dealt
with them in the same manner. Catal reached for a gun. Ardal pulled Ern close
with a neck hold and used him as a shield.

He
pushed Fiona behind him.

“You
have no honor.” He walked toward Catal with slow, steady steps. “You gave me
your oath as a Hunter that she would not be harmed.”

Catal
used both hands to steady the gun. “I wasn’t going to harm her.”

“Then
why defend Lorcan.”

“He
is the leader.”

“No
man can be a leader without honor.” Ardal was now a foot away from Catal. He
grabbed the gun and threw it down. “There should not be war among Hunters. We
have seen enough of it because of the orders of others. Hunters do not kill
each other.

Catal
took a shaky breath and then sagged against the table. “I didn’t know that
rule.”

“I
do not think any of you know the Sacred Code.” Ardal pushed Ern away. “It is
not your fault, but if you refuse to live by the Sacred Code then I cannot
treat you as Hunters. Understood?”

Catal
nodded.

Ardal
took a deep breath and eased his heart rate to slow the adrenaline coursing
through his body. He would not make the mistake of trusting these men, for they
were more men than Hunters. The blood ran true, but without the training and
honor, they were no better than the Holman. He felt Fiona’s fear and he wanted
to destroy these men, but he would give them another chance. They had resources
and knowledge that would be valuable to his men.

“How
have you survived this long?” Ardal’s voice was low.

“We
hunt as our blood dictates.” Erm rubbed his neck where Ardal had grabbed him.

“Who
gives the orders?”

“We
solicit orders.” Lorcan heaved himself into a sitting position. “Humans are
technologically behind and even the teachers couldn’t bring them to a point
where it would be possible for us to leave, so we learned to survive. We thrive
by being Hunters and giving the humans what they want.”

Fiona
shivered behind him and a sense of foreboding skipped through his body. He
looked back at her, touching her hair to comfort. She leaned into his hand and
sighed. She was still afraid, but there was also great sadness in her.

“Who
do these orders come from?” Ardal turned back to Lorcan, but kept his hand on
Fiona. The touch of her was soothing.

“Humans
bring us the orders. In the past it was in person, but now it is done through
the Internet.” Lorcan’s voice was full of pride. “We fill a need and at the same
time get to hunt. We get paid good money to do it.”

Ardal’s
stomach tensed. “What do you hunt?”

“The
enemy.”
Lorcan’s voice was full of disdain. “We hunt
humans.

“You’re
assassins and mercenaries.” She had known the truth before they had said it.
The equipment in the building was the first clue. Then there was the
helicopter. They needed a lot of money to outfit a place like this. It looked
as if they could wage a war at a moment’s notice.

“Explain.”
Ardal’s voice was cold as steel.

“They
kill for money.” Fiona motioned around the room. “And from the looks of this
stuff, they get paid a lot.”

“You’re
not just a pretty face.” Lorcan smirked. “It’s amazing how many people want
their loved ones, or enemies killed. They just don’t want to do the dirty work.
And we’re real good at it.”

“A
Hunter does not get pleasure from killing. It is necessary, but never joyful.”

“Is
that another one of those codes we’ve never heard about?” Lorcan laughed.
“You’re full of one
liners
.”

“You
are ignorant of our ways.” Ardal straightened his shoulders. “I have trained
many a young Hunter and I will endeavor to help you.”

“We
are not children.”

“True.”
Ardal’s voice held regret. “I cannot undo what has happened to you, but I can
help you obtain the honor and knowledge of a Hunter.”

“We
saved your butt back there.” Lorcan pointed a finger at Ardal. “We don’t need
to hear a lecture from you about our behavior. If you hadn’t been dragging this
woman around, you probably wouldn’t have been caught.”

“A
Hunter lives by two codes; those of the Warrior and those of the Sacred Code of
the Hunter.” Ardal looked at the other men in the room. “The first rule of the
Sacred Code is that a Hunter does not betray his word.”

Lorcan
rolled his eyes. “That only happens in a perfect world.”

“The
first rule of the Warrior Code is that it is forbidden to kill or harm a woman
or child.” Ardal paused and looked at each man individually. “You have broken
both of these codes. Another Hunter would not hesitate to kill you.”

“You
couldn’t get within two yards of us if we didn’t want you to.” Lorcan’s face
was distorted with anger.

“Your
words show ignorance and your actions tell me you have no wish to change.”

“Why
should I want to?” Lorcan started to walk toward Ardal. “Who are you to try and
change us?”

Fiona
sensed trouble. Ardal reached for her and again she found herself staring at
his back. He took this protection stuff a little too seriously, but a part of
her knew that it went deeper than that. Their bond meant that he would suffer
if anything happened to her.

“I
am your leader.”

“You
expect us to follow you because you’re clan Rioge?” Lorcan snorted. “I could
kill you now.”

“You
live by violence.” Ardal’s voice was sad. “A true Hunter lives by honor.”

“We
did what was necessary.” Lorcan pulled a knife from his belt. “I’ve heard
enough of your words.”

Catal
stepped forward and put his hand on Lorcan’s arm. “We don’t want a fight. We
have done our best to survive on this planet.”

“Now
you know differently.” Ardal shook his head. “My wish is that we work together,
but together as Hunters.”

“You
oppose us.” Lorcan shook off Catal’s restraint and threw down his knife. “We
should have left you to die.”

“We
do not have to be enemies. All Hunters belong to the brotherhood.” Ardal’s tone
was conciliatory. “You are badly trained and let anger influence you.”

Fiona
stepped from around Ardal. “They have lived in hiding for too long. The stress
can make you do stupid things.”

Kerm
nodded. “Lorcan, I can’t believe you would consider attacking a Hunter of the
clan Rioge.”

“Do
you wish to be true Hunters?” Ardal straightened his shoulders. “I am prepared
to train you, but I understand if you believe you are too old. You look to be
as old as my youngest soldier, but your years are many more.”

Ardal
looked at each of the men and waited for them to show their agreement. Fiona
held her breath and waited. These men would have to accept Ardal’s command and
a commitment to a new way of living. A life ruled by honor. Ardal waited for
the nod of agreement from each man before straightening his shoulders.

He
walked over to Lorcan and lifted his head. “Do you accept?”

The
man nodded. “I’m not a fool. You’re definitely of the clan Rioge. Our teachers
tried to explain the difference between the clans, but there’s nothing like
firsthand experience.”

Ardal
gripped the man’s shoulder. “You have learned the first lesson. Know your
commander.”

“We
have others of us who should be consulted about our decision. They can also
provide interference.” Catal’s voice was low and he glanced at Fiona for a
second before his eyes skittered away. “We don’t want the humans finding us.”

“Then
arrange it.” Ardal looked back at her and smiled. “We need to leave. The rest
of my men are awaiting us in Toronto.”

“We’ll
ready the helicopter.” Catal motioned for the others to follow him.

When
they were alone Fiona cleared her throat. “What happened here?

“These
men are still like children at the beginning of their training.” Ardal shook
his head. “Their wounds may be too deep to heal.”

Fiona
looked up at him. His dark eyes held a sadness that she had not seen before.
“Because they were abandoned on earth?”

“It
is more than that. They had no direction or brothers.” Ardal reached for her
hands. “A Hunter is not a man alone. He is one with his brothers. Always he has
others with him to guide and direct.”

“What
about you?” Fiona leaned her head on his chest. “You are in command. Who guides
you?”

“I
have always had others of my clan, but now there is only me.” He sighed and
rubbed his chin against her head. “Perhaps that is why I have been given the
gift of a pair bond.”

“So
I’m a consolation prize?” Fiona grinned and looked up at him. “You’ve got bad
luck.”

“No.”

Ardal’s
voice was serious. The world disappeared as he gazed into her eyes and she
couldn’t look away. There was a fire and the promise of forever in his eyes. A
sense of destiny and fate came into play as he lowered his head to her. The
touch of his mouth sent a shiver of desire through her body.

His
caress was a bolt of lightning to her soul, awakening every cell within her
body. His tongue traced the outline of her lips. She quivered and sighed with the
perfection of the moment, opening herself to his searching.

He
didn’t disappoint. He explored and tantalized. His arms brought her closer,
tightening and caressing her back and arms as he plundered her mouth. The
friction of his tongue against hers sent shivers of delight throughout her
body. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she held him close, allowing her own
hunger to fire the melding of their lips. Her tongue dueled with his in a slow,
seductive play. She gave to him without fear and from somewhere deep within
her, she recognized her true mate; the other half of herself.

How
long they kissed she didn’t know, but it had felt like mere seconds of ecstasy.
He pulled away and she moaned her regret. He rested his forehead against hers
and exhaled a deep breath. His body trembled and she was surprised that she
could cause such a reaction. Ardal was a man who faced death without flinching,
but a kiss seemed to affect him as deeply as it did her.

“I
do not regret touching you.” He kissed her nose and then leaned back. “I will
always remember the pleasure and delight of holding you in my arms. If you
should decide that you do not want me as a mate, then I will live with this
memory forever.”

“A
man like you wouldn’t be lonely for long.” Fiona tried to keep her voice light.

“No.”
Ardal shook his head. “Fate has chosen you. I could not be with another.”

“Never?”
Fiona’s voice was a hoarse whisper.

“There
is only one for a Hunter once he has been bonded.”

“Humans
can change their partners.”

“It
is good that you have choices.”

“So
do you.”

“Having
tasted you I could never want another.” Ardal’s gaze did not leave her face. “I
never expected to bond so there is no need for you to be sad.”

“It
doesn’t seem fair.” Fiona twisted a strand of her hair in her finger.

“It
is the way of a Hunter. Life does not have to be fair to be lived.”

At
some level she couldn’t disagree with him. It hadn’t been fair that David had
become obsessed with her. There was nothing that made sense in the fact that
she had to run away from her friends and family just to stay alive. There was
no justice in the fact that the law protected David’s rights, but not hers.
There really was no point in wishing for something that wasn’t possible.

With
a sigh she walked to the window. The other men had not returned. She started
tapping her fingers on the window sill. A sense of uneasy knotted her stomach.
They had stayed here too long. She knew it was a reaction from the past year on
the run, but she’d learned the hard way to follow her instincts.