As far as David and her family were concerned, she’d died the day she left. She’d disappeared without a trace. For all intents and purposes she was dead. The thought of David finding her was worse than being captured again by the military.
“It will not happen.” Ardal was behind her, his voice firm and sincere. “I will protect you.”
“There are some things you can’t promise.” Fiona sighed and leaned back into him.
Ardal squeezed her shoulders, his touch comforting. “I can see why Lorcan feels this world is unworthy. Men do not hurt women on Cygnus.”
“Then you are more evolved than us.” Fiona sighed. “Not all men are bad. My father is a good man. Maybe that’s why I was so naïve and trusting. I’d never come across someone like David before.”
“You will never have to face him again.”
“I never thought I would be able to trust another man. It feels wonderful to be with you.” Fiona turned to face Ardal. “It’s the killing I can’t deal with. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to accept it.”
“It is the life of a Hunter. I cannot…” Whatever he was going to say was loss in the loud alarm that shrilled throughout the cabin.
Fiona’s heart started to race. She turned to leave by the door, but Ardal stopped her. He pushed her behind him. He didn’t have long to wait. The door flung open and Catal was thrown inside. The rest of the men followed, landing in a heap in the center of the cabin.
Ardal flexed his neck from side to side. The next seconds seemed like an eternity. Fiona held her breath, waiting for the inevitable strike.
She was not disappointed.
The first man through the door was thrown against the wall.
The second yelled; his voice low and familiar. “It is Firbin.”
Ardal relaxed his muscles and turned to face Jehon on the floor. He went to him and offered his assistance, but Jehon brushed him aside and stood.
“Where is the alarm?” Jehon kicked at Erm.
Erm pointed to a button on the wall and Jehon punched it. Silence finally. Any louder and her eardrums would have exploded. She sagged back against the wall and watched the men on the floor sit up. They looked surprised and defeated.
“You disobeyed.” Ardal’s disapproval was almost a living entity.
“We could not warn you.” Jehon motioned to the men on the floor. “We were unsure if they had a means of hearing.”
“They have enough surveillance equipment.” Fiona moved from the wall. “You scared me half to death.”
“Our apologies.” Firbin gave her a grin. “You were never in danger, though.”
“But you were.” Ardal moved to the young man.” “Insubordination will not be tolerated.”
“No sir.” Firbin hung his head. “We regretted leaving you alone, especially when we knew that you had been captured. We were only a short distance from this place.”
“You would have done the same for us.” Jehon walked over to the wall of weapons. “We will have to learn to use these primitive instruments.”
“Primitive, but effective.” Ardal’s voice was dry. “These men you have disposed of so easily were our rescuers. Their weapons kill as well as ours.”
Jehon turned to the men who were getting up from the floor. He raised his eyebrow. “We were not certain that they would leave you unharmed.”
“You do not trust your commander’s ability.”
Fiona bit back her smile. Ardal’s words were innocent enough, but the tone of voice gave him away. One glance at Jehon and she knew he wasn’t fooled by it either. He just shook his head.
“You are a leader amongst leaders.” Jehon’s tone was as dry as Ardal’s. “Why else would you have been chosen the personal protector of the high council?”
“But to earn your respect would be something.” Ardal pointed to the men and introduced them.
“You two know each other too well.” Fiona rubbed her arms and looked out the window.
“We have fought together since we were boys in training.” Ardal nodded to Catal. “How long to learn these weapons.?”
Catal shrugged. “They are easy.”
“Show Jehon. His gift is machines.”
Catal gave Ardal a searching glance of respect and then went to Jehon. He pulled down a machine gun and let Jehon feel its weight.
Ardal then turned to Lorcan. “How can we leave this place?”
Lorcan rubbed his neck. “I would suggest the helicopter as the fastest, but it won’t take all of us.”
Ardal nodded and looked at Firbin. How did you arrive?”
“We hiked through the forest. It took about an hour.”
“Kerm, Catal, and Ern will come with us to Toronto.” Ardal gave Lorcan a stern glance. “Will you be safe here?”
“They don’t know about this place.”
“That was before you took apart their base.” Ardal crossed his arms. “If I were in command that would not be left unresolved. I would not rest until I was certain that the perpetrators were dead.”
“But you aren’t from this planet.” Lorcan rolled his eyes. “They will try, but we are better.”
“Your cockiness will be your undoing.” Ardal glanced at Jehon. “My men had no problem dealing with you.”
Lorcan pursed his lips. “You are trained Hunters. The men of this planet do not have the same skills.”
“I trust you know what you speak of” Ardal’s eyes narrowed. “They will not be so unprepared next time.”
“We’ve been doing this for over thirty years.” Lorcan’s voice was defensive. “We can run circles around them.”
“Now they know that there are more than one group of Hunters on this planet, though.”
“We have not fought the military directly before.” Lorcan glanced at Fiona. “It isn’t wise to discuss this in front of her. If she is captured she will talk.”
Firbin stiffened at Fiona’s side. He made a move toward Lorcan, but Ardal’s stopped him with a shake of his head. Fiona held her breath. Lorcan may have accepted Ardal, but she wasn’t one of them. It was understandable that he might suspect her of taking sides against them.
“I wouldn’t want anyone to be captured.” Fiona shivered with remembered horror at what the Colonel had threatened. “I was trained as a doctor. I’ve taken an oath to save people, not hurt them.”
Lorcan crossed his arms. “You’re one of them and a woman. You can’t be trusted.”
Jehon snapped the gun he was holding at Lorcan. “You disrespect a woman?”
Ardal held up his arms. “Lorcan and the others crashed on this planet when they were children. Their training is not complete.”
Jehon lowered his weapon. “I do not have patience with children. We are warriors not teachers.”
“That is why I command. They are soldiers, but one day they will be Hunters.” Ardal’s voice was calm. “They have given me their vow that they will accept my command and not harm Fiona.”
“It makes no sense to take on the burden of the woman.” Lorcan kept his voice reasonable. “If you’re trying to escape then leave her here. Once you’re safe, you can send for her.”
“She helped us at great risk to herself.” Firbin’s voice was firm. “We would not leave her to fight alone.”
“We’ll take care of her.”
“No.” Ardal’s voice boomed. “She stays with me.”
Confusion flitted across Lorcan’s face. He glanced at her and then back at Ardal. “What’s going on here?”
Ardal sighed. “You are under my command now. It is only right that you should know.”
Firbin moved in front of her and Jehon’s hold on the gun tightened. Whatever they expected Ardal to announce they thought protection was necessary. Crazy as it seemed, they were preparing to fight again. When would it end?
“I have bonded to Fiona.”
Lorcan’s confusion changed to incredulity. He grabbed a gun from the table and pointed it at Fiona. “That’s impossible.”
Chapter 17
“You cannot kill her.” Ardal forced Lorcan’s arm up just as he fired a shot. “Even as children, Hunters understand the pair bond.”
Catal’s voice broke the silence. “It’s a legend. There is no truth in it.”
“That is what we thought.” Ardal watched Fiona leave the cabin with Firbin. He sensed her unease over the Hunter ways, but there was nothing he could do to change. A Hunter lived by the code, no matter what.
“Our implants were deactivated when we were on Cygnus.” Jehon spoke now. “Any protection, enhancement, or control over our bodies has been turned off for several months.”
“So the implants prevented you from mating.”
“It would seem so.” Ardal shook his head. “There is no understanding the connection because it was considered a myth. No Hunter has been faced with this situation.”
“But you accept that it is bonding?” Lorcan snorted. “It could just be plain old lust. I mean she is a gorgeous woman, even by earth’s standards.”
Ardal’s eyes narrowed. The urge to hit the man was great. He was a mere child in terms of training, though. He stilled his breathing and heart rate. He would not react in anger.
“I feel what she feels. I know her thoughts.” Ardal paused and then said in an even lower voice. “We have not mated, but I have no desire for another. I will not leave her.”
“How many others have you tried?” Lorcan sputtered. “The Kaladin withheld a great joy from us.”
“It is understandable.” Ardal motioned to the closed cabin door. “I sense her at all times. She is a part of me. Only a well-trained Hunter would be able to control that and still be a warrior.”
“Have you never felt the urge to bond?” Jehon’s question forced the men to look at him. “If your implants were deactivated, then this could have happened to you too.”
“We have been around women on this planet, but not in the sense you’re talking about. They are the enemy.” Kerm took a step closer to Ardal. “Is it possible that this hasn’t happened because we did not believe it?”
Ardal shrugged. “I knew immediately that there was something different about how I felt. I never believed in the legends either, but I know Fiona is the other half to me.”
“So she has to stay with you?” Kerm seemed to be struggling with this information.
“It is the only way I can keep her safe.”
“And you’re content with this?
“I gave her my vow.”
Lorcan threw his hands up in the air. “A woman like that is bound to draw attention. You can’t walk anywhere and not stand out.”
“We have noticed.” Ardal’s tone was dry. “I am not stupid. All I know is that we are connected.”
“So you want us to continue as if nothing has happened.”
“You said you were monitoring this planet’s communications. Then remain doing so.”
“And let you guys have all the fun?” Lorcan gave a dry laugh. “Don’t we have a choice?”
It was Jehon who answered. “No.”
Lorcan gave him a long look and then nodded. “You’re right, of course. We’ll contact you if we notice a problem.”
“I trust you to protect yourselves. If there is a problem, then you are to join us.” Ardal was uneasy about leaving these men alone, but what choice did he have? “We will need to know how things work on this planet. Do we have time for that?”
“No. If you’re going to Toronto you can’t take the helicopter.” Lorcan went to one of the maps on the wall. “Toronto is here and it’s very populated. To land there secretly is impossible. We usually take road or train transportation.”
“There will be seven of us.”
“Take the boat across the lake. We keep an emergency vehicle there. It holds seven.”
Ardal looked at the map. They were further south than they had been when they’d taken the bus. They were still hours away from anonymity.
He had already heard from his other men. They’d all reached their destination without incident. It was only his group that had garnered any interest. He didn’t like being the decoy because Fiona was with them, but he was relieved that his men were safe.
“Fiona says that we need to use money so the authorities cannot trace us.”
“Absolutely.” Lorcan pulled a picture off the wall and exposed a metal box. He twisted the numbered circle and opened the door. He pulled out a stack of bills. “This should keep you safe for a while.”
“Thank you.” Ardal grasped Lorcan’s shoulder. “The second rule of the code is a Hunter always helps his brother.”
“That’s why we’ve survived.” Lorcan smiled. “Finally, we’ll have others of the brotherhood with us.”
“Hunters true and right. We are honored you are with us.” Ardal nodded toward the men who would be accompanying them then looked back to Lorcan. “Tell the rest of the brotherhood on this planet that their implants must be removed. Even if they are deactivated, they can still be used for tracking. Warn them of the Holman dangers.”
“I’ll do it immediately. We cannot afford to lose any more brothers.”
“By Cygnus and Warrior we will meet again.”
***
Fiona yawned and sat up. Ardal grunted as she pushed away from him. Stretching her arms above her head she smiled back at him. The man made her happy. There was no getting around that fact. As frightened as she’d been in the past, Ardal and his men made her feel safe.
She wasn’t kidding herself, though. She didn’t approve of the killing. She doubted that she would ever be able to accept it. She wasn’t fool enough to think love could change a person. Ardal had been a Hunter too long to know anything else. There was also the problem of him being from another planet.
“Where are we now?”
“We’re just entering the city.” Catal spoke from the front. He turned, but his eyes shied away from looking at her directly. “Soon we will begin to separate. Firbin and I are to go with you.”
“We aren’t staying together?” Fiona looked up at Ardal.
“It is safer.” Ardal’s voice was low. “They are looking for us. Lorcan has advised us that the police have sent out our descriptions.”
“They can’t know that for sure. You killed them all.”
“They are claiming a terrorist cell attacked a military base. They want us in connection with the incident. It is dangerous for us to be together.” Ardal put his hand on her shoulder. “I need to make sure that my men are situated and then I will come for you.”
“No.” Fear shook her insides. “I can’t go back there. David will find me.”
“Firbin and Catal will keep you safe.”
“But I won’t feel safe.” Fiona’s voice was a low whisper.
Ardal leaned close. “I am only a thought away. I will be in constant connection.”
“It isn’t the same.” A stab of pain pierced her heart. What was wrong with her? One minute she was questioning whether she could accept his way of life and the next she couldn’t live without him. Tears started to fill her eyes, but she brushed them away with an impatient fingers.
Ardal captured her hand and rubbed it against his cheek. “There is no need for fear. My men are the best.”
“Promises are not always possible to keep.” Fiona’s chest tightened as she considered how much her life had changed in the past couple of days. Now the mere thought of letting Ardal out of her sight sent her into a panic. What if he didn’t return?
Ardal gathered her close in his arms. His lips moved over her ears sending shivers of delight through her. “I will always be with you.”
“Reading my mind again?”
“Even in death I will be at your side forever.”
“Somehow that doesn’t comfort me.” Fiona pushed away from Ardal and wiped her eyes. “Okay, I’ll go with Firbin and Catal.”
Ardal held her gaze for several seconds before nodding his agreement. She had spent her whole life without a man. Surely a few days or
weeks without Ardal wouldn’t be that hard to take. She shivered as she thought about how near to David she would be. Perhaps she should contact the Woman’s Underground Network and start another life.
A life on the run.
A life without Ardal.
He hugged her closer. She knew that he’d sensed or heard her thoughts and even though the pain of living without him was almost unbearable, she knew he’d let her go. Whatever her decision, it was hers to make.
Ardal would honor her choice.
“My men need me. We are strangers here and my duty is to ensure their safety. I will be with you as soon as possible.”
She glanced up at him and smiled. Of course he needed to be with his men. He was the leader and he would never forsake them. A lesser man might think only of himself, but not Ardal.
That’s why she loved him.
Ardal’s muscles jerked tighter around her. He had heard and understood. With a sigh she pushed away and straightened her shoulders. She was strong. She had lived her life on her own before and that is what she intended to do now. Besides, she still had two strong Hunters who would protect her.
“So who gets dropped off first?”
“Catal has chosen a small hotel outside the northern end of the city. You will be the first to leave.” Ardal cleared his throat. “We need the vehicle.”
Fiona shrugged. “We can rent one, or there is public transit if necessary.”
“Public transit?” Firbin raised an eyebrow. “Is that safe?”
“Not for you guys, but I can get away with it.” Fiona rolled her eyes. “Women can change their looks easy with a hat, or a bottle of hair dye.”
“No.” Ardal’s voice was commanding. “Your hair is not to be touched.”
“It will grow out.” Fiona pulled a clump of it forward. “It’s too distinctive a color.”
“It is something unseen on Cygnus.” Ardal shook his head. “You will not change it.”
Fiona looked at him for a few seconds. There was determination in his eyes and something else. A hopelessness, almost despair. Suddenly she knew it wasn’t the color of her hair that mattered, but the fact she’d resort to lies to protect herself. He saw that as a failure to protect her.
aHunter4Rescue (aHunter4Hire) Page 15
