The sun came up over the horizon and shown through the window. It slid up the bed and rested on his face. Taking a deep breath, Aedan opened his eyes and looked down at the woman next to him. She was still curled up next to him and her arm had stretched across his chest in the middle of the night. He caught her hand and began massaging her limber fingers.

Her fingers laced between his and he brushed his lips along hers. He caught the content sigh and watched her slowly reveal her brown eyes. She slid her free fingers through his hair and he captured her sweet lips again. Her moan echoed in his ears and blended with a classical ring tone. Growling, he pulled back and rolled away from her.

Aine watched him dig through his jacket and pull out a cell. He flipped it open and shoved a hand through his hair. Sitting up, she watched the man walk up onto the deck and close the door behind him. A frown crept across her mouth and she closed her eyes. Her fingers clutched the rings around her neck and she forced her eyes open.

Slowly she unfastened the chain around her neck and pulled the necklace off. The rings flashed in the sunlight and she took a deep breath. She looked around the cabin and climbed out of bed. Quietly she dug through her drawers and found the bag she used for hunting. She opened the bag and pulled out a small yellow envelope.

She slid the chain and rings into the bag and looked at the ring on her finger. Closing her eyes, she slid the metal off her skin and stared at the old engravings. She dropped the ring into the envelope and closed the flap. They rested in her bag and she pulled out her hunting list. Getting to her feet, she walked over to the counter and grabbed a pencil.

She returned to the bed and wrapped the covers over her legs. The paper lay sprawled across her curled up legs and she began marking off the removed targets. The door opened and Aedan walked in as she removed her latest kills. He slid the cell back into his jacket and studied her bent form. She brushed fallen blonde strands behind her ear and he caught the naked hand.

He caught her moving hand and she looked up slowly. His eyes studied her hand and she let her pencil rest on the paper.

"Where is the ring?"

She waited until he looked at her and said "I didn't need it anymore."

Her brown eyes stared back at him and he gently released her hand. She caught his wrist and pulled him down to her. Her lips ran over his and he felt his body harden. She slid her fingers through his hair and he pulled away.

"What are you doing?"

She looked back at the paper and said "Marking my progress."

He picked the paper and pencil up and carried them to the counter. She watched him slowly turn back to her and he shoved a hand through his hair. Quietly he returned to the bed and sat down beside her. She felt his arms slip around her warm body and his head rest on hers.

"Who called?"

He closed his eyes and sighed "Your cousin."

"You get reception out here?"

He smirked and said "I get it everywhere."

She looked into his brown gaze and felt his gaze skim her face. She wrapped her arms around his neck and slid her fingers up through his hair. His mouth brushed hers and she let his taste push her thoughts aside. He pulled her against him and she straddled his hips as he rested on his back. His hands slid along her arms and captured her golden hair.

He looked up into her fiery stare and said "This is a dream."

She smiled and lowered her mouth to his. He moaned when her tongue brushed his and her fingers slid along his muscular chest. His eyes opened on contact and he rolled her beneath him with her laughter filling his ears.

___________________________________________________________

The boat pulled into port and shouting from nearby ships woke her. Aine stretched her arms above her head and rolled her shoulders back. She let out a sigh of contentment and pushed herself up on the warm bed. She looked around the cabin and leaned over the bed to grab her clothes. Slowly she redressed and climbed to her feet.

She was lacing up her boots when the man that had left her so satisfied and content appeared at the stairs. His hair was wind blown and his sun kissed skin made her blood race. He leaned one hip against the door jam and crossed his strong arms across his chest.

"You look rested."

She stood up and slid her hands through her free hair. He watched the blonde locks fall down her back. She grabbed her hair tie and pulled her hair out of her face. Aedan watched her grab her bag and leather jacket. She slid the jacket on and pulled the bag over her shoulder.

Quietly she approached him and asked "You docked?"

He nodded and slid his eyes over her. She caught the look in his eyes and felt her breath catch. The man had destroyed all her walls and now had her emotions jumping with his hungry gazes. He brushed one hand along her firm jaw and brushed his thumb over her lower lip.

"Your welcoming committee is waiting for you on the dock."

"You're staying here?"

He smirked and said "Only if you want me to."

The smile flashed briefly over her face and he followed her up onto the deck. Belenus stood waiting silently and she rubbed his ear. Aedan handed over her sunglasses and she slid them into place. Quietly she walked to the side of the boat and hopped off onto the dock. A woman dressed in a earth tone summer dress shook her hand and introduced the other people.

Aine felt Belenus press his head against her leg and rubbed his ear. He leaned into the caress and she remembered another member on the boat that leaned into her caress earlier today. Her eyes wandered back to the silent blonde man on the deck and she caught the nod. She returned her focus to the people in front of her and followed them down the dock. She held onto the choker resting loosely around Belenus's neck and walked surrounded by the people.

They guided her to their shelter and she was led to the conference room. Taking a seat in a chair by a vacant desk, she ran her fingers over Belenus's head and he let out a sigh. She leaned her head back and took a deep breath. The door opened and she watched the leader of this group of survivors. His black hair was pulled back at his neck and the scar from his last fight still appeared red and painful.

He took a seat behind his desk and asked "Did you get everything settled?"

She opened her bag and slid the paperwork across the desk. He unfolded the paper and ran his fingers over each marked off target.

"I see you got all of them listened but there is one error."

Her spine stiffened and she asked "What?"

He slid the paper back to her and leaned back in his chair. He bridged his fingers together and took a deep breath. His eyes swept over her refreshed face and he found the woman more alluring than he remembered. She seemed to blossomed despite her demanding job. Her brown eyes narrowed and he forced his mind back onto topic.

"Coyle."

Her eyes became blank and she said "He's dead."

The man shook his head and said "My contacts say otherwise."

Her fist hit the top of his desk and she growled "He's dead."

"I need you to confirm it."

He grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down an address. Silently he put the pen down and slid the paper across the desk. She took the address and looked at the numbers. Her mind was spinning and the rage was boiling beneath her skin.

"When?"

The man studied the wall she had slid behind and sighed.

"My wife is making dinner so you can't leave until tomorrow."

She shoved the paper into her pocket and walked to the door. Her hand rested on the doorknob and she took a deep breath.

"We'll see you tonight."

"We?"

She turned back to the man. He was leaning forward in his chair and resting his chin on his folded hands.

"Aedan and me."

The man smirked and asked "The man who killed your father."

"You did your research."

He nodded and said "That's part of your background check."

The man's smirk stretched into a smile and he said "Make sure to bring Belenus. The kids do love him."

She shook her head and pushed the door open. As it closed behind her the man leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh. The woman's refreshed appearance had disappeared when he had given her the bad news. He closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He didn't want to believe it was possible but his sources were never wrong in this realm.

For the sake of Aine's sanity he hoped she could prove them wrong. She had spent so long overcoming the grip Coyle's death had on her and her purging vow had made it harder for her to recover. He picked up a picture from his desk and studied the young woman smiling back at him whim his arms around her. He ran his fingers along her bright smile and let out a rugged moan.

'I'm sorry Sis.'