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

  “They’ll find me, I know they will.”

  Erica groaned. Surely it couldn’t get any worse. What if they turned up here? How on earth could they keep two Hunters out?

  Then Amy said warily, “Erica, there’s a strigoi as well.”

  “What!” Erica jumped to her feet and looked at her sister in shock.

  “It’s been hanging around me for the past couple of weeks. I’ve been careful. He hasn’t touched me. I’ve resisted it.”

  “Oh, Amy. Why on earth didn’t you tell me? I knew you were worried but I thought it must’ve been something at work.”

  Amy stood and faced Erica. “I didn’t want you to worry. I’ve been trying to block how scared I am from you.”

  “Baby, that’s what big sisters do. How have you resisted?”

  “I’ve been thinking sequences like you taught me.”

  “Good girl!”

  Erica ran a hand across her face. “Right. Let me try to think what we can do.”

  “Erica, it hurts already. I can feel him in my heart.”

  Erica wrapped her arms about her sister. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. We’ll get through this somehow.”

  The two women were both softly crying.

  Chapter Seven

  As soon as the two Hunters woke, they flew directly to Amy’s house, her car was missing. When they landed and walked to the front door, Martin’s shoulder slumped.

  “She’s not here. I can’t feel anything, no mind, there’s no sequence. She’s gone just like she threatened.”

  “Gone?”

  “That Erica person, bet that’s where she has gone.”

  “We have to find her because with the strigoi knowing about her, it will be searching as well.”

  “Damn, this is like Tomas when he was searching for Julia.”

  “I don’t doubt it, Martin. Let’s see if we can figure out who this Erica could be. I guess at this point anything is better than nothing. Maybe she’s her sister. How many E. Collins were there? Can you remember?”

  “Three.”

  “Okay let’s check them out now.”

  They quickly flew back to Anthan’s and collected the three addresses.

  Anthan checked the addresses against a map and the two of them went out onto the deck, transformed again, and flew off.

  After three hours, they had checked all the addresses with no success. Anthan could feel Martin’s despair growing with each passing hour. He needed to keep him busy, anything to take his mind off what was happening with the woman. He’d contacted Viorel around three in the morning and told him what had happened. Viorel was as stunned as he was.

  “Listen to me, Martin. We will find her but we also have to find the strigoi. Remember it will be looking for her as well. Do you want to just go back to the house? I’m going to check on that old lair and then do a bit more searching.”

  Martin didn’t answer at first then finally spoke. “I’ll continue with the search. I... we have to find the strigoi before it finds Amy.”

  “Good. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  As he flew, he recalled part of the conversation he’d had with Viorel earlier in the morning.

  “Can you recall any sort of scandal with a Hunter and his mate.”

  “A scandal? Between Hunters and mates, impossible.”

  “My thoughts as well. The woman, Amy, said her grandmother had been discarded by a Hunter when she was pregnant.”

  “What! No, no it would be impossible. There is no way a Hunter could ever leave his mate. You know as well as all Hunters. We are destined for our mate forever and the love only keeps getting stronger. There’s no possible way for a Hunter to be apart from his mate for any period let alone throw her away!”

  “I know. But that’s what she said. Can you do some searching?”

  “Yes but I know what I will find—nothing.”

  “Thanks, Viorel. I’ll let you know if I find out anything else.”

  The whole thing seemed ridiculous yet the woman knew about Hunters, knew about mates, and knew of strigoi. Somehow, somewhere she had to have been told by someone. He just needed to find out from who and when.

  * * * *

  Martin couldn’t think straight. All he could keep churning over in his mind was the fact that he had found his One and she was in the sights of a strigoi. He had to find her. And he had to find her before the strigoi did.

  He had dreamt of meeting his One all his adult life, ever since he knew he would accept the honour to be a Hunter. Never in his wildest imaginings did he think that she would reject him!

  He had considered that initially she or he would be hesitant and unsure but to reject him outright? Never!

  Now he was faced with two dilemmas, first he had to find her, then he had to try and convince her to change her mind. Oh—and he had to keep her safe from the strigoi that was hunting her.

  He couldn’t understand how she was sure her grandmother had been dumped by a Hunter. He knew it would be impossible. The bond between mates was forged over four and a half millennia ago and neither could escape it. There was no possibly way a Hunter would leave his mate, none.

  He was finding it hard to concentrate on the job in hand, his thoughts continually straying to Amy.

  He wondered what she really looked like.

  When she had opened the door, before Martin got a chance to see her, she had slammed it shut. All he could remember was a small angry woman, that was it. Nothing else. His heart ached to see her, to hold her. The light had been behind her so he had no idea what colour her hair was, what colour her eyes were. He longed to hear her voice again, even if it was only to tell him to go away.

  He realised he had flown over the same area three times. He needed to push his worries aside and concentrate on finding the strigoi. Now, more than ever—now he knew it had his Amy in its sights. Concentrating harder, he began to search again, his worries pushed back just a little.

  Hour after wasted hour he flew, back and forth across his grid. With each passing hour, he became more and more frustrated. Maybe Anthan would have better luck. They needed to find the strigoi urgently.

  When the sun rose, Martin turned back, his grid completed. Landing on the deck, he paced back and forth. Now the need to concentrate was gone he could focus fully on Amy. Half an hour later Anthan landed.

  “Fucking waste of time!”

  He seemed as frustrated as Martin.

  “Nothing! Not a single tiny trace.” He threw himself on a chair. “This is going to be a long drawn-out search I think.”

  “Maybe we’ll get lucky tomorrow night. I can’t believe how many places there are where strigoi could hide, so many caves, abandoned houses and even some old mining areas.”

  “I know. You eaten yet?”

  Martin shook his head.

  “No, just going to have some fruit and cereal then I’m going to bed.”

  He knew he sounded disgusted. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bowl. Filling it, he ate quickly. Anthan was still sitting on the deck when he finished. He walked back out. Looking at Anthan he warned him, “Don’t stay out too long. I need you.”

  Anthan just laughed.

  “I’ll see you when you wake.”

  Chapter Eight

  Anthan woke, showered, and dressed. He had slept late and the sun had set. He went into the kitchen to find Martin on the computer. He looked up when Anthan entered.

  “There was another body found. It wasn’t near any of the areas we’ve searched,” Martin said listlessly. “Maybe we should start with the grid it was found in and the one alongside it.”

  “Okay.”

  Anthan dragged over the map and looked at the area. The two men studied it as Martin marked where the body had been found. It was close to the boundary line of two grids.

  “Okay. You take this one and I’ll search the one alongside.”

  Martin nodded. “Should take us about an hour to fly there.”

  “Yes.”

&nbs
p; Martin filled a glass with juice, standing in the kitchen drinking it while Anthan walked over to the deck, looking out over the spreading darkness.

  “Ready to go?”

  Martin drained the glass. “Yes. Let’s start.”

  Anthan and Martin were just about to launch into the air when they were surprised by the cell phone starting to ring. Martin was the closest. He walked back inside and picked it up, pressing the speaker button as he answered.

  “Hello.”

  “Martin!” A woman’s voice was screaming hysterically. “It’s got her, it’s got Erica!”

  “Amy? Amy, is that you.”

  Her voice tore through both men as she shrieked. “Help me!”

  “Amy, where are you?”

  “At Erica’s.” She was sobbing now.

  Slowly Martin spoke. “Amy, I need an address, tell me the address.”

  “She’s gone. It took her.”

  Patiently Martin tried to get her to understand him. “Amy. What’s the address? Where are you? We need the address so we can help.”

  “Address?”

  “Yes, nîcimos. The address where you are.”

  “I...it’s. Oh...” She sounded confused. They heard her take a breath. “Erica’s, I’m at Erica’s.”

  “Tell me the address. I need to know the address.”

  “It’s 134 Aragan Circuit.”

  “Don’t go outside,” he warned her. “We’ll be there as soon as possible. Do you understand, nîcimos?”

  “You’re coming, yes.”

  “Remember don’t go outside!”

  They heard her screaming down the phone.

  “Save her! Please save her.”

  “We will, nîcimos, we will.”

  She broke the connection. Martin looked at Anthan, he was finding the address on the map.

  “It isn’t far from here. Should only take us a few minutes. Let’s go.”

  Moving back out onto the deck, they dematerialised, travelled as far as possible, then transformed and swiftly flew to the address Amy had given them. It was opposite the beach. They landed in the backyard. There was a swimming pool and a covered area where they could change back into human form without being seen.

  Martin ran to the backdoor, banging on it.

  “Amy, nîcimos! It’s Martin. Let us in.”

  They heard her come to the door.

  “Amy. Please open the door.”

  Slowly the door opened a little and a frightened, tear-stained face peered at them.

  “Martin?”

  “Yes, nîcimos, it’s me.” Softly he asked her, “Can you open the door?”

  She tore the door open the rest of the way and cried with relief, “Martin.”

  “May I enter your home, nîcimos? May you give me permission to enter?”

  She looked at him as if he was crazy, as if she had no idea of what he was saying.

  “Please, Amy. We need your permission to enter the house.”

  “Permission?” She shook her head. “It’s Erica’s.”

  Both men looked at each other and groaned. If Erica wasn’t a blood relation they would not be able to go inside.

  Calmly, Anthan asked, “Amy, is Erica your sister? You need to allow us inside.”

  “Sister? Erica, yes, please save her.”

  Once more Martin asked, “May I enter your home, nîcimos? May you give me permission to enter?”

  He repeated the formal words and this time Amy said yes and stood aside. “Yes, inside, come inside.”

  He entered. Anthan formally asked for permission and Amy looked at him confused but finally said yes. At last both men were in the house.

  “Nîcimos, you must tell us what has happened.”

  She looked at him puzzled.

  “My name is Amy.”

  “I’m sorry. Nîcimos means ‘sweetheart’ in the language of my father’s people.”

  “Oh.”

  She looked so lost, Anthan felt sorry for her. She was so scared. Martin took her hand, she looked so tiny standing alongside him. Anthan thought she was about five-six, petite figure, her brown hair hung to her shoulders in soft gentle curls. Her big brown eyes were filled with tears as they looked from Martin to Anthan.

  Martin softly reassured her.

  “This is my friend Anthan, you’ve met him before. Tell us what’s happened so we can find your sister.”

  Amy looked from one Hunter to the other. She began crying again. Martin pulled her to him.

  “It took her, it’s all my fault.” Martin held her close as she cried. “She’s gone.”

  “Hush. Come, nîcimos, tell us everything.”

  He looked around the room. There were a couple of cane couches so he led her over to one and sat her down. Anthan took a seat opposite while Martin sat alongside her, his arm across her shoulders. She was in shock and didn’t seem to understand all that had happened.

  “Did a strigoi take Erica?”

  She nodded through her tears.

  “Tell us.”

  “We...we’d been to the supermarket. The sun had just set when we drove home. We were bringing in the bags. Erica walked to the mailbox and it took her. It just grabbed her before she had a chance. It took her.”

  Her sobs increased as she spoke. Martin pulled her into his embrace, caressing her hair and trying to soothe her. Anthan looked over to him, he was worried.

  Frantically she repeated, “It took her!”

  “Amy, how long ago did this happen?”

  She looked at Anthan, her tears easing.

  “Just before I rang. I didn’t know what to do.” She began crying again. “I...thought of Martin.”

  Martin smiled kindly at her, his face filled with love. “You did the right thing. We’ll find her.” He stood, looking at Anthan. “We should check the two lairs we know of. Hopefully she’s in one of them.”

  Martin settled Amy back into the chair then he knelt in front of her and took her hands.

  “We’ll go now. You must stay inside until we return. We’ll find her.”

  She looked into his eyes and read the truth. She nodded. He leant forward and kissed her forehead gently then stood still holding one hand. Reluctantly Martin dropped it and walked to the door with Anthan. Looking back, he saw her staring at him, her face filled with both fear and hope.

  Anthan had his fingers crossed they wouldn’t disappoint her.

  The two went outside and, quickly transforming into owls, took to the air.

  “We’ll go to that abandoned one first then try the other. Martin, if she isn’t in either of them, I have no idea where to look.”

  “I know, Anthan. Believe me I know.”

  They flew to the old lair they had discovered on the weekend. Anthan landed in a tree above it telling Martin to be careful. Anthan then swept the area with his mind and groaned. There was no sign of any strigoi or any human. The two flew into the lair and transformed into their human form.

  “Nothing’s been here since us. This isn’t the one it’s using.”

  “You’re right. It would have bought her here directly. It wouldn’t risk her getting away. Okay let’s check the other.”

  Transforming again, they flew the distance to the other lair. Anthan felt his anger grow when they landed and found it as empty and deserted as the other. It was frustrating not being able to find the woman or the strigoi.

  “What now?” Martin growled impatiently at him.

  “Back to the grid searches. There is no other way to do it.”

  “She could be dead.”

  “I know. The only hope is if she is psychic, like Amy, it will keep her alive for a short while before it kills her.”

  Martin shook his head. “Alive in agony.”

  “Yes but alive.”

  They were both disheartened and angry as they flew their separate ways to continuing searching. The night seemed to stretch on forever as their search failed to find any results. Just after sunrise, Anthan “spoke” to Martin.
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  “It’s no use continuing. We need to go back now. It will take us both two hours at least to get back to the house.”

  “I’m going to Amy.”

  “I thought you might. I’ll meet you there as soon as I wake.”

  “Okay.”

  “Martin, if she won’t let you stay, you need to come back to the house, don’t leave it too late.”

  Martin said he refused to even consider that so Anthan didn’t answer except to say he would see Martin that evening. He wasn’t sure what would happen, especially when Martin told Amy that they had not found Erica. He stopped to feed from a man heading to Bulli railway station before flying home.

  * * * *

  Martin tapped on the back door after transforming. Amy threw herself into his arms.

  “Where is she?”

  He held her at arm’s length. “Nîcimos, we didn’t find her this search but as soon as I wake we’ll search more.”

  She looked at him, stunned, then screamed trying to push away from him.

  “No!”

  Martin pulled her into his arms.

  “I’m sorry, nîcimos, we searched the lairs we knew but she wasn’t there. We have started searching new territory but no luck. Tonight we will continue searching, we won’t stop until we find her.”

  She was screaming at him. She wrenched herself from his arms, thumping his chest with her hands.

  “You promised,” she cried. “You promised you’d find her.”

  “And I will, nîcimos, I will but we have no idea where she had been taken. We must search everywhere. I promise you I won’t stop until I find her.”

  She struck his chest a few more times then collapsed against him.

  “She’s not dead,” she whispered, her voice devoid of emotion.

  “Hush. No don’t think that she is. Is your sister psychic?”

  He felt her nod.

  He moved her so he could look into her face.

  “Listen to me, nîcimos. Like you, I don’t believe she’s dead. If she is psychic then she’s definitely not.”

  Amy looked at him, her eyes boring into his soul.