The Rogue Hunter's Mate [Paranormal Protection Unit 10] (Siren Publishing Classic) (25 page)

“It’s what it sounds like and it is painful, from what I’ve heard,” he told her. “Usually Gaia will reach into the body, wrap her hand around the soul, and yank it out. It tears out of the body with a scream of sound and then she either puts it into stasis for a number of centuries for rehabilitation and maybe rebirth. Or she extinguishes is completely and it is no more.”

“And what happens to the body?” she asked in horror. “Does it continue to live or does it die as the soul is torn from it?” She didn’t like Gordon. He had done some seriously bad shit but she wasn’t sure that anyone deserved that. Death, hells yes! The loss of a soul or suffering she wasn’t so sure.

“It dies, and once the soul is either relegated to stasis and rehabilitation or permanent removal, it turns to ash. Once our souls are gone we disintegrate into nothingness,” Zaidu told her as he watched her fidget. She seemed quite upset with the whole process.

“Oh.” She winced and shook her head. “I dislike this man a great deal and I truly, truly believe that he deserves to die but making him suffer proves nothing except we are far too much like him and his cronies. They fed off of the fear, off of the terror and the pain that they inflicted upon another being. We have to be more than that, right?”

“We don’t feed off the fear, terror, or pain. It’s done to make a point and ensure that anyone who thinks to go against the Council and the Hunters knows exactly what the consequences are for going Rogue and disobeying our laws,” he told her simply. “There is no pleasure in snuffing out a life, Bethany, but we can’t let their disease run rampant or our society will expose itself to the humans and there will be a war that no human can survive.”

She let his truth wash over her and sighed. Nodding, she looked up to him. “Thank you for explaining that to me. I know you would never be like those men but you are the only one I have complete and total faith in, Zaidu. Everyone else is unknown to me, all except you.”

“I know, love, that’s why I do explain these things to you,” he said. Getting to his feet, Zaidu moved to her and pulled her into his arms. Holding her close he pressed a kiss to her lips. “I know this is all strange and new to you, Bethany,” he said against her lips. “Just remember, if you don’t understand something I’ve said, ask and I’ll explain it to you.”

Looking up at him, going on her toes and wrapping her arms around his neck, Bethany pulled him closer. Against his lips she whispered, “Maybe later you can give me an in-depth tutorial on making love to a Rogue Hunter? I really think that I need a little hands-on training.”

Smiling against her mouth he nipped her lip. “I think I should. I wouldn’t want to be lax on the most important of lessons you should learn.” Kissing her slowly, deeply, he dropped a hand to her ass and hauled her in closer to him.

Moving so that she could get even closer to him she bit his lower lip lightly with her teeth and then moaned when he retaliated. Pulling back slightly she licked her lips. “Will the door to this antechamber lock? Please tell me that they lock so that we can get naked.” Damn hormones and her need that ratcheted up a level, or twelve, with his touch.

“It will lock but the Guards and any of the Council can override it with a thought. It’s their turf,” he told her quietly. “We could get naked and be in the midst of fucking one another only to get called back in there and we would have to go as is, darling. The Council waits for no one and nothing.”

“Shit,” she grumbled. “Why the hell is it that our hormones aren’t overridden here?” she muttered and reached between them and began to rub her hands up and down the thick, hard length of his cock. “Because God dammit all, I’m so hot right now that I swear I’m ready to come and I feel the heat of you and know you are, too. Fucking place.” Dammit to hell.

“Because that would be messing with the natural order of things and so forth,” he told her quietly. “You really should stop that.” Zaidu caught her hands and put them behind her back. “I cannot run around with a raging hard-on or a big-ass wet spot on the front of my jeans.”

She whimpered, literally. “As soon as we get home I seriously want to be naked. I would love to be on my knees in front of you, drinking you down while you come.” Blunt. Erotic. To the point. Yep, she was fucking ready to come apart at the seams.

“Then you’d better exercise some self-control, sugar,” he told her quietly. “Because at the rate we’re going, we’re going to be in a hell of a lot of trouble when the Guard opens the door in about three minutes.” He could smell one of the Dragons getting closer. “Make that under two minutes actually.”

“Crap,” she muttered and pulled back from him. “Shoot, this sucks monkey balls. I don’t like this. I think we need to get this over and done with so that I can get home with you and we can both get our asses naked and ease the aches we are both feeling.”

Shrugging, he moved a little distance from her and used some of his legendary restraint to get his body back under control. Turning, he stepped between Bethany and the door just as it opened, habit and protective nature. He didn’t trust anyone ever, not even those of the Council, or perhaps especially those of the Council.

“They are ready for you to rejoin them for the sentencing of the Rogues,” the Dragon told them, stepping back and waving a hand to indicate they proceed him.

Taking Bethany’s hand Zaidu squeezed her fingers and headed back for the main chamber. Hopefully the bastards got what they deserved, tenfold.

Beth looked up at Zaidu and squeezed his hand once more as well. She hoped and prayed that the men got what they deserved, but honestly, Bethany also prayed that she didn’t have to watch the sentence being carried out because she was sure that it would destroy a part of her if she did.

You won’t have to bear witness,
Z said to her through their link.
I will since I was the Hunter that brought them to justice but you can go home and wait if they carry it out today. Otherwise I’ll come back to stand witness.

Thank you,
Bethany whispered.
I know how cowardly that seems but I don’t think that I could handle it at all if I had to see it happen. I don’t want to be there and a part of it please
.
I know that you dispense justice, honey, I really do. However, I can’t. I can’t be there to watch it. To see it happen.

And you won’t have to be,
he assured her again as they stepped into the Chambers and moved to the seats against the wall. Once they were seated Gordon and the other Rogues were brought in by Guards and stood at the end of the table to face the Council.

Talon stood and looked at the Rogues. “Rogues, the Council has decided your fate,” he said to them. “For the crimes of kidnapping, unlawful detainment, inhumane treatment of humans, and the murder of four women you have been judged. By unanimous vote Rogues Zachariah, Melvin, Jostone, Braven, and Viken will have their souls yanked and put into stasis for a period of no less than three hundred years. Rogue Gordon shall have his life terminated by Dragon’s Fire. Your sentences will be carried out at dawn tomorrow.” He waved his hand and had the Guards drag them back out. “Council, witnesses, I thank you for your time on this matter. We will reconvene one hour before sunrise and prepare for the sentences to be carried out.”

Bethany just stood there in shock. She knew that this was done for a reason, knew that there would be no other way because they had to ensure that order was maintained in their world, but to know it…Gods it was seriously not good. Bethany, however, didn’t speak for a while. She didn’t say a word until she finally had Zaidu alone with her. A whisper of a sound came then. “When it’s over and done, when this is final, we will take a vacation. Just us, alone.” She had a feeling he would need it every bit as much as she would.

Looking at her he nodded. “We can arrange that,” he told her honestly. Taking her hand in his he pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arm around her waist. “This will all be over tomorrow, love, and then we will take a couple of weeks and go somewhere, anywhere you want.”

“Good,” she whispered. “Somewhere where it can be only us. A private island or something like that. I only want to have you all to myself, to have you naked and to be able to know that we will be able to have that forever, darling. I need this. We need this.” She was sure that after tomorrow he would need it as well.

“I will see what I can arrange for us,” he told her quietly. Hugging her close, he pressed a kiss to her hair lightly. “I will talk to Q and see what we have on the books for a vacation spot.” And if they didn’t have anything he’d see what he could get elsewhere.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I appreciate it a great deal. I need this. I need to be able to have this time with you and I have a feeling that you will need it after tomorrow as well. We were meant to be one. We will do this. Somehow and someway we will find a way to move on with our lives, right?”

Frowning at her words he hugged her to him. “What’s wrong, Bethany?” he asked her quietly. Rubbing her back he felt concerned at her behavior. She seemed so out of sorts. “Talk to me, little mate, what’s going through your head that has you so distressed?”

“I have no idea. I am just feeling all kinds of jacked up right now. More emotional than I have any right to feel.” She sighed and shook her head. “Don’t like it, at all,” she muttered. “I just think that it’s the stress of all that we are going through has me seriously fucked up right now.” Looking up she sighed. “Let’s just get this over, done with so that we can vacation together.” Then life would be back to normal. She was sure of it.

“It could just be your need for sex riding you, darling,” he pointed out softly. “We haven’t gotten through the whole first month yet, the ‘honeymoon’ phase of the mating, if you will. And I did mention it would get worse before it leveled out. Or it could just be the stress of all of this.” And her damned fucking brother.

“Crap,” she muttered, “I’m thinking that it’s a combination of both of them.” That was likely what it was. She was feeling rather desperate for him and it meant that he was feeling, it too. “This sucks. We should have been able to take that time off together, darling. You and I have both needed this time and you know it. If Talon won’t let you take vacation then I’m bloody well going to beat the shit out of him my damn self.”

“You can try,” the Dragon said from behind her and grinned when she spun around, her mate keeping her balanced. “But I am very hard to beat up,” Talon said as he moved closer. “Z, you’re officially off the clock,” he told them and dug in a pocket. Passing over a piece of paper, he watched Bethany. “The location of a private island, not another soul in sight. It’s been stocked and the caretaker will meet you on the mainland, ferry you out, and then come and collect you in two weeks’ time. We’ve made arrangements for another Hunter to be on call should we need it until your return. Enjoy the break, your bond-mate, and each other, that’s an order.”

Grinning, Bethany moved and hugged Talon. “Thank you,” she told him softly and pulled back when she heard Zaidu growling. Moving back to her bond-mate she looked up at him. “Good. Take me out of here, Zaidu. I’m ready to get out of here, ready to go on vacation and try to ease this pain and ache that we are both feeling.” Well her at least.

“Car’s waiting downstairs and the jet is waiting at the airport,” Talon told them with a lopsided grin. “There’s a snack on the plane for you to enjoy if you have the time. Cell phones will be left on the front desk and put into the safe if you will.” He looked at Z. “There’s a radio on the island if you need to make contact for any reason, but there are no cell towers out there. Now get out of here and I’ll see you two in two weeks, hopefully not looking like you want to tear each other’s clothing off at the drop of a hat.”

Bethany shook her head and sighed. When Talon walked away she grinned up at Zaidu. “That man just is far too smart for his own good. He seriously takes that knowledge to a whole new level. I’m glad he’s thinking that way, too. I do need to have you alone with me. I need you, darling, and two weeks won’t be enough,” she stated.

“Two weeks is a good start and will get us through the rest of our month.” Then hopefully the needs would calm a little and they could have a semi-normal life. “Come on, darling.” Zaidu took her hand in his and led her down through the building, stopping at the front desk only long enough to leave his cell after ensuring it was locked and off. Guiding her out to the waiting car, he got her in and slid into the backseat with her.

Bethany curled into him in the backseat and sighed as she did so. “I think that I’m going to like this man more and more as the years go by.” He had already won huge points by just simply being there and giving her and Z time alone, time to be with each other.

“And you were going to attempt to beat him up,” Zaidu teased against her hair with a half smile. “Aren’t you just ashamed of yourself for even suggesting such a thing?” he teased, softly stroking his fingers lightly over the back of her hand that rested on his chest.

“Nope, not even a little,” she told him with a wicked smirk. “I’m actually fairly happy that I said that. It makes sure that he knows that where you are concerned nothing but the best of the best will work for me and for you. I think the two of us belong together because we both will fight for what we desire, darling.”

Grunting in agreement, he lifted her hand and kissed her fingers one by one. Pressing her hand flat to his chest once more he held her to him as they rode along. It was strange for him to be driven anywhere. It went against his very nature to allow it but it was a pleasant change.

Bethany lifted her head from his chest and looked out over the beach toward the setting sun. “Our last night,” she whispered. “It’s our last night here. I hate that. I don’t think I’m ready to go back,” she whispered softly. “I’ve really and truly loved being here with you, darling. I’ve loved every single second of our time together.”

Running his fingers up and down her naked back in a lazy move, he smiled. “We can always come back. Take a couple weeks each year and come out here.” He’d arrange it with Talon. “Besides, just because we’re going home doesn’t mean that we’ll be stopping our nonstop loving, Bethany. Nothing can stop us from needing, wanting, and taking each other. Unfortunately we will need to return to wearing clothing.” Something they’d not done the entire time they’d been there.