True Nature (19 page)

“How?”

“We’ve been studying these predators for years.” Craig got to his feet. “A lion’s mane is like a fingerprint. We managed to get pictures so we could identify all of them. They’re out to destroy the MacRaes, so your grandfather made it his business to know who he was dealing with.”

One of the others pressed a handkerchief into Hunter’s hand. He held it against his forehead.

“Why didn’t Chymera come after me himself?”

Craig shrugged, reaching for Hunter’s arm. “Let’s get you back to the house and see how badly you’re hurt, and then we’ll talk. Evan, radio ahead so the doctor will meet us.”

Hunter stared down at the huge beast again. The regal lion’s head was enormous, and the shaggy mane was waist-length. Sharpened claws were still visible in the huge paws at the base of the lion’s forelegs. He shuddered again thinking what would have happened if Evan weren’t an expert archer.

“Thank you, Evan,” he said.

“He left himself wide open,” Evan replied. “Makes me think he didn’t expect so many of us to be out here. Come now, let’s get you inside.”

Hunter was fascinated by the beauty of the feline portion of the creature. It could well have been the mystery man in the story of “Beauty and the Beast.”

“What will we do with him?” Hunter walked away between Craig and Evan.

“We’ll drag him further into the woods, and Killin’s men will find him,” Craig said.

Hunter looked at the man’s stoic face; there was no hint of concern or fear. “Wouldn’t it be easier if we just buried him?”

“It’s not our way, Hunter,” Craig said earnestly. “Even in a war, a man has a right to have his body returned to his family.”

“I see,” Hunter said, though he really didn’t. He felt like he was in a time warp, and he knew without a doubt he needed to get back to the city. His life might never be normal again, but more familiar surroundings might help him get his bearings.

ATVs appeared to take them back to the house. It was late, after midnight, and from the bite of the wind, there would be a frost tonight. Hunter shivered as clouds covered the moon.

When they entered the house, Dr. Connor, his grandfather’s physician, was waiting. Stirling scowled at his side. Hunter’s father appeared to have sobered up while they’d been working.

Dr. Connor directed them to the kitchen “I’ve got everything ready.”

Hunter sat heavily on a chair in the kitchen where his Nana used to bake cookies. He winced when the doctor pulled away the big, rough handkerchief Craig had tied around his wound.

“Doesn’t look too bad,” Dr. Connor said. “Shouldn’t take more than a few stitches to fix it right up. Craig told me the big cat was already dead, but he managed to wound you anyway.”

“Those claws are long and razor sharp,” Craig said. “Thank God the bastard was on the small side.”

Hunter yelped as the needle pricked his forehead. “He felt mighty damn big to me.”

Craig laughed. “His brother is older and bigger and a lot meaner. You’d be wise to get into better shape for the time you’ll meet him.”

It took ten stitches to close the cut at the edge of his scalp. This was clearly more than “a few” in his opinion, but he kept that to himself. When he complained about how long the process was taking, the doctor reminded him this was a spot that would be seen and, therefore, needed a little extra care to keep him from having a bad scar.

Finally, Dr. Connor was satisfied. Hunter went upstairs to shower and change out of his bloody clothes. After getting dressed in comfortable jeans and a sweatshirt, he grabbed the cell phone that had been ringing almost constantly since they’d returned.

He punched speed dial for Zoe and she picked up before he even heard a ring.

She answered, “Oh, my God, are you all right? I’ve been scared to death. I had a vision and I kept calling and you didn’t—”

“I couldn’t get to the phone. I’m sorry. I’m fine, Zoe. Everything’s fine,” Hunter said as he gingerly touched the bandage on his head. He knew Zoe would have a fit when she saw it.

“What happened? I saw a monster jumping for you. Was it Chymera?”

“His brother.”

“He has a brother?”

Hunter sighed. He really didn’t want to explain all of this to her just now. “I had to have a few stitches, and the monster is dead. One of the monsters, anyway.”

Zoe’s tone turned to anger. “You’ve got to come home. Surely animals like that won’t come to the city. You’ll be safe down here.”

Hunter thought briefly about the “Lion of Wall Street,” but decided it was best not to tell her about Michael Killin over the phone.

“I’ll be home tomorrow, I promise.”

“That makes me feel better,” Zoe said, although she didn’t really sound calmer. “I need to see you, Hunter. I need to see for myself how badly you’re hurt. And how can I help you if I’m not with you?”

Hunter ended the call and returned to the den. The doctor had departed, but Craig, Evan, and Stirling were waiting for him.

“Tell me what happened out there,” Stirling said from the deep, leather chair he occupied.

Craig recounted the stalking and killing of Patrick Killin while Hunter took the chair across from his father. Evan poured him scotch in a heavy crystal glass. It wasn’t his drink of choice but tasted good tonight.

“So you killed one of them.” Stirling sighed.

“We saw only one,” Hunter replied, feeling defensive.

“But there were more,” Evan said. “Many more.”

Craig agreed as he turned back to Hunter. “Our ancestor’s village was wiped out in a fierce attack one night. Dozens of these savages came through and killed everyone they found. The only ones who survived were a group of hunters who were away hunting to stock the town’s larders for winter.”

“The murderers were the Killins,” Stirling said.

“Why can’t they change completely?” Hunter asked.

“Our scientists say it’s due to aplastic anemia,” Stirling answered. “That’s the only constant they could find in their research. They believe the mutation was caused by the reduction in red blood cells.”

“I’m no scientist,” Evan added, “but I know a human chimera can occur when one fraternal twin dies in the womb. When that happens the other twin absorbs the genetic material and can have two different DNAs.”

Hunter waved his glass in impatience. “No matter what causes their problems, these creatures are our enemies.”

“They’ve been waiting,” Stirling said. “Michael Killin waited until Father was growing old. Killin’s been watching us closely. He knew Hunter wasn’t ready to take the reins, and Fraser was vulnerable.” He looked hard at Hunter over his glass of scotch. “Killin put that body in the woods behind your office as a test. And you failed it.”

Hunter stared at his father in surprise. “How did you know about that body?”

“Jess Dugard was one of us,” Evan answered in the sudden silence. “Part of the MacRae clan.”

“Someone who lived here?” Hunter demanded.

Craig shook his head. “Dugard was a North Carolina MacRae. He worked under cover. He had infiltrated Killin’s group.”

Hunter looked puzzled. “How is that possible? Wouldn’t the Killins know he belonged to us? Smell us on him.”

“Like you smelled Chymera near Dugard’s body?” Stirling challenged.

“I did sense…something.” Hunter remembered his unease that night, the smell that he couldn’t place, the danger he had sensed. If he had known what it was, that is was Chymera, would Grandda be alive?

“But you didn’t know what it was,” his father said, clearly reading his thoughts. “Thanks to your grandfather.”

“Dugard was a protector like Evan and me. Members of our family are with all the MacRaes,” Craig said.

“Did Grandda know Dugard was with the Killins?” Hunter asked.

“Someone among us is always trying to get close to the chimera.” Craig’s face was dark and sober.

“We realized Dugard was missing on Sunday,” Evan said. “He missed a check in, which was unlike him.”

“Your grandfather made some calls,” Stirling said. “He found out about the body left behind your office. We have contacts in the police department. People with special…abilities. They confirmed that it was Dugard. Calls were made to his family. They’ve already taken his body home to rest in their mountains. Just as we’ll bury Shamus tomorrow.”

Hunter couldn’t help but wonder what kind of creatures were standing shoulder-to-shoulder with humans in the thin blue line. His grandfather had kept too much from him. .

“Then Chymera came after your grandfather,” Craig said.

“And he killed him.” Hunter downed the last of his scotch, wishing the burn could consume the grief inside him. “How can we be sure it was Michael Killin and not his little brother, Patrick, who did the killing?”

“Shamus was sure,” Stirling said. “I didn’t need any other proof.”

The room was silent save for the wind that pushed against the windows.

“What’s our next move?” Hunter asked.

“It’s kind of like chess,” Craig said. “We made a move tonight. We’ll see what they do.”

“But if this is a game, they’re ahead,” Hunter insisted. “They killed this Dugard man, then Grandda and Shamus. Should that go unanswered?”

“I’m not waiting here,” Stirling said. “I’m heading back to the city tomorrow. As long as Father was alive he wouldn’t allow me to challenge Killin openly in the business world.”

“But now you will?” Hunter asked.

Stirling stood. “Killin’s quite proud of his financial prowess. He enjoys destroying others literally and figuratively. We can hurt him in many ways. Not just by chasing him in the woods.”

The controlled fury in his father’s voice surprised Hunter. “You hate him, don’t you?”

“More than I can say,” Stirling replied. “I suspect he is already far from these woods, on his way back to civilization. That’s my playing field.”

Though Hunter saw the wisdom in Stirling’s words, he wished his grandfather could advise them. How could the clan survive with The MacRae so unprepared?

Craig agreed that it was doubtful the chimera would attack them here again. “Evan will be going with you,” he told Hunter. “Shamus was to go back with you originally, but since he’s gone, it’ll be Evan.”

Though Hunter owed Evan his life, he didn’t like the idea of bodyguard. He had respected Shamus, but he had never understood why his grandfather had required a twenty-four/seven shadow. Even now that he understood the threat that Fraser had lived with, he felt he could defend himself.

He got to his feet, protesting, “I don’t need a babysitter. I’ve always been able to take care of myself.”

“Your grandfather thought that too,” Stirling said sternly. “You’ll take Evan with you. There’ll be others you won’t see watching us all. Craig needs to stay here, but Evan is well-trained. He’s ready to protect you.”

“In addition to what he learned from Shamus and me throughout his life, Evan was with the Rangers in Iraq until a year ago,” Craig added, “Like all of us, he knows how to do this job. Hell, it’s in our blood.”

“But in the city it’s different,” Hunter said. “It’s more difficult to hide there if you’re part animal and part human.”

“The chimera go everywhere and anywhere,” Evan’s tone was even, as if he were describing the habits of a housecat. “Your grandfather preferred living here because it reminded him of his home in the Highlands, but we’ve had members of our clan killed in St. Louis, Atlanta, and even Los Angeles.”

Stirling said, “Michael Killin lives in a penthouse near Central Park. He owns the building. The rest of the residents are on his staff in some capacity.”

Hunter continued to shake his head. Craig got up and grasped his shoulder. “Patrick’s death means Michael will be hunting in a rage. He’ll want to spill your blood with his own hands. You need Evan. You’ve got to change your life. You’ll have to be vigilant every minute, or you’ll die. It’s that simple.”

They looked up as one of the guards came through the doorway, his rifle at his side. “The Killins have already taken the body. Maeve and I were doing the late patrol, and discovered it was gone.”

“Michael Killin knows for sure his brother is gone,” Stirling murmured.

A look passed from him to Craig and Evan. The somberness in their faces carried an edge of fear. Hunter felt a chill down his spine.

“And so it begins,” Evan said.

To Hunter’s ears, Evan’s voice carried a note of bloodthirsty anticipation. He wondered if that was what he wanted in a bodyguard.

What would Zoe think?

Chapter 15

The helicopter was like dozens of others that dotted the sky over Manhattan, but I didn’t take my eyes off the gold and black striped craft while it hovered and then set down. I was waiting atop The Stirling Building on Fifth Avenue just off 51st. Fraser MacRae had built it in 1950 and named it in honor of his son born the same year. Though other buildings towered over it, this one was still impressive with its classic granite exterior.

The helicopter’s engine roared and wind whipped my hair about my face, but I didn’t even notice. Though I’ve been up here many times with Hunter, I never feel comfortable being so close to helicopter blades. The tightness in my chest eased, however, as the blades slowed and Hunter’s familiar, dark head popped out of a door.

“Hold on,” said the woman beside me. Stirling’s faithful and efficient administrative assistant, Marie Nelson, held me back when I would have run straight to Hunter.

He stepped out and I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to be sure he was truly here, safe, and whole. He dropped his duffel bag on the concrete and pulled me close, swinging me around as he hugged me tight enough to cut off my breathing.

“Oh, my God,” I gasped. “I’m so glad to see you.”

Hunter set me back on my feet. “I thought you could see me anytime.”

I stepped back. “Eyes on you, buddy, all the time. You’d better believe it.” I pushed his hair up to look at the neat row of sutures that lined his scalp. I frowned. “You’re almost healed.”

“The claw just scraped me.” Hunter stooped to pick up his duffel bag. He slung an arm around my shoulders as we walked toward the doorway where the patient Marie hovered.

The older woman greeted Hunter with a hug. In quiet tones, she told him how sorry she was about his grandfather. I knew Hunter was appreciative.