“It did.” Ardal stood beside the table. “We were being sent here for execution. All Hunters are dead, except us.”
The men around the table looked at him with blank expressions before glancing back at Lorcan. “Why would they do that? If memory serves me correctly, Hunters have always been needed to fight the battles the Kaladin and their mates were too squeamish to.”
“The Kaladin are no more. The high council is in hiding and the Holman have taken over the planet.” Ardal clenched his hands. “They did not trust us to fight for them so they ordered us killed. All Hunters obeyed. My men and I were on a mission when the others were executed. Upon our return, we were herded unto the craft and flown to this planet to be jettisoned into space.
“You are alive, though.” Catal eyes glittered with curiosity. “What happened?”
“I refused to obey.” Ardal straightened away from the table. “My men deserved to die with honor.”
Lorcan frowned. “Why were you sent here?”
“I have no idea.” Ardal crossed his arms across his chest. “You have been here many years. Perhaps you know why.”
Lorcan shrugged. “Not a clue.”
“Why were you here?”
“Our teachers said it was necessary for training and research. I think they wanted to see how we reacted in a different atmosphere. After the crash, we scattered around this planet.”
Kerm cleared his throat. “The teachers thought we’d be rescued. When that didn’t happen they became involved in speeding up the technology on this planet in the hopes of being able to get home.”
“Obviously they have failed.” Lorcan’s voice was sarcastic. “We learned to survive on our own. We do quite well for being strangers.”
“Have none of you married and had children?” Fiona’s question seemed to shock them.
“We are Hunters.” Lorcan’s voice was harsh. “Besides, why would we want to take a mate from this godforsaken planet?”
“How lonely.” Her voice was full of sadness.
Ardal agreed. His reason was because they had been denied a brotherhood. Cut off from their home and other Hunters would have been difficult. As children, they would not have been provided with the skills or training to survive. Yet, they had. The question was how and at what price.
Lorcan shrugged. “We have never had the desire so it’s never been a problem.”
Ardal frowned. There could only be one answer. “Do you still have your implants?”
“What implants?” The man called Kerm tilted his head.
“Hold out your arm.” Ardal felt along the forearm and found the telltale bump. “You have them. Do you have any unusual skills?”
“Besides not aging?” The men all laughed. “No.”
The implants were put in after birth. If they were active, then the Kaladin had always known where the boys were. The crash may have interrupted the signal. The military had taken his scanner so he had no way to check if they were active. Either way, it would be best to have them removed.
“If they are deactivated, they may still be used for tracking.” Ardal looked at Fiona. “Can you remove them?”
She nodded. “Do you have any medical equipment or a first aid kit?”
Lorcan got up and searched through a cupboard before throwing a small plastic container at Fiona. She rummaged through it and found a small scalpel and bandages. She arranged the materials and disinfected her tools. When she was done, she glanced at Lorcan.
“You should go first. It will only take a few minutes.”
“You can’t be serious.” Lorcan pushed away from the table. “I don’t trust you.”
Ardal reached out for the knife and then pointed at Kerm. “Come.” The man held his arm out and Ardal made short work of removing the implant. Fiona put on the antibiotic cream and bandage. The rest of the men followed with Lorcan being the last. Then Ardal took a hammer to the implants, beating them until they were broken apart.
“These need to be burned, melted down and buried. The Kaladin and Holman have known your location since you crashed.” Ardal threw the hammer on the table. “They were coming here not only to execute us, but to track and kill you. That explains the size of the crew that was onboard.”
“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.
Chapter 16
“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 partner
s.”
“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.
David had always been clever. He’d fooled her family and friends and even the other interns. They’d thought he was the most sincere and caring doctor on the staff. The first time she’d tried to tell a fellow intern of the horror David had made of her life, she’d laughed and accused her of possessiveness.
She’d honestly thought Fiona was jealous because a nurse had been bragging about dating David. Fiona didn’t want David. As far as she was concerned if he found another victim then she’d be safe, but her conscience wouldn’t let her walk away without warning David’s next victim.
When David learned about her confiding to another, he’d beaten her so severely that she’d been hospitalized. He’d threatened to kill her family if she said anything, so she’d lied to the police. She’d told them she’d been in the wrong section of town and hadn’t paid attention.
When she’d left the hospital, he was waiting for her. He’d brought along her sister and that’s when she knew he’d never let her go free. She’d made plans to leave that night and within a week her life on the run had begun.
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