A Hunter's Challenge [The Hunters 3] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Suzy Shearer

  The minutes turned into hours as the two women watched. Erica was having a great deal of trouble believing the man could survive such horrific injuries. She tried to push back the thoughts of when she had been taken, but the memories kept coming forward, and she had to keep pushing them back. She was so close to screaming many times as they threatened to overwhelm her.

  Finally, around 10:30 the two Hunters withdrew. They both looked worn out, completely exhausted. Anthan looked at the two women.

  “We can’t do anymore now. When we wake, we’ll both feed then continued. We’ve dealt with all the major injuries, the ones that threaten his life, and we’ve removed the poison and marker. Tonight we’ll deal with mending the breaks, the minor injuries, and the external stuff.”

  Anthan stretched his arms above his head, yawning. He walked over to Erica.

  “Clean him as best you can. Best leave his face. We repaired the shattered bones but they will be very fragile. The rest, well just do whatever you think. We’ve only joined the other breaks, they’ll still need work so try not to move anything.”

  He yawned again.

  “Because he’s so badly wounded we’re able to send him into a deep coma, like the one Martin put you in. There’s no chance he will wake. I’ve given him a command not to move in his sleep.”

  Martin was still sitting in the chair. Amy went to him and took his hand.

  “Come on, you need to sleep. Both of you.”

  Martin let himself be pulled upright and followed the others out of the room. Erica and Anthan went upstairs to his room, leaving Amy and Martin downstairs.

  Erica could feel Anthan’s lethargy. She practically held him upright as he stumbled into the bedroom and fell on the bed. She climbed alongside and kissed him.

  “Sleep now, my love.”

  “Just let me tell Viorel what’s happened.”

  “Do you have to?”

  “I’d rather do it now.”

  “Okay but then sleep.”

  Anthan quickly relayed to Viorel what had happened. He told him they thought the man would live but he didn’t know how his mental condition would be. Viorel said he could send out someone to help if Anthan thought the man needed more counselling when he woke. Anthan thanked him and told him to wait until they had a chance to talk with him and see just how things stood.

  Viorel told him he had contacted the Hunter who was mated to the grandmother’s sister. She was overjoyed to learn of her nieces and knew what relations were alive. He also said Elisa was searching for information the immediate family. She was confident she would be able to find out when the mother had died and what had happened to the father.

  Viorel told him he couldn’t wait to meet Erica then told him to get some sleep. Anthan then told what had happened between Erica and Silvius. To say Viorel was stunned was putting it mildly. He said as far as he knew it was unheard of but would make enquiries.

  Anthan went to relay everything to Erica but she shocked him, and Viorel, by saying she’d heard it all. She said good night to a very astonished Viorel as Anthan broke contact.

  Anthan looked at her in wonder.

  “I’ve never exchanged blood with Viorel!”

  Erica just shrugged. Maybe they would never know how she did it. Anyway she was excited by the prospect of meeting relations she never knew she had.

  He smiled at her as she gathered him into her arms. He went to speak but as she watched, his eyes shut and within a minute, he was asleep. Erica stayed with him in her arms for quarter of an hour then she stood and went into the kitchen.

  Boiling water, she found an old bowl to put it in and carried it downstairs.

  Pouring a good amount of disinfectant into the water, she looked at the task ahead of her. The man looked very tall, maybe at least six-five. As she was pulling on gloves, Amy came in.

  “How about you take one side and I do the other?”

  Erica nodded.

  Carefully putting the bowl on the bed between the man’s bloodied legs, they began to work. Several times they had to change the water but gradually they were able to clean away the dried blood. In several places, the wounds were still bleeding and Erica put some gauze across them. The women paid careful attention to all the ones that were obviously infected. Finally they finished.

  “What about his back, Erica? I couldn’t reach it all.”

  “Me neither but Anthan said we shouldn’t move him. They’ll just have to wait until the men finish tonight.”

  “Yes, I guess so. He still looks terrible.” She stretched and yawned daintily. “I’m so tired.”

  Erica bent her head either side, trying to relieve the kinks.

  “Never thought it would take this long and be so exhausting.” After opening the window to let in fresh air and remove the tainted, she gathered up the plastic bags with the old clothes and the soiled swabs. “Let’s get a coffee then maybe have a cat nap.”

  “Perfect!”

  With one last look at the patient, the two girls went back upstairs. Erica found things to make coffee and they sat outside to drink it. It was relaxing on the deck.

  “This is some view!”

  “I know, it’s wonderful. Can’t you imagine what it must be like when there is a storm?”

  Amy laughed. “I can see a new series of photos coming.”

  Erica grinned at her sister. “I know. I think they’d be amazing, especially if there was lightning.”

  The women sat for a while until Erica said she was going to lie down. It was almost 2:30.

  “Me, too. See you when I wake.”

  They went to their partner’s beds, settled down to sleep for a couple of hours.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Iubită!”

  “Hi, handsome.”

  Anthan thought it was the most amazing thing to wake and find Erica snuggled against him.

  “How long have you been here?”

  “A few hours. Amy and I were so tired after cleaning that poor man. Anyway, we both decided to have a snooze. I woke about ten minutes ago.”

  Anthan glanced at the clock. It was 5:15.

  “Martin, are you awake?”

  He grumbled, “I am now.”

  Anthan snickered then kissed Erica. He reluctantly got out of bed and dressed in clean clothes. He pulled her to her feet and led her into the kitchen just as Amy and Martin entered.

  “Come on, Martin, we both need to feed.”

  “While you’re missing I’ll start making something to eat,” Erica said.

  “Don’t think you’ll find much in the way of food here, Iubită.”

  “Yes there is, I went shopping yesterday.”

  He smiled down at her. She made his heart race each time he looked at her. He was still finding it difficult to believe that he had finally found her. There was only one thing to do—he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly.

  Reluctantly he moved apart then laughing, he raced to the balcony and jumped off. He heard her scream and saw her rush to the edge in time to see him transform into a sea eagle and soar above the deck.

  “You’ll pay for scaring me like that, Mister!”

  He sent her a kiss and she giggled. The women watched as Martin took to the air and the pair of them swooped around a few times, showing off before heading toward the coast.

  Ten minutes later, they materialised in the family room, scaring both women again. Erica jumped and smacked his arm. Anthan felt a warm glow of delight so he grabbed her then tickled her. Setting her down, they all walked into the kitchen.

  “I checked on the patient, Anthan, he hasn’t moved at all.” She sounded worried.

  “He wouldn’t, Iubită, remember when I sent him into a deep sleep I gave him a command not to move. I didn’t want to risk any damage to the bones we haven’t properly set. We’ll go back to work once we eat.”

  While the men had been missing, the girls had started a meal. Rice was boiling. Now Erica tried to toss some vegetables in small frying pan t
o stir-fry them. She’d prepared them earlier for cooking and now looked over at Anthan.

  “You need pots and pans, Anthan, this is so awkward using this tiny one. I’ll have to cook the vegetables in batches.”

  “I need a lot of things. I’m afraid I never did much cooking before. There are only the basics here. Just that one frying pan and a small pot I think.”

  He stood behind her, his arms around her waist. Martin had lifted Amy and sat her on the bench alongside, his arms either side of her. Amy looked over to Erica.

  “You should bring your wok over, sis. When do you have to move out?”

  Anthan pulled her around to face him.

  “You’re moving?” he said worriedly.

  “I only rent the place I’m at. My lease was up a while ago and I have until next Monday to either sign a new one or leave.”

  Amy looked at her sister. “Monday! I thought you had two weeks.”

  “I did but that was almost two weeks ago, Amy.”

  “Iubită.” Anthan held his breath. “Move in here with me.”

  She searched his face. He ‘spoke’ to her.

  “Iubită, I love you, I don’t want to ever be apart from you. Please.”

  She smiled at him and nodded.

  “If you want me I will.”

  “Want you? Oh, my Iubită, you are my life.”

  He kissed her, he couldn’t believe his happiness. She wriggled back to face the stove, his arms still around her waist. He leant his head on her shoulder. He felt wonderfully happy, especially now she would be living with him permanently.

  Within ten minutes they were sitting around the kitchen table, eating.

  “Have you got much furniture to bring over, Erica?” Martin looked curious.

  “No not really. The place came furnished so it’s only my bed and the two singles beds in the spare bedroom where you two slept. I’ve got a lot of boxes in the garage. For some reason I never unpacked properly.

  “Oh and there some photography equipment in storage with a few other bits and pieces. I didn’t have room for the all my photo gear, it’s all the stuff for developing and my computers.”

  “Photography?”

  Amy grinned and looked at the two men.

  “My sister’s a world-famous photographer!”

  “You are?”

  Erica just cocked her head, raised an eyebrow, and shrugged.

  “She is,” Amy answered.

  “That’s wonderful dragostea mea! We can set up a studio for you alongside my art one. There’s plenty of room in there. I built a studio but haven’t moved anything in there yet.”

  Erica looked at Anthan in surprise.

  “I’ve never seen that!”

  “It’s on the other side of the house. You need to go down the deck at the front and then along the covered walkway.”

  “Will there be room for me?” She sounded worried.

  “It’s big, three rooms. Two of them are enormous. You can have them all if you want.”

  “Don’t be silly, it’s your art studio.”

  “I’d give you everything I own, my love. Let me.”

  Martin laughed. “Just agree, Erica, he’ll do it anyway so you may as well say yes.”

  Erica looked stunned. Anthan preened a little and kissed her neck.

  “Honestly, Iubită, whatever you want.”

  “Wow, I guess I never expected anything like this.”

  “So you’ll let me?”

  “I have a feeling I don’t have much choice.” She kissed him. “Thank you.”

  “I’ll show you it later, Iubită. You’ll love it.”

  When they finished eating, Anthan stood and stretched.

  “Come on, Martin, we have a lot of work to do still.”

  The other three followed him down stairs. They stood around the bed looking down at the man.

  “I wonder who he is?”

  “I imagine whoever he is, he’ll have to be psychic to have been kept alive and survive for a while.”

  “Maybe it’s that man that went missing. The one in the police report,” Martin suggested.

  Anthan shook his head. “I doubt it, that was over two weeks ago. No mortal has ever survived for a little longer than two weeks, even that’s rare.”

  The two men seated themselves again.

  “This will probably take at least five or six hours, Iubită. Why don’t you and Amy go upstairs and relax?”

  Erica nodded. She gave Anthan a kiss then followed Amy out the room.

  “Right, let’s do it.”

  The hours seemed to go slowly as the two Hunters worked. It was well after two in the morning when they finally withdrew. Wearily they went upstairs.

  Amy had fallen asleep on a couch. Erica was sitting staring out to sea. She stood and wrapped her arms around Anthan when they appeared.

  “Finished. Tomorrow morning.” He shook his head trying to clear the fuzzy feeling. “We’ll wake him—tomorrow I think.”

  “So he will live?”

  “Yes. He is strong despite all his injuries and now that we have repaired all the damage he is safe.”

  Amy heard their voices and woke as Martin spoke.

  “What about the lairs, Anthan? Want to check them?”

  “No. I’m drained. First thing tonight. Okay?”

  Martin nodded. “I’m glad, I’m so exhausted.

  “Come on, Amy. Let me take you home. Although maybe you should drive,” he added wisely.

  Everyone stood. Amy kissed her sister and then kissed Anthan’s cheek. Martin hugged Erica and the two of them left. Anthan pulled Erica down onto his lap, she snuggled into him.

  “You really don’t mind coming here to live?”

  “No. It’s lovely. And I get to watch the surf, better view up here than from my place.”

  “Can you arrange for someone to bring your stuff over or do you want me to?”

  “No I’ll get onto it first thing in the morning. Should be able to get someone to pick it up in the next day or at least sometime before Monday. There isn’t much.”

  “You really don’t mind living with me?”

  “Oh silly, of course not!” She looked at him seriously. “Honestly Anthan I couldn’t bear to be apart from you.”

  “I’m so glad. I have to show you the studio. You’ll love it I think.”

  “I’m sure I will but not now.”

  She yawned.

  “Dragostea mea you’re tired. Come let me put you to bed.”

  He lifted her in his arms and carried her into the bedroom. He settled her in the bed after she had used the bathroom then crawled in alongside her.

  “Much as I would love to make love to you, I don’t think either of us has enough energy.”

  “You’re right. So much has happened lately and I’m not used to late nights either.”

  Erica cuddled into his arms and laid her head on his chest. He was running his hand up and down her arm but within five minutes, he felt her fall asleep. He lay watching her. His heart filled with such love for her. Soon she would be living with him all the time and he could hardly wait.

  He thought of the events of the past couple of days. Strange that the strigoi had left the man alive and left the lair but then he may have thought he was dead. He just hoped when they checked the two lairs tonight, that one of them would be occupied.

  Glancing at the bedside clock, he saw it was 3:25. He felt tired. He and Martin had expended a lot of energy working on the man. Anthan closed his eyes and breathing in the scent of Erica, surprisingly, he fell asleep.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Amy drove Martin to her house. He heard her breathe a sigh of happiness when they pulled into the carport of her home. He helped her out of the car and they went inside.

  She had barely closed the door when he took her into his arms.

  “Nîcimos, I love you so much. Come let me put you to bed.”

  “Only if you come with me, I can hear how tired you are, too,” she repl
ied timidly.

  He laughed. “Try and stop me.” With that, he swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. As he was about to kiss her, he felt Viorel in his mind.

  “Martin! How is Anthan? How is his mate?”

  “Oh, Viorel, you wouldn’t know the man. He laughs and jokes about!”

  “Anthan? Laughing?”

  “Yep and is playing silly games. It’s...it’s like he has found life.”

  “Yes I know what you mean. Everyone is talking about it. We are so happy for him. Is Erica truly okay after her ordeal?”

  “She will be, especially now she has Anthan to help her. Oh they have made exchanges.”

  “Yes I knew, that’s wonderful! But did you know that she was able to speak to my father in Spain and she listened in to Anthan and I, then bade me good-bye?”

  “What!”

  “Yes, Anthan told me and then Dad did, too. Then when she said good-bye to me…well that woman is amazing, she is unique.”

  “I’ve never heard of that happening. I mean, I know Hunters can link to mortals through another Hunter, as we did with Catherine when she was dying. But for a mortal to be able to reach across the world without that link. Wow!”

  “Yeah, I know. I’m doing some digging to see if it’s ever happened before but I don’t think it has.”

  “Did Anthan tell you we found a man? Viorel, he was in a bad way. Have no idea who he is but he must have been held captive for long while.”

  “Yes Anthan told me. Well keep me posted. If he survived, he must be a gifted psychic.”

  “Will do. Night, Viorel. Give Avril a hug for me.”

  Amy was looking puzzled. “What happened then?”

  “I was talking to my friend in Romania. He is the head of the Council.”

  “Oh! I can’t get my head around talking to people so far away. Erica can do it.”

  Martin bit his tongue. He was so tempted to make an exchange without her permission but knew if he did, she would never forgive him. Amy looked up at him.

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For being patient, for not invading my mind. For letting me come to my own decision.”

  “I told you I would never force myself on you.”

  “I know, but thank you.”