Hunter Mourned (Wild Hunt Book 3) (24 page)

“Or have her last task involve us.” Rowan squeezed the steering wheel hard enough to crack her knuckles. “I hate this game we’re being forced to play. The Triad is using me as its pawn. Nothing more.”

He took in the tight press of her lips and the way she worked her jaw back and forth. Her anger was clear. He couldn’t blame her. Knowing they were being manipulated wasn’t a happy thought. It was a downright infuriating one, but the Triad’s influence had brought them together. For that, Trevor was grateful. If he had to be an unwilling participant in their game, at least the prize awaiting him was Rowan.

Hoping to ease her, he covered her hand. “More like my queen. I do have the chess piece to prove it.”

She grinned, exactly as he’d hoped. “The queen is the most powerful piece in chess.” She cut him a quick glance. “At least now. The rules of the game have changed since the time Kai and I used to play it. Then, the queen had little value.”

“I can’t say I know much about chess. Will you teach me?”

Her smile widened into that powerful one that left him half-crazed with hunger for her.

“Yes. I’d like that.” She moved her hand to the shifter knob and dropped the car into a lower gear as traffic slowed to a crawl. The alley he’d indicated for her to take was still two car lengths’ away. “We’ll need a board, though.”

“There might be one in the attic. Harley’s mom had been a collector, or maybe a hoarder might be a better term. She’d buy things, sometimes dropping huge amounts of money on auctions, but she rarely displayed anything she bought. She’d stick her treasures in the attic or basement, then move on to obsessing over the next antique that caught her eye.”

“She was a maiden too. Maybe those things reminded her of past lives.”

“Could be. I always just thought Ian and Harley’s mom was crazy to waste her money on stuff only to shove it away. The number of boxes stored in the attic is ridiculous.”

Rowan frowned. “Ian left everything there when he moved out?”

“He couldn’t get a moving crew to go into the estate after his parents and brothers were slaughtered there. So he left it. I don’t think he cared what happened to it at that point. Harley had taken off, and he was a wreck worrying about her out there on her own.”

“Why wouldn’t the moving people go there? The estate is beautiful and peaceful. I love living there.”

“The locals claimed the place was cursed. Too many kids who’d thought to go up there and see the horror house, as the locals called it, disappeared.” He balled his fists. “They probably ended up being turned into sluaghs.”

The cars in front of them moved, and Rowan took the turn. She slowed the car to a crawl and pointed down another smaller road jutting off the one they’d taken. “Look. There’s a bar down there. Let’s stop in there first.”

He hadn’t known there was a bar tucked back here, but he’d been a kid when he’d stayed in this town. His earlier thought came back to him about the Triad leading its players to the situations it wanted them to face. Maybe that was why the band had set up tonight.

Or maybe he was reading into the situation, but with Rowan’s and his future on the line, he couldn’t help looking for the quickest way to finish this round of the Triad’s game so they could get on with their lives.

“Why not? We’ll find the nearest spot to park and come back.”

“Hey, we might get lucky and get the information we’ve been seeking on Craig here.”

He focused on the black line peeking past the edge of the glove Rowan wore. “We can hope.”

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-
O
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The closest parking spot was three blocks away. If they hadn’t been in Trevor’s car, Rowan would’ve double-parked it and left the vehicle for the cops to ticket. She only hoped the woman she saw was still smoking a cigarette in that alleyway.

Granted, she hadn’t seen the woman’s face, but her hair, body size, and stance had reminded Rowan of Alana. Or Jen. Whatever Minerva’s handmaiden wanted to be called. If it was her, what was the maiden doing dressed like a hooker? The woman knew about the redcap, and Jen fit the profile of his victims.

The local police had put out a warning, specifically mentioning that black-haired, tall Caucasians were being targeted. Rowan had seen the news clip and read about the city’s violence. If that wasn’t enough, people were talking about it. She’d heard the humans’ conversations while hunting the bars before Trevor had taken over her nights.

People feared they would have a serial killer on their hands soon. The attacks had been escalating in violence. Sure, no one had died yet, but the last robbery victim was still in a coma. Whatever the reason behind Craig’s targeted violence, his control was deteriorating.

Trevor snatched her hand, slowing her steps. “Hey? What are you rushing for?”

“I saw a woman who looks like Jen. I want to try to catch her before she disappears.”

“What would she be doing here?”

“No clue.” Rowan quickened her pace, and Trevor matched her. “But there’s got to be a good reason why she’s out here. She knows about Craig.”

“She also said she was ready to check out of this job. I don’t think she was referring to her job at the bar.”

She cut him a quick look. “She wants to die?”

“That’d be my guess. She mentioned not wanting Allie to get attached to her before she left.”

“Of course.” Rowan groaned. How had she missed the clues Jen had given?

A maiden lived whatever kind of life she’d been handed in order to complete her task. For Jen, that had been giving Rowan the nudge she needed where Trevor was concerned. It had worked too. If it hadn’t been for Jen’s words, Rowan wouldn’t have admitted to Trevor that she hadn’t viewed Kai as her equal, strong enough to withstand the rage that could consume a Huntsman.

Jen’s mission in this lifetime also offered another realization. Not only had Minerva cried for Rowan and Kai, but she’d valued their happiness enough to task her maiden with the job of solidifying Rowan’s future with Trevor.

Minerva did love Rowan.

They reached the curb. Cars zipped by in front of them. They’d have to wait until the light changed. She couldn’t risk causing a wreck. Not only did Trevor’s life need to be protected, but so did the human drivers.

Rowan faced Trevor. “I’ve gone through life thinking Minerva hated us because we were her mate’s bastard children. She doesn’t. Jen was right. Minerva loves us.”

“People aren’t always what they seem.” He offered her a sheepish smile. “I thought you were a bitch.”

“I thought you said you were drawn to me.”

He shrugged. “I was, but I still thought you were a bitch.”

She shook her head, but a grin tugged at her mouth. “I guess I should be grateful for the honesty, but I can’t say it’s pleasant hearing my soul mate views me as a bitch.”

“Viewed.” He gave her hand a small tug. The light had changed, but she still stared at Trevor. “It was your shield, but I didn’t recognize it as such right away.”

“Luckily you did.”

“And maybe Minerva is the same way.”

Rowan sighed. Regret settled on her shoulders for all the nasty arguments they’d had over the years. “I’ll have to thank her.”

“I’m sure she’ll appreciate that.” Trevor pointed. “Is that the group of kids from the bar the other night with Jen?”

Rowan looked in the direction he indicated. The red-haired human male who’d shared his beer with her stood in front of Jen, legs slightly spread and palms planted on the building’s surface on either side of her head. Jen had a bored look on her face while the other two humans in matching college sweatshirts studied her with hunger.

Jen blew smoke in the male’s face. His biceps bulged, and he curled his fingers. He leaned closer to say something to her. Whatever it was must’ve amused her. She laughed. The other two males stepped closer to her.

Trevor released Rowan’s hand and moved directly toward them in a focused approach that had the red-haired human glancing over his shoulder. He stepped away from Jen and dropped his hands loosely to his sides.

“What’s going on here?”

Trevor’s commanding voice boomed around them.

“You again?” The younger human raised a brow, annoyance giving his voice a whiny quality.

“Apparently.” Trevor swept his gaze over them and shook his head. “And it seems as if you have a habit of going after the wrong women.”

The redhead jerked his chin in Rowan’s direction. “I thought she was your girlfriend.”

“She is, but the woman you’re harassing there is also important to me.”

“I’m not harassing anyone, and I’m getting sick of you sticking your nose in my business. Go be someone else’s rescuer.”

Trevor looked at Jen. “Do you want these guys bugging you?”

She held his gaze for a long moment, working her jaw back and forth as if annoyed by the interruption or maybe their appearance. She took another drag of her cigarette, then ground the lit end against her shoe, exactly as she had the night Rowan had first seen her. She dropped the stub onto a small pile already littering the ground.

“Nope. I’m waiting for someone else. I told them I wasn’t interested in leaving with them too. They’re not the brightest kids I’ve ever met.”

“Kids?” One of other guys who’d been watching the exchange stepped forward. “You need a goddamn lesson in respect. Don’t you, bitch?”

“Threatening and harassing.” Trevor pulled out his wallet, opened it, and held it up. “That’s enough to haul your asses down to the station.”

“You’re a cop?” The redhead’s eyes widened.

Trevor didn’t say anything. He just stood there with his fingers curled around the open wallet. From where Rowan stood, she couldn’t see what he’d flashed.

“So what are you going to do?” Trevor paused a moment, then lowered his arm. “Are you going to ruin my date with my girl and put me in a bad mood? Or walk?”

The red-haired human glared at Jen. “See you at the bar tomorrow night, sweetheart.”

Jen pulled a nearly empty pack of cigarettes from her purse and selected another cigarette. “You won’t see me there anymore. I quit.”

“Then I’ll keep an eye out for you on the streets. We have unfinished business.”

Jen rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

She waited until the three college kids walked off before tossing her unlit cigarette on the ground and storming toward them. “The two of you have a problem with listening, don’t you? I don’t want to be associated with either of you or your little group.”

“Why not?” Rowan invaded Jen’s personal space. “Don’t you want your daughter to know you’re going to commit suicide?”

Jen stepped back. The hard mask she wore slipped, and she flinched. “I won’t take my own life.”

“No. You’ll let Craig do it for you.” Jen turned, but Rowan moved with her, staying in her line of sight. “That’s the reason you’re here, isn’t it? To entice him.”

Jen narrowed her eyes but didn’t speak.

Rowan motioned to the open purse dangling from Jen’s shoulder. “That’s an invitation to be robbed, and you’re dressed as provocatively as his other victims.”

“You even fit his victim profile.” Trevor took up a position next to Rowan. “Why are you looking for him, Jen? Do you want to become one of his puppets?”

Jen glanced pointedly from the people congregated near the entrance of the dive to the people passing by them on the street.

“This isn’t the place to discuss Craig.” Jen motioned for them to follow her. “Walk with me, Hunters.”

Trevor positioned himself on Jen’s right, paralleling the street, and Rowan stepped on the maiden’s left. For a woman who’d described herself as living a hard life, Jen moved with grace. Her straight posture and fluid steps didn’t match the skintight red dress with its plunging neckline or the shiny, vinyl, knee-high boots.

Rowan could easily picture Jen in a flowing gown with flowers woven in her hair and an innocent aura surrounding her.
Now I know where Allie gets it from.

If Allie were anything like her mother, she’d have a sharp, hard personality hidden behind the angelic exterior. It made Rowan want to get to know the girl better. Allie might turn out to be the female friend Rowan never had. Her sisters didn’t count. They had to put up with her.

Jen led them to a coffee shop. Dimly lit with mahogany wooden panels and black tabletops, it offered a serene ambiance. The older man playing a saxophone on a small stage near the front of the place added to the atmosphere. Although people were scattered throughout the shop—seated in small groups or by themselves—the underlying drone of voices and music obscured the conversations taking place.

Trevor scanned the room, then motioned to a group of cushioned chairs in the back. “Let’s sit there.”

Jen sat and demurely crossed her ankles, keeping her thighs pressed firmly together. She folded her hands and waited in silence until a waitress took their order before slumping in the plush burgundy chair. “Yes, I was looking for Craig.”

“Why?” Trevor asked.

“I need to find him before you do.”

Trevor leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. “Again—why?”

The worn, tired look was back in Jen’s eyes. She scrubbed a hand down her face. “Because I want to talk to him.”

“Enough of the empty answers.” Rowan leveled a hard glare at the maiden. “You brought us here. Now talk to us.”

Jen pinched the bridge of her nose, and her shoulders slumped more. “Craig and I have unfinished business. He was my soul mate many, many years ago. We loved each other deeply and sought each other out, lifetime after lifetime. Then I refused him, and I lost my connection to him.”

She dropped her hand and met Rowan’s gaze. “But he didn’t stop longing for me. He continued to seek me out, always finding me in whatever situation I was in.”

“How? Death should’ve erased his memories of loving you.” Rowan asked.

“He didn’t die. Dar made him a redcap, promising him he’d have eternity to win back my love.” Jen picked at a loose string on her dress. “But I kept refusing him.”

Sympathy stirred within Rowan for the redcap, but the reason Craig had accepted the role didn’t eliminate the horrors he’d delivered upon the world. “I’m sorry for the situation you’re in, but Craig isn’t the same man you once loved. Chaos has corrupted him. Allowing him even another day in this realm puts the innocent at risk.”