aHunter4Rescue (aHunter4Hire) by Cynthia Clement

was a good thing.
Fewer people meant fewer witnesses.
    That
meant less people to kill.
    It
was his duty to keep his men safe and Fiona protected. He had left her sitting
on the couch, frowning. She did not believe he would protect her. In time, she
would learn to trust the word of a Hunter. For now he must focus on his men.
    “We
need to disperse. Darrogh and his men have cleaned up the debris.” Ardal handed
the first group of Hunters his personal reader and they took the map from it
and downloaded onto theirs before passing it to the others.
    As
the last man finished, Darrogh and his crew drove in from the field. They stood
at attention and waited for Ardal’s signal before giving their report.
    “There
was very little salvageable. We gathered the useable clothing and weapons.”
    Ardal
pointed to the rear of the truck. “Each group take what you need. You have your
orders. Firbin and Jehon stay with me.”
    They
would obey. If there was a problem, they would contact him by mind connection.
Each group left in a separate direction. Darrogh and his group of four were the
last to leave. They were uninjured. Their mission was to head straight to
Toronto in the hope that any search parties would follow them. That should give
the others a better chance of survival. Once Darrogh’s group was gone, he
turned to Firbin and Jehon.
    “We
will be taking the woman with us.” Ardal’s voice was low. “We have put her life
in danger. I promised her my protection.”
    Firbin
and Jehon nodded their acceptance of his decision without question. There would
be four of them traveling together. Firbin’s injury and Fiona’s inexperience
would hinder their escape. Their one advantage was that the woman knew the
people of this strange land. She could guide them if there was a problem.
    Ardal
took a look up at the sky. There was only one sun on this planet and it was
well past the midpoint. They must start their journey soon. He glanced at the
barn. He had one other thing to do.
    The
Captain must die.
    At
that moment Fiona walked out of the house. She glanced around and frowned back
at him. For a second his mind froze as he gazed into her green eyes. Never had
he found himself attracted to a woman. It was forbidden for a Hunter to mate.
The Sacred Code was too ingrained for him to disobey, but still he could not
deny that this woman affected him.
    “Where
are the men?”
    “They
have gone.” Ardal waited for her reaction and wasn’t disappointed. Her mouth
dropped open and she ran down the driveway looking in all directions. In a
couple of minutes she was satisfied that everyone had disappeared.
    “Do
they know where they’re going?”
    “They
have their orders.” Ardal took her arm and turned her back to the house. “Now
we must clear up one last loose end.”
    Fiona
dug her feet into the ground and refused to move. “What’s that?” Her tone was
suspicious. “Everyone is gone.”
    Ardal
had never lied to a woman before and he would not start now. He remained silent
instead. Jehon and Firbin kept their gazes on the ground. They knew what their
next orders would be.
    Fiona’s
eyes narrowed. “Your men are gone,” she muttered under her breath. “Who else is
there?” It took her a second before she shouted. “The
Captain. Where is he?”
    “In
the barn.” Ardal cleared his throat. “We had to
persuade him to remain silent.”
    “Now
you want to permanently silence him.” Fiona tilted her head at him. “You’re so
transparent. You just kill everyone who gets in your way. I’m surprised you
didn’t kill me or am I next on your agenda?”
    Ardal
released her arm as if her words had burnt him. He stepped back. Shock and
disappointment rocked through his body. Firbin and Jehon bodies stiffened in
revulsion. The air crackled with the horror of Fiona’s suggestion. She seemed
unaware of it though, as she stood glaring her defiance at them.
    “Never,”
he swore. “That would be against the most sacred of our