aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) (16 page)

“Are
you talking about extra sensory perception?”

“What
is that?”

Kimi
shrugged. “I suppose it is using your mind to do things such as communicate or
move objects. Sometimes it involves seeing the future or knowing where a person
is.”

“It
is very specific with Hunters.” Niail cleared his throat. “We communicate with
each other with our thoughts, either all at once, or individually.”

Kimi
stared at him for several seconds before she shook her head. “You have your own
built in cell phone. That’s why you’ve been desperate to contact the others.”

“There
is only one reason for me to be silent and that is death.”

Kimi
gasped. “So they won’t be looking for you.”

“They
have no reason to believe I am alive.”

Niail
watched Kimi as shock, disbelief, and then horror passed across her face. He
sensed her emotions deep within his being also. It might not be a complete
connection, but it was better than nothing.

Kimi
took a deep breath. “Are you telling me that you can read your pair bond’s
thoughts also?”

“It
works both ways.” Niail took Kimi’s arm and started to walk down the drive. “It
is necessary for a Hunter to know if his mate is in trouble. That way he can
protect her.”

Kimi
kept pace with him. “Can you read my thoughts? Is that why you think I’m your
pair bond?”

“The
hit on my head has made it impossible for me to mind connect.” Niail leaned
close to her.

“So
you can’t be certain.”

“I
sense your emotions and concerns.” Niail’s voice was firm. “I also know that
you were worried by Mark’s remarks about me and what I do.”

Kimi’s
eyes widened. “Are you going to refute them?”

Niail
caught the sight of a tire track out of the corner of his eye. He crouched down
to examine it. There was no other. The hair on the back of his neck stood up.
His eyes followed the track to where it turned around and then circled back
along the dirt track that led to the cabin.

“Eight
months ago we crashed on your planet.” Niail’s voice was steady, his gaze
unwavering. “Since then we have found our way throughout North America. We have
joined with others who were already on Earth. Our task is to give justice to
those who cannot get it on their own.”

“Are
you some kind of vigilantes?” Kimi gave a choked laugh. “That’s insane. Why
would Kowal hire you to kill my brother?”

“He
made the mistake of thinking he could fool us.” Niail took Kimi’s arm and
started to walk with her to the cabin. “I can only surmise I uncovered his lies
and that is why he tried to kill me.”

“Thank
goodness he wasn’t successful.”

Niail
turned her to face him. “I need you to trust me. That is why I’ve told you what
few humans know. It is imperative that no one else finds out about us.”

Kimi’s
eyes roamed his face and then she nodded. “I’m not sure I believe all of it
yet, but your secret is safe.”

Niail
nodded. It was done. He could not take back his words. She had protected him
and given him time to heal. Her actions had shown courage. He would trust in
that now.

He
opened the door. The change in light forced him to squint and allow his eyes to
adjust. When he could see, he walked to the table. Jake looked up.

“Anything
new?”

“We
must leave.” Niail started to untie Mark. “There are tire tracks outside.”

Jake
rolled his eyes. “Grandfather just came in.”

“These
are single wheeled tracks.”

“Is
that important?” Kimi rubbed her arms.

“Motorcycle.”
Niail yanked Mark to his feet.

“It
can’t be Kowal. His men don’t ride cycles.” Jake’s voice was a low hiss. “Who
is it?”

“Does
it matter?” Niail reached for Kimi’s pack. “We need to leave now.

Kimi’s
head ached. She had been trying to assimilate everything that Niail had told her.
He had been matter of fact about his life. It even made sense when he had
explained it. Deep down she knew he thought she was his pair bond. She just
couldn’t see how that would fit in with her plans.

He
wasn’t Blackfeet.

Never
mind that he was an alien.

What
an alien, though. He was larger than most men. His muscles were well developed,
and there wasn’t an ounce of fat on his body. Any man who frequented a gym
could be in the same shape. His physique did not mark him as an alien. He could
easily pass for a human.

He
had miraculous healing abilities.

The
gash on the side of his head had been real. When Bobby had brought Niail to
her, she hadn’t thought he would live through the night. His body had been
battered and bruised, and then there was the damage to his brain.

He
had fallen from a truck and struck a boulder. People died from less. Bobby had
been insistent that she not take him to a hospital. She had honored Bobby’s
wishes. After Niail’s revelations, she was glad she had.

If
he were an alien, the authorities would want to observe him. They would
interrogate him. They might even do experiments on him. Niail would be lucky to
be left alive.

If
he weren’t an alien, then he would be committed to the nearest mental
institution. His delusions would ensure he was locked up for many years.

Neither
scenario was good.

She
shivered as she remembered his words about pair bonds and mating. He had been
intense when he had told her. His eyes had never left her face while he spoke. She
still thought that he was confusing gratitude with bonding. Her mind shied away
from the possibility that he was right.

“How
much further?” Niail’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Grandfather’s
directions said that we would have at least a one hour hike.” Jake hitched his
pack higher on his back. “We should have taken Mark to the nearest police
station this morning.”

“It
was too risky.” Niail took her arm and steadied her as she jumped over a small
creek. “They had time to prepare for that.”

“Kowal
might still think Mark killed us.”

“True,
but he would have returned if that were the case.”

Niail
clasped her around the waist to help her over a fallen tree. A jolt of shock
seared her body and for a second she contemplated leaning back and letting him
wrap his arms around her. The heat of desire flickered deep inside, but she
damped it down. She wasn’t ready to have that kind of relationship.

“Enough
Jake.” Kimi’s voice was harsher than she had intended. “You and grandfather
discussed all the options. You agreed to hike through these trails and skirt
back onto the road. If anyone was watching the cabin, all they would see is
Grandfather leaving in his truck.”

“I
didn’t know how rough the terrain would be.” Jake stopped and put his hands on
his hips. “You can’t tell me you’re enjoying this?”

“I
haven’t enjoyed anything since the men broke into my house and started
shooting.”

Kimi
pursed her lips. That wasn’t strictly true. Jake had been a thorn in her side
since he had started interfering in her life. It had begun when he had been
suspended from the FBI. He had too much time on his hands. That’s also when he
had probably started to make a nuisance of himself with Kowal.

“Your
interference in my life hasn’t helped; especially your lectures concerning
Sam.”

“Your
low-life ex isn’t worth wasting breath on.” Jake started walking again. “You’re
too soft. That’s why I didn’t want you seeing the man alone. I knew he would
con you out of something and I was right.”

“He
couldn’t afford to pay support.”

Kimi
wiped the sweat from her brow. She didn’t have the energy to argue. She had
moved on, and so had Sam. She had a good career. There was no reason not to
sign the papers releasing him from his parental responsibilities.

“You
shouldn’t have let him off the hook.” Jake spat the words at her. “He’s their
father. Just because he’s started a new life and family, doesn’t absolve him.”

“He
never sees the kids.” Kimi grabbed Niail’s arm as she teetered on some loose
rocks. “This way I don’t have to worry about his influence or demands.”

“A
man of honor remains with his family.” Niail’s voice was gruff.

Jake
shrugged. “It’s not right for two people to stay together when they detest each
other.”

“I
never hated Sam.”

“True.”
Jake shook his head. “You couldn’t dislike anyone, but that only shows how poor
your judgement is. Sam was useless.”

“And
now he’s out of my life for good.” Kimi blew the hair out of her eyes. “I made
the right decision for me and the kids.”

“We
need to rest.” Niail spoke in a stern voice.

“We
don’t have time.” Jake stumbled forward.

“You
are tired and your steps are unsure. Your arguments are illogical.” Niail put
his pack against a limber pine and brushed off a large boulder. “An amateur
could follow us.”

Kimi
rolled her neck and massaged some of the kinks out with her hand. “I doubt
anyone will want to traipse through here.”

“You
may be right. That means stopping will not be a problem.” Niail led her to the
rock. “Sit.”

“Hey
what about me?” Mark’s voice was a loud whine.

“On
the ground.”

“You
treat her like she’s spun silk and me you just throw around.” Mark struggled to
sit with his hands tied in front of him. “That’s no way to treat a prisoner.
I’ll probably get off for police brutality.”

“I’m
not the police. Your rules do not apply to me.” Niail pushed Mark to the
ground. “Women need protection and care. Men follow the orders.”

“You
really are from a different planet.” Jake’s eyes widened. “At the very least
men and women are equal, although there are many who still believe that men are
superior.”

“They
are wrong.”

Niail
pulled a bottle of water from his pack and handed it to Kimi. Her hand shook as
she took it. She had the top unscrewed before it reached her mouth. The searing
coolness soothed the gritty feeling in her mouth and throat. They had been
walking non-stop for three-quarters of an hour. The sun was high in the sky and
even though it was early June, its heat had her top soaked through with sweat.

“Kimi
can barely keep up with us.” Jake grinned as he accepted water from Niail. “She
proves that women are the weaker sex.”

“Women
are more intelligent and compassionate then men.” Niail held a water bottle up
to Mark’s mouth. “It is logical that they rule. It is the man’s duty to protect
and obey her.”

Mark
yanked the container out of Niail’s grasp and held it up to his mouth with his
bound hands.

Jake
choked on a gulp of water. “You don’t actually believe that?”

“It
is the way of my world.” Niail sat on the ground and raised his water to his
lips. “It is who I am.”

Jake
stared at him for several seconds before shaking his head. He finished his
water and then gathered the empty bottles. “I can hear a stream. I’ll fill the
bottles and put in the chlorine tablets.” He was gone before anyone could stop
him.

Kimi
cleared her throat and looked at Niail. “Are there any problems between men and
women where you’re from?”

“Men
obey, and women rule. How could there be problems.”

“Don’t
the men want more?”

“There
is honor in following the code.” Niail leaned back against a pine. “As to the
rest, I wouldn’t know. I’m a warrior. I only have one purpose.”

“To
kill?” Kimi lowered her eyes.

“To
serve.”

Kimi
glanced up with surprise. “That’s a strange way to think of killing.”

“A
warrior serves his commanders.” Niail’s gaze swept over her before he looked
away. “You should rest. There will be plenty of time for explanations later.”

What
a strange world he was from. Women ruled and men obeyed. Warriors had only one purpose.
Hunters were denied love and a family because they wanted only one mate. It
didn’t seem possible that such a place could exist without conflict. Yet Niail
spoke of it without emotion.

Jake
returned fifteen minutes later. He looked at Niail warily, almost as if he
didn’t believe he was real. The two men locked eyes. Kimi could have sworn that
a silent understanding was reached. Jake picked up a pack and hitched it onto
his back. He turned to Mark and yanked him to his feet.

“It’s
time to move.”

Mark
shook off his hand and sat back down. “This is abuse.”

“You
are alive.” Niail threw the water bottles into his pack. “Men who betray do not
deserve to live.”

Mark
spat on the ground. “It sounds like you’re from a third world country without
laws.”