Hunter Mourned (Wild Hunt Book 3) (25 page)

“And that’s why I didn’t want you around me. I saw him that night after you found me. He was too far away and wasn’t looking in my direction, but I recognized him. He’ll recognize me too when he sees me.” Jen slid to the edge of her seat and leaned toward Rowan. “I have to help him if I can. Do you understand? I might not long for him, but I loved him once.”

Rowan rested her hand on Jen’s arm. “Craig will kill you. Dar convinced Raul that killing Harley’s mom would end their bond. I’m sure Craig thinks the same thing.”

“Did it work?”

“No. Don’t even think about it.” Trevor lowered his voice. “You are not sacrificing yourself for a redcap, previous soul mate or not. There is still good you can do in this world.”

Jen didn’t answer or look at Trevor. She held Rowan’s gaze, demanding the truth.

Finally, Rowan sighed. “I don’t know. I was still in the fairy prison at the time. If you come back to the estate, you can talk to Harley about Raul.”

Jen remained silent while the waitress delivered their coffees. Once the woman walked away, she slumped in her seat a second time. “I might call, but I won’t be visiting. I don’t want my daughter to pity me for the life I’ve lived or the mistakes I’ve made. I’d rather she hate me.”

“That last woman Craig attacked probably has brain damage. Maybe in his twisted mind, hurting women isn’t the same as killing them, but I can almost guarantee Arawn isn’t going to agree.” Trevor softened his voice. “Help us find him before he does kill someone.”

“He was a good man once.” There was defeat in Jen’s voice.

“Then maybe he can redeem himself,” Trevor said.

Jen straightened. “Do you believe that’s possible?”

Trevor gave a half shrug in answer. He wouldn’t say anything he didn’t believe. Rowan had noticed that over the weeks she’d known him. He’d remain silent, letting the other person assume whether he agreed or not.

After another moment of silence, Jen dropped her head in her hands. “There’s a new drug dealer working out of that bar I was standing in front of. I don’t know if it’s Craig or not, but the timing is too coincidental.”

“Thank you.” Rowan squeezed Jen’s shoulder, hoping to offer some comfort.

“Reconsider your decision, Jen. With us, you have a purpose. If you die, Minerva can’t assign you a new task. You’ll be reborn without a reason to endure.” Trevor waited for Jen to look at him. “How long do you think you’ll survive with the memories of hundreds of lifetimes pressing down on you? Regret and depression will consume you. Those things make people bitter and resentful. Is that the way you want to be remembered? Too weak to survive without Minerva’s guidance?”

“No.” Jen shook her head. “No, that’s not what I want.”

“Then go home and think about our offer,” Trevor said.

“I will, but I can’t promise anything.”

Trevor stood. “That’s the best I can ask for. Call if you see Craig again. Don’t try to talk to him. It won’t do any good. He’s the only one who can save himself.”

“We’ll take you home.” Rowan didn’t want the maiden walking back to her place alone.

“I am home.” Jen motioned to the ceiling. “I live upstairs.”

“Can you give us the name and number of your sister?” Trevor asked.

“Sure.” Jen tossed a twenty on the table, paying for their untouched coffees, and stood.

They followed her through the kitchen, where she greeted the staff with warm hellos, and into a vestibule at the rear of the building. Mailboxes took up a section of the wall, and a bulletin board covered another.

Jen led them to the third floor and down a clean hallway to the apartment at the end. She unlocked the door and ushered them inside.

“Have a seat if you want. I’ll be right out.”

The moment she was out of sight, Trevor dug out his phone and started typing.

“Who are you texting?”

“The guard I have on Jen. I’m issuing a suicide watch on her.”

“Why didn’t they intervene when those humans were harassing her?”

Trevor raised his gaze to hers. “Because they weren’t forcibly doing anything to her. My guards are instructed to watch, not interfere unnecessarily. That’d blow their cover.”

Of course, he was right. If Jen had known she was being followed, she likely would’ve ordered the guard to get away from her.

“What did you show those humans to make them think you were a cop?”

He pulled out his wallet and opened it to reveal a security badge. “I just happened to hold it like this.” He moved his finger, covering up the word “security.”

“Very nice.”

He shrugged. “I could’ve fought them, but this was easier.”

Jen walked out with a small address book and a stack of yellowed envelopes.

“Jessica’s number is in here. I have a star by her name.” Jen handed the notebook to Trevor.

“Thank you.” Trevor slipped the book into his back pocket.

“And these are from another sister.” She held out the letters. “They’re from the ’30s. We’re born into the same family lines until we complete our tasks. I can’t say if she has yet, but you could check out the women born to this family. Whether she’ll identify herself as a maiden or not, I can’t say. You can try dropping my name and telling her I sent you.”

That would take a long time, but it was better than not having any clues to go on. Rowan carefully took the bundle. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. A few lifetimes ago, I started hiding my important belongings so I could recover them in another life.”

Trevor caught Rowan’s gaze and raised a brow. The conversation they’d had earlier in the day made sense in light of Jen’s revelation. No doubt Harley’s mom had done the same. If she had, there might be letters or clues to the location of more of Minerva’s maidens.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to sleep. This has been a rough night.” Jen pointed to the door. “Please see yourselves out.”

“Don’t forget what I said, Jen. Call my cell if you need anything.”

“And remember, you might not be able to reconnect with Minerva, but the Huntsmen can talk to her for you or deliver her letters. With us, you have a way to reach your goddess.” Rowan offered the bait that would hopefully sway the woman’s decision.

“I’ll think about it. I can’t promise anything, though.” Jen repeated her earlier words.

Rowan sighed, knowing that was the best they’d get. She followed Trevor out, but one thought lingered in her mind, sending a wave of helplessness through her. Jen wouldn’t promise to call if she suspected she’d break her vow. The maiden wouldn’t want to damn herself.

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-
T
WO

The first rays of sunlight brightened the lobby of the hotel they’d gotten a room at, harkening a new day and another wasted night. The only good thing that came out of their prowling was finding Jen. Trevor only hoped the woman had listened to them. The helplessness and sadness that had radiated off her didn’t fill him with confidence, though.

“I’ve been thinking.” Rowan leaned against his side as they waited for the elevator to open. “Allie should know her mom is depressed. Maybe she can talk some sense into her.”

“I doubt it. Jen was adamant about not wanting Allie around her. If Allie shows up, that might send Jen running or push her over the edge.”

“True, but if there’s even a chance it might help, we should take it.”

He doubted anything Allie said would convince Jen to return with them. Jen’s issues had as much to do with Craig and his downfall as it did with Allie. Probably more so. Trevor knew he would be devastated if Rowan’s life spiraled out of control without him. The guilt would choke him.

“It can’t hurt, I guess.”

“And if Jen runs, then at least she won’t be near Craig.”

No, she wouldn’t be living blocks from where Craig might be dealing drugs. She’d be alone. That wouldn’t help her depression either. But what were they supposed to do? It wasn’t as if they could toss her in the back of a van and haul her to the estate. That wouldn’t be right or legal.

They could call a social worker, but Jen’s problems went way beyond what a human could counsel her on. She’d need someone who understood the
other
world she was part of. Of course, there was one Huntsman who might fit the role of therapist.

“Rhys can bring Allie. He might be able to get through to Jen too while he’s here. He can be quite persuasive.”

Rowan chuckled. “Persuasive? You mean annoying and persistent, don’t you?”

Trevor glanced at Rowan’s face. He’d been doing quite well avoiding the temptation she posed. It just took a shitload of discipline to keep his gaze from drifting to those parts of her body that woke his lust. He only had to wait a little longer before giving in to his craving for her.

“Hey, you said it. Not me.” Even though he agreed.

“Sometimes his persistence is a good thing. He did give me the nudge I needed to accept that my interest in you was more than concern.”

The elevator dinged open. They got on, and he hit the button for their floor. Two, three minutes. That was all he had to wait to get his hands on Rowan.

Rowan stepped behind him and slid her arms around his waist. “I wish he’d done so sooner. I could’ve spent these past few weeks in your bed instead of sleeping against the wall in my room.”

Her touch stirred that part of him he’d banked as they’d hunted the city’s streets. He turned and settled his palms on her hips. “Did you dream of me?”

A naughty grin spread over her mouth, and the mischievous glint that sometimes shone in her eyes flared to life. “Yes. Every time I closed my eyes. I even contemplated coming over there and waking you with my mouth on your cock, but I feared aggravating your injuries.”

“I’m healed now, Rowan.”

“Yes, you are, and I might have to make up for those days we missed.”

She covered the growing bulge in his pants. She didn’t stroke him. Didn’t squeeze his length. Didn’t move her hand. The promise was there with the possessive way she held him, however. His dick responded to her unspoken vow, thickening and lengthening until his erection ached for her fisted grip. Or her mouth. That would work too.

“Yeah? That’s good to hear. I’m looking forward to experiencing in person what I’ve been dreaming about.”

The elevator door opened. Two men carrying breakfast trays got on. Trevor stepped forward, giving them space. Rowan didn’t move her hand from where she covered his dick, though. The moment the elevator doors squeaked closed, sealing them in with the other men, she unzipped Trevor’s jeans.

“Rowan.” He let the question show in his eyes—what was she doing?

Her grin widened. She licked her lips and gripped the waistband of his pants.

No. No, she couldn’t be planning to…

She popped the button and shoved at the edges. He spread his legs to stop her from yanking his pants off his ass and gripped her shoulders. “Don’t.”

She pushed his hands away and dropped to her knees before he could stop her. Her hand was in his pants, stroking his cock, a moment later. The knit gloves she’d worn to match her thigh-high socks added to the stimulation of her fisted grip. Each tug sent sparks down his shaft.

With hurried movements, she shoved his boxers down enough to free his erection. Her mouth replaced her hand, and the wet swipe of her tongue around the ridge of his cock broke his control.

He planted his flattened hands against the mirrored surface of the elevator. The reflection of the men behind them showed them staring at the door. Ads for the hotel’s restaurant covered the surface. As long as they didn’t turn around, they wouldn’t know what Rowan was doing to him. Or see her on her knees, worshipping him.

Plus, the elevator music was loud. It would drown out the sounds of Rowan sucking on his cock. Hopefully. At the moment, the rationale was enough to justify this, allowing Rowan to swallow his dick.

His length throbbed, excitement tightening his muscles. He turned his attention to her. Screw the guys behind them. The wedding bands on their hands meant they too had someone to wrap their lips around their cocks. If they happened to catch a glimpse and get aroused, they could go find their partners. Rowan was his, and he wasn’t going to miss out on a moment of her passion. He’d waited too long to have her this way.

A few damn centuries too long.

Whether he remembered them or not didn’t change a thing. Rowan was the woman he’d been waiting for his entire life. That was why no other girl had fit him. His soul remembered heaven and wouldn’t settle for anything less. It didn’t take much to imagine living out previous lifetimes, searching for something more.

Not another freaking day.

Rowan wrapped her fingers around his length and held his throbbing dick steady while she teased the sensitive head of his cock, focusing on the slit. Her licks and gentle sucking on the tip of his penis cranked up his desire, making the ache in his shaft worse. He needed to move, to experience the drag of her gloved hand over the vein in his dick and the pull of her mouth as she sucked him deep. She didn’t give him either.

He lifted his gaze. The men still stared straight ahead. Trevor’s breathing quickened. He dropped his hands to her shoulders, holding her still, and shifted his hips, pushing his dick farther past her lips. She opened her mouth wider and glanced up at him, catching his gaze. The lust in her eyes matched his, but that wasn’t all he saw in her expression.

She wanted to please him.

That opened up a whole realm of erotic possibilities, but none of those fantasies were the reason behind his rapid pulse. She was giving him control.

With his thumb at the corner of her mouth, he dragged his length back and pushed forward as far as he could go. Her lashes fluttered. He repeated the controlled stroke, being careful not to harm her or make too much noise that might draw the attention of the men behind them.

The elevator jerked, and the bell dinged. He stepped closer to Rowan, blocking her from view of anyone who might walk by, but his pants slipped, exposing part of his ass.

“Well, hell.”

The shocked exclamation from one of the other men yanked Trevor’s gaze to the man. The mirror in the hallway directly across from the elevator gave them the view the posters on the inside of the elevator had blocked from them.