Amber Eyes (Amber Eyes #1)(47)

Duncan sighed. “If it is her, it would explain a hell of a lot. Hunter’s protectiveness of her and why they were so damn secretive. You have to be prepared for the possibility that she won’t remember you and that they won’t welcome you asking questions.”

“I have to see her for myself,”Aliyah said fiercely.

“I know, sweetheart. We’ll go in the morning.”

“No. We go now. I won’t sleep until I see her.”

Duncan studied her in resignation. She was stubborn as hell when she set her mind to something, and if he didn’t take her, he knew she’d shift into a damn cheetah and take off without him. And that was going to happen over his dead body.

“All right,”he said with a sigh. “We’ll go now. But you have to promise me you’ll stay behind me until I say it’s safe. Do you promise?”

She nodded solemnly and then ran around to get into the passenger seat of his truck. Duncan blew out his breath and climbed back into the driver’s seat. So much for a nice evening at home and maybe some welcome home sex.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Kaya lay on the couch between Hunter and Jericho as a fire blazed in the hearth to ward off the evening chill. She was tired and wanted nothing more than to drift off to sleep surrounded by their heat and their love, but she didn’t want the night to end.

They’d talked long into the evening. Hunter and Jericho had told her about the days in the hospital. Hunter’s despair when it looked as though he wouldn’t walk again and when he thought Jericho was dying. And then Jericho waking to discover so many months had passed and his panic that Kaya wouldn’t be there when they got back.

They talked about the coming baby and how excited they were at the prospect of having a daughter to spoil and protect. Hunter and Jericho had a million questions about raising a child who could shift to an animal. How were they to prevent the same thing happening to their daughter as what happened to Kaya? The idea terrified them all, and Hunter had quickly changed the subject when he’d seen the upset it caused Kaya.

The room had grown quiet, and the fire had burned down to a glowing bed of coals when a knock sounded at the door.

Hunter went stiff as a board.

“What the hell?”Jericho bit out.

“Stay here,”Hunter ordered in a steely voice. “I’ll go see who it is.”He cast a look at Jericho, and Jericho nodded as the two communicated silently. As Hunter got up to go to the door, Jericho was already getting up and moving Kaya across the room toward the shadows of the kitchen and in proximity of the back porch.

Hunter retrieved his pistol from the mantel and went to the door. He opened it an inch and peered through the crack into the night.

“Hunter, it’s me, Duncan.”

Hunter relaxed but still kept the door as a barrier between him and the sheriff.

“What brings you up here at this time of night?”

Duncan sighed. “Can I come in?”

Reluctantly, Hunter opened the door and allowed Duncan inside. Jericho moved in front of Kaya, and Hunter positioned himself between Duncan and Jericho.

It wasn’t lost on Duncan.

“Look I understand your caution, but I’m not here for any trouble. I just need to ask you a few questions.”

“Like?”Hunter asked.

Duncan glanced over at Jericho who stood unsmiling in the shadows.

“About Kaya.”

Hunter frowned. “I’m pretty damn certain I never told you her name, and I know she didn’t say anything to you. Want to tell me how you came up with it?”

“I need you to answer some questions for me first. Actually I’d prefer it if Kaya would talk to me herself.”

Hunter shook his head even as Jericho bristled menacingly.

“Not going to happen,”Hunter said evenly.

“Look, I understand. Believe me, I understand. I wouldn’t allow Aliyah in this kind of situation either.”

“Who the hell is Aliyah?”Hunter asked.

Behind Jericho, Kaya stiffened and curled her fingers into Jericho’s shirt. He reached behind for her hand and squeezed reassuringly. Holding onto his hand, she moved from behind him to stare at Duncan. Duncan looked back at her expectantly, as if he were waiting for a reaction.

Hunter cursed and moved closer to Kaya, so that he and Jericho flanked her protectively.

“Aliyah is my wife,”Duncan said evenly. “Aliyah Carver was her name before she married me. Does that ring a bell, Kaya?”

“Why the hell should it?”Jericho snarled.

Kaya put a reassuring hand on Jericho’s arm and then moved forward into the light.

“Why are you asking me about this woman?”

“Do you remember her?”Duncan asked in a gentle voice.

Her brow furrowed. “Why should I remember her?”

“Damn good question,”Hunter muttered. “I don’t like this. Duncan, get to your point or get the hell out. I don’t want you upsetting Kaya. She’s already been through enough.”

“Because she’s like you,”Duncan said, ignoring Hunter.

Kaya froze and retreated behind Duncan and Jericho once more.

“Get out,”Hunter said in a dangerously low voice.

Jericho put both his arms behind him, pulling her against his back. She laid her cheek against his shirt, her breaths sticking in her throat. How had he known? What would happen to her now? Was he here to take her?