Hunter Deceived

by Nancy Corrigan

  Yes, but Calan didn’t want the newly bound male to make such decisions. He sidestepped Ian. Guilt could be damning to a Huntsman. If Ian chose poorly by inviting Trevor, Ian would be saddled with it.

  Calan shook his head. “We don’t have time to join another rider with his horse. We’ve wasted enough.”

  Hands at Harley’s waist, he lifted her onto Death’s back and joined her a moment later. He locked his arm around her waist, then unleashed his tight control. The power of the Hunt rushed out.

  He kept his tie to Ian open and shared with the human the glory of the raw, unbridled power. It wrapped around them, reminding them of their purpose and instilling them with its frenzy. Tendrils of energy snaked out in all directions, seeking those who held the taint of pure chaos in their bodies. For miles, it weaved outward. He pushed further but found no trace of Dar.

  Calan would bet Raul was close, however. The redcap wanted Harley. In a way, Calan was thankful for Raul’s obsession. If he hadn’t been so focused on coercing Harley into claiming him as her redcap, he probably would’ve goaded her into embracing her Unseelie side. All it would’ve taken was Ian’s death, but with Ian’s tie to the Hunt, dying would no longer be a concern.

  Raul had lost. He just didn’t know it yet. He would soon. The time had come to bring retribution to his feet, and Calan knew where to begin his search for Raul: the warehouse where he’d burned his ring.

  Calan curled his fingers and recalled his power. He held it close for another heartbeat, then extended his balled fist to the ground. The rush of energy slammed into the earth, and a shock wave shook the world. The wind kicked up, swirling leaves and twigs around them in a cyclone that stretched to the heavens.

  For a fleeting moment, he wondered if the humans living at the bottom of the mountain would notice the unnatural occurrence, but the worry passed in the next breath. The fabric of the universe parted and wrapped around their two stallions and dozens of hounds. It offered them the obscurity that had kept them hidden since the Hunt began. He had to trust in its ability to do the same in this modern age.

  Another tremor rocked the land, and the tower of whirling wind dispersed, sending dark pockets of fog over the area. Their horses galloped forward and caught the currents of the wind spreading the clouds in all directions. The obscure vapor cushioned the animal’s steps and pushed them forward.

  Feet above the treetops, they raced toward their destination. Sparks ignited in their wake, and lightning flashed within the clouds around them, brightening the world below them. Yet from past experience, nothing unusual would be seen from the ground except a few extra clouds in the night sky.

  Calan cut a quick glance at Harley. No fear showed on her face. Euphoria did. He opened his mind to hers. “A ride on Death’s back can’t compare to the wonder of a dragon, but—”

  She grinned. “But nothing. This is amazing. A dream come true.” Her smile faltered. “I only wish we were riding under better circumstances.”

  He tucked Harley closer to his chest and scanned the countryside looking for anything unusual. “We have eternity ahead of us. We will make time to ride.”

  “Good. I can’t wait.”

  Neither could he.

  “We’re close.” Ian motioned ahead of them.

  The storage building near Cynthia’s house came into view. Calan directed them to an open area in the woods near the abandoned factory. The moment they landed, the winds died down, and their cloak dissipated.

  Death pranced uneasily. Neither Calan nor his hounds could sense Raul or any of the unfortunate humans he’d lured into the ring. Harley could, though. Like called to like, as much as Calan hated to admit it, and Raul partially belonged to her.

  Calan glanced at her. Eyes widened, she stared off in the direction of the building.

  “Harley?” She didn’t respond. He grasped her chin and turned her head to face him. Terror showed in her widened eyes. “Speak to me.”

  She took a couple of deep breaths. Her heartrate slowed. So did his. “I feel them.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “Here. Their taint calls to me.”

  “Where?”

  She extended her arm and pointed in the direction of the storage building.

  “Is Raul with—”

  A screech pierced the night, stopping his words. Calan pivoted and cursed. The door to the storage building skittered across the pavement. His hounds picked up the threat first and raced toward the sluaghs spilling out of the opening.

  Glamour.

  Raul had tricked them again. The ring hadn’t been burned; that was the only explanation. Calan berated himself. He should’ve sent a hound inside the building to confirm the humans’ words. No matter. The sluaghs would die.

  Calan leapt from his horse and pressed a hand to Harley’s leg to stop her from joining him. He flicked his gaze to the dagger she held in her hands. Respect for his mate rose. It comforted him to know she would want to fight at his side, but he never wanted her in danger again. The years without him able to protect her was enough. Nor did he want her to accidentally slip into a rage and kill out of anger. He’d lose her to her Unseelie side.

  “Stay here. Death will protect you.” He grasped her hand, the one with their incomplete bond. Uneasiness settled over him with the turn of events. So much had happened since they’d last made love while in his prison. They hadn’t had a chance to complete their union. “I fear this is a trap to lure you from me.”

  She gave him a small push, gaze frantically darting between him and Ian, who ran forward with his flaming obsidian sword. Guilt added to his anxiety. He hadn’t explained what he’d planned for her brother. That decision had been between him and Ian, but she’d deserved the knowledge, at the very least.

  “Go. I’m fine.”

  “Reach for me if you feel in any way threatened.” He turned away from her and invited the rage to consume him.

  The change swept over him. His Huntsman form emerged in the blink of an eye. Sword raised, he charged into the throng of hunched and rotting bodies. Death had arrived to finally give them peace.

  And a second chance at life.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Harley pressed her hand to her chest. Each sluagh cut down by Calan’s and Ian’s flaming swords jerked on her heart, sending a piercing pain through her body. She hated to admit it, but she could no longer deny it.

  The sluaghs belonged to her.

  Three quick jabs to her chest stole her breath. She tumbled off Death’s back and hit the ground. A jolt raced up from her tailbone to her neck. Tingles spread. She shook it off and pushed to her feet.

  Three more sluaghs killed. Their bodies turned to ash. Their souls freed.

  Harley glanced at the mass of lighted balls hovering in the night sky above the warehouse. From pure white to dark gray, the orbs pulsed and swirled in the breeze.

  Calan’s horse shifted restlessly beside her. It raised its head, and one of the closest unbound souls raced toward them. Death’s fathomless eyes drew it in. She stumbled back, a hand over her mouth to muffle her gasp.

  The Huntsmen collected the souls and offered them a resting place. Calan had told her that. She hadn’t understood what that meant. Seeing was believing, though.

  The sound of police sirens carried over the roars of the sluaghs. Curses fell from her mouth. She wished she knew how to use glamour. The Huntsmen might be cloaked when they rode, but otherwise they drew attention. That couldn’t happen.

  She slapped the horse’s rear. “Go, collect the others before the cops arrive.”

  Death raced toward the last of the battle.

  She wrapped her arms around her chest as the tugs yanked on her. The sluaghs weren’t even fighting. One slipped around Ian, who still looked human, except for his reddened eyes. The female sluagh stretched an arm toward Harley and groaned.

  Harley stepped back as realiz
ation dawned. The sluaghs were trying to get to her.

  Another pulse raced through her body, stronger than the ones the sluaghs had caused. A familiar one. She pivoted. Raul walked toward her. He held his hands up in a placating manner. She didn’t buy it for a minute. She yanked out her dagger and held it loosely in her grip.

  Raul glanced from the dagger to her face. No fear showed on his expression, even though Calan wasn’t far away. Annoyance flashed in Raul’s black eyes. “It’s about time you got away from your protectors.”

  She considered reaching for Calan, but she didn’t want to distract him. He needed to finish killing the sluaghs before the humans showed.

  “All I have to do is call him.”

  Raul flicked his gaze to her left hand. He raised a lip, showing off his pointy teeth.

  “Yes, your mate would rush to your side, wouldn’t he?”

  She sucked in a rough breath. “How do you—”

  “I have a motion-activated camera hidden at the warehouse. I don’t want humans stumbling on my fairy rings.” He fisted his hands and took a step toward her. “Did you finish it? Did you bind your soul to him?” Another step. “Or is it still up for grabs?”

  She curled her fingers, hiding the incomplete mark. “I am not—”

  “I’ll settle for half of you.” He flashed her a wicked sneer. “I can share.”

  “Well, I can’t.”

  His nostrils flared. “Why, Harley? Did you finish it? Tell me. I need to know.”

  Warning bells went off. If Raul knew she hadn’t finished her half of the bond, he might try to enrage her, tip her over the edge. But…he hadn’t wanted to do so before. No, he wanted her to remain Seelie. It was the only explanation for the cat-and-mouse game he’d played with her, and why he’d stopped the other redcaps from tormenting her.

  She replayed every conversation they’d ever had and barely stopped her groan from escaping. The last time they’d spoken, he touched his head and said she could fix him. That was the reason—he wanted her to heal him. How, she didn’t know. By soul-bonding to him? No matter how or why, he still wanted her. She didn’t trust what he’d do to claim her.

  She raised her chin and lied, “Yes, Calan and I are mated.”

  He stared at her hand. “Show me.”

  She curled her fingers tighter. “No.”

  He grinned, no doubt guessing she hadn’t told the truth. “Fine. Keep the knowledge to yourself. I’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Yes, you will.” She narrowed her gaze. “When you die at—”

  “Enough, Harley. I have another reason for bringing you here.”

  “And that is?”

  “To give you a warning. Dar is coming. He wants to congratulate Calan, and”—a rough sound, a cross between a laugh and a sob, escaped his throat—“wish him an eternity of happiness with his fairy mate. He was surprisingly thrilled at the news.”

  Ice slithered into her heart, stopping it for a moment before it took on an erratic beat. “You told him?”

  Why that was her first question, she didn’t know. Well, she did. She just didn’t understand the emotion. It felt like a betrayal. Still, she waited on his response.

  “I had to, Harley. He owns me.” He snorted. “Here I thought I’d find redemption in your arms. Goddamn love. All you’ve done is stretched me between two masters, two opposing sides of hell, when all I want is heaven.”

  A roar cut through the night, a familiar one. Calan was closing the distance between them, and his anger beat against her back, whipping her raw. Raul’s words, though, locked her in place. A spark of sympathy rose. She was a fool for allowing it to take hold, but she too was stretched between good and evil. She also believed Raul’s claim that he was her mom’s soulmate. The recognition had gone both ways the night he’d killed her mother.

  What would that do to a man? To love a woman for an eternity and know he could never touch her or be with her? To know that she loved another?

  Raul glanced past her and took a step back. “Dar has Allie. I had to give her to him.”

  Fear rose, chasing away the haunting questions. “Where is she?”

  “She’s alive.” His nails sharpened. “You need me to save her, remember that. Only I know where he’s stashed her or how to get her back.” He took another step back.

  Calan roared a second time, louder than the first. He was nearly upon them.

  “We’ll finish this game another time, Harley.” Raul turned and ran.

  Calan tackled him. They rolled across the grass, swiping clawed hands at each other and snarling. The police sirens in the background grew louder. People screaming added to the melee. Trevor’s voice carried over everything, ordering everyone back. She ignored it all and focused on the fight in front of her and Raul’s words to her.

  Dar had Allie.

  Calan raised his arm. A flaming sword appeared in it. Harley followed its arc toward Raul’s head and yelled, “Stop!”

  Her Huntsman jerked as if her word had frozen him in place. Raul took advantage of the moment. He scooted from beneath Calan and fled. A car started a moment later. Squealing tires pierced the night. She breathed a sigh, but Calan snarled and leapt toward her.

  He grabbed her, hands at her waist, and lifted her. Fury burned in his eyes. She pressed her hands to his chest to put space between them. He slammed them together.

  Her breath escaped in a rush. She automatically fought his hold, the urge to run too real to ignore.

  He slid one hand to her neck, the other to her lower back. “Stop fighting me, Harley.”

  She froze. The guilt rushed up. She knew better than to fear him.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She swept her hands over his shoulder blades. “But you can’t kill him.”

  Sharpened nails dented her skin but didn’t break it. “Why, Harley? Raul needs to die. You know this.”

  “Yes, but he told me Dar has Allie. We need Raul to find her.”

  “One life is not worth allowing the redcap to live.” He jerked his chin toward the warehouse behind them. “We struck down close to three dozen sluaghs.” He narrowed his eyes. “Did you feel the deaths of your puppets, my flower?”

  She stared at him and didn’t know what to say. It had hurt when each one died. In the face of Calan’s derision, she hesitated to admit the truth.

  Calan dropped her. She stumbled. He didn’t steady her. He stepped away and ran a hand through his shaggy hair.

  “Well, I did. I experienced the stabbing to your heart. He’ll create more, using you to shield them from me.” He roughly tipped up her chin. “Do you know what that will do to me?”

  She tried to shake her head but couldn’t. He held her too firmly.

  “No.” Except she did know. It would destroy him.

  “It’ll break me, my mate. The fury will grow each day, knowing there are sluaghs roaming the earth the Huntsmen can’t see, sluaghs who are killing innocent humans.”

  The brush of cloth and the familiar scent of her brother warned her of Ian’s approach. Calan tensed but didn’t let her go.

  “Cynthia wasn’t among them.” Ian’s growled words sounded deeper and rougher than she’d ever heard. He stepped into her line of sight. “Where is she, Harley?”

  How would she know?

  “Well?” Calan leaned close. “Answer your brother’s question. Do you feel any more of Raul’s sluaghs nearby?”

  She shoved hard against Calan’s chest. He released her, and she fell on her ass. “I didn’t know what Raul was doing!”

  A long moment passed before Calan knelt in front of her. He squeezed his eyes shut, and a shudder visibly shook his body. Finally, he tugged her against his chest. “Of course not. I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry?” That was supposed to make her feel better? She shoved at his arms. “Let me go.”

 
“No.” He ran his hands over her back.

  His warmth seeped into her, and her tight muscles loosened. No, dammit! She fought the comfort he offered. She growled and twisted in his hold. Butterfly wings teased her mind. He tugged at her emotions.

  She slammed a metaphysical door in his face and glared at him. “Maybe I shouldn’t have stopped you from killing Raul, but Allie’s life does matter to me. Every life matters.” She leaned close. “I am not a god or a rider of the Hunt. I do not get to decide whose life is more valuable. I will try to save everyone if I can.”

  “You’re right. Allie’s life does matter, but so does yours.” He brushed his lips over her cheek. “Forgive me. Let me in so I can help us.”

  Us. Of course. She was making things worse by welcoming her anger.

  She focused on his hands caressing her back and the gentle kisses he pressed to her neck. The anger eased. She reached for him, mentally and physically, and clung to him.

  “I’m sorry.” She offered the words he’d given to her.

  “We’ll deal with him.”

  A snap of a twig reached her ears, followed by the scent of leather—Trevor. “You’re damn lucky half the cops are related to me. Care to explain what the hell happened? That was some crazy shit.”

  Calan didn’t respond to Trevor’s question. He leaned back and settled his gaze on Ian.

  Ian nodded and faced Trevor. “No explanation tonight. There isn’t time. What did you tell them?”

  Trevor snorted. “That the serial killer was here with a bunch of dogs. We fought him, but he got away.”

  “Dogs?” Ian cursed. “Couldn’t you think of anything else?”

  Trevor stiffened. “What did you—”

  “Enough.” Calan stepped forward, pulling her with him. “The hounds will be fine. If they feel threatened, they’ll fade into the Underworld.” He faced Ian. “Take Harley back to the house and watch over her while I transport the souls we’ve collected to Hell.”

  “But Cynthia’s out there. I need to—”

  “You need to follow my commands.” Calan stepped close and glared at him. “Hunter Ian.”