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When Katana came to, she found herself staring up at the grey stone ceiling of her family’s hunting lodge. The instant she tried to move, a stabbing pain shot through her temples, causing her to cry out.
“Steady,” said a male voice. “You took quite a fall.”
She slowly turned her head to the sound of the voice. When the handsome stranger from last night stared back at her, she found herself almost lost for words. Up close, the guy looked like he’d just stepped out of a Hollywood poster.
“Ashley Renata,” he said holding his hand out. “Nice to meet you—again.”
“I would say nice to meet you but I’m not so sure, especially as you knocked me out.” She took his hand and shook it anyway.
He flashed her a toothy grin. “Well, my mum always did tell me I was handsome enough to ‘knock ‘em out’.”
“Think that one would have been better saved for a bar,” she replied.
Heat flushed his cheeks bright red. “Sorry. Would you like some water or maybe green tea?”
“No, thank you. Where is my horse and my wolf?” Attempting to sit up again, Katana gave up when blinding pain forced her back down. “Whatever you’ve done to my head, it really hurts.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to hit a rock.”
“Oh, but you did mean to rugby tackle me?”
“Well, no, not quite.” Ashley cleared his throat. “Your horse is in the paddock, quite safe. Your wolf—well, he’s a curious one. He refuses to come anywhere near me, despite my reassurances. He’s watching from the treeline I suspect. I can feel his beady little eyes on me even in here.”
“How do you know my family?” she asked, remembering last night.
He shrugged his shoulders, pulling his dark green polo shirt tight across his clearly defined chest. “You’re not the only hunters in the world you know.”
“I’m well aware of that. Just the chances of bumping into another hunter in this particular region are exceptionally small. What do you hunt exactly? What family are you from?”
“Everything.”
Katana frowned. She knew there were several families like hers, but they all specialised in specific creatures.
There was no ‘multi-genre’ hunter—not officially anyway. Those that attempted to hunt without the Council’s approval often ended up dead because they lacked the magickal support of a witch coven needed to hunt the creatures.
“You’re lying,” she said. “There is no family that hunts everything.”
“I’m not lying.” He walked over to her and helped her sit up. Passing her a bag of towel-wrapped ice for her head, he said, “My family don’t want to be too specific; we just want to help. We’re awaiting Council approval so we can be given the same distinction as all you big guys. All we want to do is kill the creatures.”
“Ok. So what family are you with?”
“Crikey,” he said, moving away towards the small kitchen. “Have they brought you back from the Spanish Inquisition or something?
“Knowledge is power, Ashley. I like to know what and who I’m dealing with at all times. Especially when they jump me out of nowhere in the middle of a secluded woods whilst I’m stalking a werewolf with my tanto drawn.” She flashed him a sickly-sweet smile.
“You got a boyfriend?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I said, have you got a boyfriend?”
“I don’t see what business that is of yours.” More than annoyed, Katana took the ice from the back of her head, noticing the red spots all over the light green towel. Regardless, she put it down on the seat next to her. “Thank you for knocking me out and for the ice and all, but I have a job to do. Good day.”
A low chuckle sounded around her as she strode for the door. “I’ll take that as a no.”
Katana let the door slam shut behind her after she walked out. Scanning the tree-line for Jacques, she didn’t have time to spot his hiding place before he was loping towards her, relief written all over his face.
As Jacques closed the distance between them, Katana turned to her right to see Altair tied to the fence of the paddock. She rolled her eyes and tutted in annoyance. Why hadn’t he just turned him loose instead of leaving him in the baking heat?
“I was getting worried,” Jacques said, finally reaching her side. “That boy has testosterone levels through the roof. He wanted to mate with you.”
Embarrassment flooded Katana in an instant. Yes, she was a virgin. No, she didn’t care.
With a job like hers, sex and relationships didn’t even linger at the edge of thoughts. She couldn’t afford to be pulled off track by some hunky guy with romantic notions that would last less than ten percent of her total lifetime. As far as Katana was concerned, she had better things to do with her life and her time.
“Your pheromone levels are suggesting you find him attractive,” Jacques continued, padding to her side.
“Cut the science crap for once, Jacques, will you?” Katana jumped up on Altair’s back, grateful to see her katana sword hadn’t been stolen. “Let’s get going. We’ve lost enough time as it is.”
“And where exactly do you suggest we go?”
“Back to where we were. Where you found the tracks and the scent.”
“Yes, that’s a bit of a problem, actually. Before Prince Charming appeared and bowled you over so suddenly, I’d actually lost the trail myself. It was oddly peculiar. Almost as if someone had picked the damn creature up from the air and lifted him somewhere else.”
Katana frowned at him. “Are you sure you didn’t hit your head too?”
Jacques rose to his feet and trotted off in the direction from which he’d arrived. Katana shook her head and urged Altair forwards after him.