aHunter4Rescue (aHunter4Hire) (20 page)

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.

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.”

“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.”