A Hunters Promise by Gwendolyn Cease Read Free Book Online

Especially since she was wearing his shirt. It was huge on her, but it looked right. She should be wearing his clothing, just as she should be in his bed. Naked, in his bed, preferably, but he’d take whatever he could get. He pulled the thoughts up short. It didn’t matter what she was wearing or, if she was wearing anything at all under the shirt. She was injured. She was still pale, which made the freckles stand out more prominently, but her eyes were a bright blue. When he’d first found her, those same eyes had been dull and nearly lifeless. Anger rose up in him, and he wished he could have taken his time killing the fucker who’d hurt her. He deserved so much more pain for what he’d done to her.
    “I don’t think anyone will miss me.” She didn’t look at him as she spoke, but kept her gaze focused on the napkin she folded and placed on the tray.
    “Their loss.”
    “I doubt my parents will think that. I’m an embarrassment.”
    “Join the club. Mine couldn’t get away from me fast enough.” Shit, had he really said that aloud? He didn’t tell anyone about his early life. He was sure Kenshin knew; the man knew everything. But Charon had never told anyone else. He didn’t see the reason, and it wasn’t as if the Hunters were a sharing group. Every one of them had a painful story, so what was the use of wallowing in it? Better to put it aside and do the job.
    “Mine dumped me in the hospital. They couldn’t handle having a crazy daughter so they decided to hide me.” She looked around the room. “This is the first time I’ve been out of that place in nearly ten years.”
    “You’re not crazy.”
    “No, I’m not. I thought I was in the beginning, but I was young.” She shrugged. “Now, I know better. I want you to continue to train me. I want to fight.”
    “I was planning on it. If you’re going to go out in the field, you’ll need to learn more. You’ll need to train harder.” Charon would ensure she wasn’t defenseless or vulnerable again. If she was going out, not only would he train her, but he’d go with her. Something deep inside wanted to roar, but he held it back. He wasn’t sure what the hell was going on, but he wasn’t going to let it rule him. He was not going to fucking lose his mind and have to be put down like a rabid dog. He knew it had happened in the past. That’s why people freaked out when a child was born with the Ancient gene. Eventually, they lost it and had to be executed. There was really no other choice. Ancients were dangerous at the best of times, but if they were let off the chain, it could become disastrous.
    Charon forced all the morose thoughts away and stood. “You need to rest. I’ll take the tray, and you sleep. We can worry about what we’re going to do tomorrow.”
    She yawned and nodded. “Okay. And thanks for saving me.”
    He picked up the tray. “We won’t make a habit out of it, okay?”
    “I don’t plan on it,” she said, sliding down under the covers. “The next time I’m going to kill whatever comes after me.”
    One way or the other, he thought, if something comes after her, it would die. He could promise her that.
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Kenshin, director of the PIA, slumped down in a chair and wished he could take a long vacation. On the best of days, running a huge agency dedicated to policing the paranormal community while keeping humans in the dark was a chore. But, lately, it had been an out and out bitch. A blood cult was running around the city hooking vampires, and no one could get a line on them. Humans were being targeted and attacked. There was, apparently, a leak within the PIA with information going who knew where. Finally, the Hunters were starting to fray around the edges. At the best of times, something like this was considered a catastrophe, but with everything else going on, it was in the thermonuclear range.
    He heard his office door open, and he looked up to find Joelle and Talon. Okay, things