Sword of Mercy (35 page)

“In a way, yes. Lancaster said he needed to
rescue Gordon from the cage they put him in.”

Damian nodded. “That is right, I remember.
Lancaster killed Master Gordon.”

Niall’s mouth dropped open before he snapped
it shut. “I didn’t know that.”

“Yes, he will be missed.” Damian turned toward
Hawke. “Can we return to the woods to hunt?”

“Yes.” Hawke turned to Niall. “My mate gave
you a second chance, do not squander it, send me the link as soon
as you return to your pack lands so the code can be
corrected.”

“Yes and thank you.” Niall went to each person
on the ground and assisted them to their feet.

Asia turned and followed Angus and Damian up a
path with Hawke bringing up the rear. “Tonight you will tell me
what you read in Amynta’s journal that caused your face to turn
red.”

“What?” Hawke asked, trying to sound innocent
and failing.

“Right before Damian called out to you for
help, your face was apple red and your jaw was tight. What did you
read?”

“I believe she was your mother or your aunt,
although I’m leaning to your mam. Her manner of blatant speech and
thought reminds me of you. There is a passage of her complaining
over her lovers… um, uh… performance.”

Asia laughed, feeling free and hopeful for the
first time in years. A door to her past opened with answers to her
questions and she would soon know more than tidbits of her
history.

“Well, I don’t have any complaints, so in that
regards I am not like her.”

He swatted her on the backside and took her
hand. “Glad to hear it. La Patron wants a report later, so after we
run a bit we need to get back to the books.”

“Okay.” She morphed into her beast and took
off behind Angus.

Chapter 35

Two days later, Hawke closed the last journal
and looked over his shoulder at his mate who lay on the bed her mam
used many years ago. Amynta’s writings of her tortured past with
her family broke his heart, and he marveled at the strong women in
her line. How could he tell his mate, she was the product of a
horrible rape engineered by her grandfather the Alpha of his pack
and leader of their country.

Asia came from royal stock, her mam had been a
princess from a small country bordering Lyrill that no longer
existed. For many years the two countries had been at war until her
mam’s country fell and was taken over by Lyrill.

Konstantin and Nikolas found Amynta in the
countryside along the lake near death, and brought her into the
tunnel for safety. At that time there had been a price on her life.
Hawke shook his head at the similarities between mother and
daughter.

“What’s wrong?” Asia asked, sitting and wiping
sleep from her eyes. “You look like something’s bothering
you.”

“I just finished the last journal, these books
don’t tell everything, but there is enough to give you an idea of
your beginnings.”

She rose and sat on his lap. Cupping his face
in her palms, she stared into his eyes. “It’s okay. Whatever you
need to tell me, it’ll be okay because I have you to share it with.
Who was Amynta?”

“Your mam. I’m fairly certain that’s you in
the portrait.”

She nodded and glanced over her shoulder at
the picture. “Okay, she seemed happy with me, so that’s a good
thing.” Asia faced him. “Any mention of my sire?”

“Lord Barticus, he was from another pack, but
there were a lot of suspicions about his origins. Your mam didn’t
want anything to do with him, he scared her. But her father beat
her and… Barticus raped her.”

Asia’s eyes widened and she dropped her
forehead to his as he repeated the tale of her mam’s ordeal. When
he mentioned Lyrill, her head snapped up.

“I’ve been there, met the princess and her
father the Prime Minister. There was no king, at least I don’t
think so. Damn, I can’t remember.” She shook her head. “Raped? Does
Barticus still live? Or his kin?”

The gleam in her eyes said she’d like to pay
them a visit and somehow return the favor. His bitch never failed
to surprise him with her ability to bounce back.

“Don’t know, we can check now that we have
names. One thing confuses me…”

“What?”

“Why did she leave here? Where did she go? How
did you wind up with the Liege? Is she dead?” He paused and
released a breath. “That’s more than one, but this isn’t adding up.
She was safe here. This room was hidden and somehow tied to the
covenant, what did that have to do with her? Or you? Konstantin
knew you, at least when you were a babe, did he make special
arrangements or did he die before that?”

“Good questions. Was she involved with, them?
Nikolas or Konastantin or both?” She asked.

“There is little mention of the two men other
than they took her in and helped her survive. She sounds grateful
not like a woman in love.”

Neither of them spoke.

Asia gazed at her mam’s portrait and then
looked at him. “I don’t know if we will ever find the answers about
her and these two men, but we can find answers about my mam and
sire. Someone remembers her and the feud between Lyrill and her
homeland.” She ran her fingertip across his lip. “Just as you know
the truth about your sire, I would like to know mine.”

He nipped her fingertip and then sucked it in
his mouth for a second. “Understood. What will we do with Damian?
Does he go with us or do we send him to La Patron with
Angus?”

“The holidays are coming. I’m not sure what
Mistress has planned so we should take him with us, but we’ll
discuss it with Mistress and La Patron. What about your second pup,
Gordon thought Lancaster will try and kill her.”

Hawke’s palm ran up and down her back in a
soothing motion. “True, we will discuss that with La Patron as
well. It may be that we go rescue her and return here or he may
send someone to her rescue.”

Asia nodded and sunk against his
chest.

Hawke waited for her to say what bothered
her.

“Her father beat her and gave her away, how
old was she?”

He closed his eyes and swallowed, hoping she
wouldn’t ask. “According to her journal, Barticus took her when she
was ten and four, just after… well she could, you know.”

Asia stiffened. “Took her? You mean she lived
with him and he just… took her whenever he wanted?”

Hearing his mate’s horrified whisper made it
worse for him. Barticus should be hung out to dry for what he’d
done to Amynta, but that behavior was common during those times.
Rather than give the answer a voice, he nodded.

“Goddess, what kind of sire does that to his
daughters? I cannot imagine Renee or Jackie being given away or
raped by anyone. La Patron would kill anyone who thought such a
thing, so would Mistress, or Rese, or Rone, or Cam, or Angus
or–”

“Or you,” Hawke said, placing a kiss on her
forehead. “That is not something done often today. But if her
father was at war with the king of Lyrill and needed allies, then
he would do whatever he thought was necessary to save his pack.
Alpha’s think pack first, den second.”

“Not La Patron.”

He smiled at the certainty in her voice. “No,
but he has a special relationship with the Goddess, not all Alphas
have that.”

“Even without, he wouldn’t give up his pups.
When you know him better you’ll see how he protects his den. They
may not always appreciate it, but keeping his pup safe is his
number one priority, all sires should feel that way.”

Thinking of his sire and everything that
happened, Hawke agreed.

Asia couldn’t believe she had the name of her
mam and sire. She offered a prayer of thanksgiving to the Goddess
and peeked at the portrait again. Amynta’s simple beauty was
masterfully captured on the canvas, she couldn’t believe their
resemblance. One day soon she would read all of the journals after
Hawke placed the translations in the computer and hear her mam’s
thoughts on life and family. Just knowing a little of her history,
despite the violent beginnings, settled her.

“Mistress?”

“Asia, how are you? I’ve been worried, so much
is happening so fast, are you okay?”

“Yes, Ma’am. Hawke finished the translations,
and even though I haven’t read them yet he has told me quite a bit
of my history.”

“Oh, Asia I am so happy for you. Tell me about
it, do I need Silas?”

“It would be easier to tell you both, it’s not
all pretty, but that’s how life falls.” She then whispered to
Hawke. “Listen in on this link while I talk to Mistress and La
Patron.”

He nodded, tightened his hold on her waist and
entered the link.

“Silas is here. Go ahead,” Jasmine
said.

Asia and Hawke explained what they’d found and
her plans to seek out more information on her mam and
sire.

“I understand and you have my blessings,”
Jasmine spoke first and Asia smiled. No doubt La Patron wouldn’t
have given her a blank check to go on a personal mission now that
they were in offense mode against the Liege. With the covenant
broken these men would eventually die out unless they came up with
new tricks. At least they no longer had access to pack lands and
wouldn’t be able to take pups from dens.

“Yes, I agree,” La Patron said slower. “As far
as your pup, I have already sent men to every location you and
Angus told me about from Gordon and Lancaster. We are seeing
results and have rescued some pups, not as many as I hoped but we
have them on the run. The equipment we’ve taken and the personnel
that have been arrested will set them back financially for a while.
Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten any of the Lords, but they’ve
gotten the message to leave this continent, I’ve been very
clear.”

Asia wished she could be a part of the
cleaning crew at some of those raids, but she understood the Alpha
of the state would handle those jobs personally.

“Once we find her, I’ll contact you and then
she can stay with us until you come home,” Jasmine said.

Touched, Asia met Hawke’s surprised gaze and
smiled. “Thank you, Mistress. I am not sure how all of this will
work out. Damian is so much older and she is a small child, but I
believe the Goddess is aware of everything, we will take it one day
at a time.”

“Of course, that is the best way to look at
it. When will you leave for Lyrill?”

Asia looked at Hawke. He shrugged.

“Within the next day or so. There is no reason
to delay things. We will search the internet first, and then map
our course. I want to know as much as possible about both of them
before we begin.”

“That’s good. Have you made peace with your
brother, Hawke?” Jasmine asked.

“Yes, I sent him the code to correct his neck
brace and he seems to be okay.”

“Good.”

“Any sign of Lancaster?” Asia
asked.

“Not yet. I don’t think he returned to the
States, I have people looking for him,” La Patron said. “Angus will
be returning for the holidays unless you need him.”

Asia’s heart sunk a little. She would miss his
counsel and presence, but she had Damian. “We should be fine, thank
you, Sir. He has a pet that is fearless.”

“Ugly you mean?” La Patron asked and then
chuckled. “He sent a picture of the thing so I would understand why
he needed a private jet. After taking a look at the thing, I
agreed. Alpha Radoff and Ulric assured me they would handle any
remaining Liege sympathizers and are searching for Lancaster as
well.”

“They are reconstructing a legitimate council
again. My brother has been asked to be a charter member,” Hawke
said.

“
So I heard
and I wish them the best of luck,” La Patron said. “Asia find your
answers and come home. We all miss you and want you to settle for a
while.”

His kind remarks stole her voice. Surprised,
she nodded and then squeaked. “Thank you, Sir. I will.”

Hawke hugged her tight as they disconnected.
Asia gazed at the happy smile on her mam’s face as she looked down
at the babe in her arms. Soon the gaps in her mind would be filled
and complete. She’d know her history and the meaning of the
birthmark that was stamped in every journal.