As soon as the words left my mouth, I heard the distant sound of a vehicle. “I hear them coming now. Better decide soon.”

  The Gulak growled in desperate rage, and I thought he was going to choose to go down fighting. Seconds later, he appeared in the doorway and tossed his sword to the ground. He jumped out of the truck and put his hands up in surrender.

  “Lie facedown on the ground,” I ordered as I felt the first tickle of awareness in the back of my mind that told me my mate was near.

  The Gulak complied without another word. Keeping my eyes on him, I called to the girls in Spanish to let them know they were safe. One petite blonde peeked out, and tears spilled down her dirty cheeks when she saw me.

  “Are…you American?” she asked in a southern accent.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, thank God!” She jumped down despite the plastic ties binding her wrists. “Please, get us out of this hellhole.”

  Before I could answer her, a black pickup roared up and skidded to a stop next to the truck. The passenger door opened, and Hamid was beside me in an instant, wild-eyed and looking like he’d been running his fingers through his hair.

  “I told you to stay out of sight,” he said sternly as if the girl wasn’t there.

  I shrugged unapologetically. “I was going to, but the situation necessitated me taking immediate action.”

  Hamid narrowed his eyes. “And that required you to take out all four Gulaks by yourself instead of waiting for us?”

  “Not all of them.” I pointed at the one that had surrendered. “I kept one alive for interrogation.”

  Mario chuckled as he walked past us to my prisoner. “Thanks for leaving us one.”

  “Anytime.” I let my sword drop to the ground and reached up to loop my arms around my scowling mate’s neck. He was unhappy, but he let me pull his head down to mine. As soon as our lips met, he kissed me hungrily like we hadn’t seen each other in weeks instead of hours.

  One thing I’d learned about Hamid in our months together was that danger and fighting turned him on as much as it did me. I traveled the world, hunting the bad guys, and spent each night in the arms of my insatiable and hot-as-sin mate. Yep, I was officially the luckiest girl on the planet.

  After the big showdown with Alaron, Hamid and I had spent a week at Westhorne with the entire Council and a whole team of scholars and scientists. I was poked and prodded and asked questions, until I nearly had a meltdown and started yelling at everyone who came near me. That was when Hamid put his foot down and said we were done. If they needed to know anything else, they could watch our recorded accounts of the events. We were taking a well-earned vacation.

  We left Westhorne and spent two glorious weeks alone on the remote oasis in the Kalahari that he had promised to take me to. We spent our days swimming naked in the tiny lake or relaxing in the shade, and our nights making love on the sand beneath the stars. It was as close to Heaven on Earth as I could imagine.

  Since then, I’d been settling into my new job working for the Council. As long as Hamid dealt with them, I was happy, and I loved being able to travel the world with him. So far, we’d been to Thailand, Pakistan, Spain, Italy, and Panama. Life was good.

  “Get a room,” Mario teased.

  I smiled against Hamid’s mouth and pulled back. “Duty calls.”

  We got down to work. He and Mario took the Gulak and made him show them around the place while I saw to the girls. Some of them had a few bruises, but nothing worse. There were three Americans in the lot, college friends who had been visiting Costa Rica. I had a feeling none of them was going to be planning more trips to Central America anytime soon.

  The rest of the Panama City team arrived an hour later in Jeeps and two large vans that would carry the girls back to the city. Once they were checked out at the hospital, arrangements would be made to see them all home safely. They were all a little traumatized by their ordeal, but they’d been spared from a much worse fate.

  Hamid’s phone rang as we watched the last van leave to take the girls to the hospital. Figuring it was someone from the Council, I strolled away, tuning out the conversation like I usually did.

  “Jordan,” Hamid called to me.

  I looked back to see him holding his phone to his chest to muffle it. “Friedrich wants to talk to you.”

  Frowning, I walked over to take the phone from him. “What’s up, Friedrich?”

  “I hear you cracked that human trafficking ring,” he said jovially. “Well done! Once again you have proven to be a wonderful addition to our team.”

  I rolled my eyes at his effusive praise. He did that whenever he wanted something and expected resistance from me. “Thanks, but you didn’t have to call to tell me that.”

  He chuckled. “Well, I do have another reason. Now that you’re almost finished there, I have a job in Australia for you two and –”

  “Sorry, no can do.” I shot Hamid a dark look and caught him smirking at me. He was in so much trouble.

  “But this is possibly an active Lilin,” Friedrich rushed to say. “You can’t pass that up.”

  “Normally, I’d agree with you, but I promised my family we’d be home for Thanksgiving. And I’m not missing the birth of my first niece.”

  “Niece?” he said, confused. “But you have no siblings.”

  I waved a dismissive hand. “Semantics. Anyway, I need to get back to work if we’re going to finish up here this week.”

  “But…”

  I didn’t hear the rest of his protest because I handed the phone back to Hamid with a glare that promised retribution. He knew I didn’t have the patience or diplomacy to deal with the Council, except for Tristan.

  I walked over to one of the Jeeps and grabbed a bottle of water from a cooler in the back. I was taking a long drink when Hamid joined me.

  “I think we’re done here for tonight,” he said, taking a bottle for himself. “We’ll head back to the hotel soon.”

  I looked down at my blood-splattered clothes. “I could use a shower. And I want to pick up my bike along the way.”

  He set his bottle down on the bumper and pulled me into his arms. “You were amazing tonight.”

  I gave him a saucy smile. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  His eyes darkened with desire. “Is that so?”

  “Jordan, Hamid,” Mario called to us from his truck. “Our new Gulak friend just told us where to find two more holding facilities. Feel like taking another ride?”

  I looked at Hamid as the thrill of the hunt began to fill me again. “What do you say? I’ll even let you kill a few this time.”

  “If it makes you happy, you can have all the kills.” He pressed a quick kiss to my lips.

  I sighed dreamily. “You say the sweetest things.”

  ~ The End ~

  Author Note

  If you enjoyed Hellion, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased the book. You can also drop me a line at my website or Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I’d love to hear from you.

  http://www.karenlynchnl.com

  https://www.facebook.com/KarenLynch.Author

  https://twitter.com/karenlynchNL

  https://www.instagram.com/karenlynchnl

  Books in this series:

  Relentless (Book 1)

  Refuge (Book 2)

  Rogue (Book 3)

  Warrior (Book 4) The trilogy in Nikolas’s POV

  Haven (Book 5) Roland’s story

  Fated (Book 6) Chris’s story

  Hellion (Book 7) Jordan’s story

  About the Author

  When she is not writing, Karen Lynch can be found reading and baking. A native of Newfoundland, Canada, she currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her cats and two crazy lovable German Shepherds: Rudy and Sophie.

  Bonus Scene

  If you have jumped ahead to read this scene before Hellion, I encourage you to read the book first. The events in the bonus scene take place after Hellion, so the scene will be much more enjoyable after you’ve read the book.

  A soft thump pulled me from the reports I was reading, and I frowned at the stairs that led to our bedroom on the second floor. Sara was napping before dinner, and if those imps woke her, they were going to get an earful from me. She was almost full-term, and she barely slept through the night anymore. Fae pregnancies were twelve months long, and the last quarter of Sara’s had been hard on her. She needed all the rest she could get.

  The noise came again. I laid my tablet on the couch and quietly climbed the stairs, ready to chuck the little fiends out the window. It wouldn’t hurt them, but it would give me a small bit of satisfaction.

  Our bedroom door was open, and I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room for the source of the noise. But there was no sign of the little demons. My gaze landed on the bed, where I’d left my tired mate an hour ago, only to find it empty.

  I felt a moment of fear that Sara had jumped to the middle of nowhere again like she had last Christmas. I quickly came to my senses when I realized I could still feel her. Besides, Eldeorin had put a ward on her to make sure that didn’t happen again during the pregnancy.

  “Darn it,” said her muffled voice.

  I walked to the nursery I’d built on to our bedroom this summer, smiling when I found her bent over trying to reach a bottle of baby powder on the floor. Her belly was too large to allow her much agility, and she couldn’t quite get her fingers around the bottle.

  “You’re supposed to be resting,” I scolded as I crossed the room to her. I picked up the bottle and set it on the dresser next to the changing table. Then I took her in my arms and kissed the top of her head.

  “I couldn’t sleep. I keep feeling like I’m missing something.” She sighed and rested her head against my chest.

  “Between my mother and yours, we have everything a new baby could need. If either of them sends us one more thing, I’ll have to build another addition onto the house.”

  She yawned. “You’re right. I’m being silly. Stupid pregnancy brain.”

  “I love your brain and every other part of you.”

  She tilted her head up and made a face. “My belly is the size of a whale. I can’t even touch my toes anymore.”

  Laughing, I carefully lifted her into my arms and kissed her pouting lips. “You’ve never been more beautiful to me.”

  “You’re supposed to say that,” she said as I carried her back to the bed and tucked her in. When I started to stand, she grabbed my hand and tugged me down beside her. She rolled onto her side, and I spooned her. It was the only position that was comfortable for her these days. I placed my hand over hers and laced our fingers. She sighed and snuggled closer to me.

  “If you’re too tired to go up to the stronghold for dinner, we can stay here,” I said against her hair.

  “And miss Thanksgiving? No way.”

  I smiled at her vehement reply. Sara loved holidays and being surrounded by family and friends. Thanksgiving and Christmas had been quiet for her growing up, and she was determined to make up for that now. She would have been at the stronghold all day if I hadn’t insisted we stay here until dinner. Otherwise, she would have worn herself out and fallen asleep before the first course was served.

  The baby moved under our joined hands, and Sara shifted slightly. “She’s restless today.”

  “Are you uncomfortable?”

  “I’m perfect as long as you hold me like this.”

  Contentment filled me as I held close the two people I loved more than my own life. Listening to Sara’s breathing even out, I thought briefly of the reports I was supposed to go through and quickly dismissed them. Nothing was more important than Sara’s welfare, and right now, she needed to rest.

  Two hours later, I gently roused my sleeping mate and told her it was time to go. I helped her up, and in less than ten minutes, she was dressed and ready to leave.

  Outside, Hugo and Woolf lifted their heads from where they were dozing on the porch. Their tails wagged, but they didn’t jump up and rush at Sara like they used to. The hellhounds had been subdued ever since we came home in September, and I wondered if they could sense she wasn’t strong enough to play with them now. If anything, they’d become even more protective of her, rarely leaving the porch when she was in the house.

  I moved to pick up Sara and carry her to the SUV, but she waved me off.

  “The walk will do me good.” She took a deep breath of cold air. “Hmm. It’s going to snow soon. Day after tomorrow.”

  “How much?” I was used to her weather predictions now, and she was never wrong.

  “Just a few flurries but it feels like we’re going to have a lot of snow this winter.”

  Smiling, I took her arm and helped her off the step. “I’ll make sure we have plenty of firewood on hand.”

  Escorted by the hellhounds, we took our time walking along the path by the lake that led to the clearing where the SUV was parked. As we rounded the lake, a reflection in its glassy surface drew my gaze to the small white domed structure on the far side. The faeries called it a birthing hut, and Eldeorin had erected it a few days ago in preparation for Sara’s delivery. When the time came, only Sara and the faeries would be allowed inside the hut, which was specially warded for her delivery.

  My stomach clenched every time I thought about not being with Sara when she brought our baby into the world. According to Eldeorin, she would be unable to control her power or the baby’s, so I had to be content with staying outside until it was safe to go in.

  The ride to the main building of the stronghold was short, and we had a welcoming party waiting for us on the front steps. Before I’d pulled to a complete stop, my mother and Madeline were at the passenger door of the SUV, ready to help Sara out of the vehicle. Sara didn’t like everyone fussing over her, but she smiled sweetly and let them assist her.

  Sara’s relationship with her mother had improved a lot in the last year. When Sara found out she was pregnant, Madeline had been there to offer the guidance and advice that only a mother can give. She was trying hard to make up for the lost years and the pain she’d caused her daughter. And Sara, whose capacity for love and forgiveness was boundless, had opened her heart to the mother she had been estranged from for most of her life. They weren’t as close as my mother and me, but I could see them getting there eventually.

  I followed the three of them into the main hall, which had been decorated for the holiday season. Music and laughter spilled from the dining room, and I entered it to find Sara already surrounded by Nate, Tristan, Chris, Beth, and our parents. Other Westhorne residents stood around the room talking amongst themselves.

  “You look tired. Are you getting enough sleep?” asked Nate, who was visiting from his home in Asheville, North Carolina. He’d traveled quite a lot the last few years until he found a place this summer where he wanted to settle down again. Sara didn’t like him being so far away, but she understood his need to be around other humans and people who didn’t look half his age. He seemed happy there, which was all that mattered.

  Sara laughed softly and hugged her uncle. “You sound like Nikolas. And yes, I’m well-rested. Nikolas made sure of it.”

  “You never tell a girl she looks tired, Nate,” chided a voice from behind me. I smiled when Jordan nudged me with her elbow as she went by.

  Hamid stopped beside me as Jordan squeezed between Chris and Nate to get to Sara. I’d known Hamid a long time, but I’d never seen him look so relaxed. It wasn’t exactly the state of mind I would have expected from Jordan’s mate.

  “Where are you off to after the holiday?” I asked him.

  “Australia,” he said absently, never taking his eyes off the blonde who had just said something to make the people around her laugh.

  I chuckled. He had that newly-mated look, the same one I’d probably worn for at least a year. He was so fixated on his mate that he was barely paying attention to anyone else in the room. I’d been surprised when he and Jordan had bonded, but seeing them together, it was clear they were a perfect match.

  Hamid tore his gaze from Jordan to glance at me. “The Council wants us to go to Australia. I have made plans to go to Japan after that.”

  “Japan? I haven’t heard of any trouble there.”

  “There isn’t. I’ve arranged for Jordan to train with Daigo for six months.”

  “Ah.” I nodded as understanding dawned.

  Daigo Matsui was one of our oldest living samurai warriors. I’d trained with him a long time ago, and Jordan had asked me about him during our sparring sessions. I knew it was her dream to train with one of our samurai someday.

  “I’m surprised she’s not bouncing off the walls with excitement,” I joked.

  Hamid’s gaze went back to Jordan. “She doesn’t know about it yet. It is to be a surprise.”

  “You know her well.” I smiled, imagining Jordan’s reaction when he told her. Warriors waited years to get to train with Daigo. Hamid must have called in some big favors to get her in so quickly.

  Chris left the others to join us. He and Beth had gotten home yesterday from Alberta, where they were setting up the first of the three new command centers we were establishing in Canada. Sara and I hadn’t seen our friends since we’d finished the Chicago command center in August.

  “How are things coming along in Canada?” Hamid asked him.

  “Good. We’re ahead of schedule, actually. I think we’ll have all three centers set up by next June at this rate.”

  With half an ear, I listened to them talk about the new command centers as I watched Sara to make sure she wasn’t showing any signs of fatigue. She tired so easily these days, and I knew she wouldn’t listen to her body in all the holiday excitement.