Sword of Mercy by Sydney Addae Page A

pups and train them,” she said,
her voice low and sad.
    “Can’t is not acceptable,” Asia said. “What
are the loopholes?”
    “Why are those full-bloods following us?”
Hawke asked.
    Asia turned to see a large number of
motorcycles gaining on them. She glanced at Granira and then Niall.
Neither spoke. “What did you take?”
    Granira’s gaze met hers and for a long moment
she stared into Asia’s eyes. “Angus is here, good. I heard he had
returned, but hadn’t seen him.”
    Undeterred, Asia glanced at the cycles who
were much closer and then at Granira. “What. Did. You.
Take?”
    “I don’t have anything.”
    “I will ask for the last time. What did you
remove from Alpha Verrick’s?”
    Granira remained silent.
    “Pull over, let them have them both. We don’t
have time for this bullshit.”
    Hawke drove a little further, pulled onto a
side road and stopped. Within seconds the motorcycles surrounded
them.
    “Get out,” Hawke said.
    “No,” Niall said when Granira moved to open
the door. “They may take her again.”
    “Not my problem,” Hawke said.
    Asia watched the full-bloods get off the bikes
and head toward the car. She’d hoped Verrick would be with them so
they could discuss whatever was going on but didn’t see him. That
sucked. She opened and closed her hands in preparation.
    Hawke rolled the window down. “Is there a
problem?”
    “My Alpha requires the pups be
returned.”
    “What?” Hawke jerked and straightened in his
seat. “He wants what?”
    Asia mirrored his surprise and glanced at
Granira who sat quietly in the back seat. Inhaling, Asia didn’t
scent pups and wondered what the woman had done with
them.
    “The pups went missing when this one left.” He
pointed toward the back seat.
    Hawke opened the door and stood next to the
full-blood. “The reason I’m surprised by your request is I don’t
smell any pups, do you?” For the next few moments, every full-blood
inhaled and filtered scents including Hawke.
    “Do you smell any pups?”
    “No. But that does not change my orders. She
must return the pups.”
    Asia could hear the confusion in the man’s
voice and smiled. Hawke would attempt to handle this logically,
first. But if logic didn’t work, they’d fight.
    “Contact your Alpha, tell him I would turn the
woman over if there’s proof she has the pups. You can check the
car, the pups are not here.”
    The male nodded and looked away for a few
moments.
    “How do you know the pups are not in the
car ?” Asia asked.
    “I asked Niall, promised to leave
the both of them with these men if he lied. He swears the pups are
not here. But she did remove them from Verrick’s.”
    “Really? I didn’t realize Verrick
was a player in this game.”
    “Based on Niall’s ramblings, I
don’t think he’s a player, more like a suck up. Lancaster has
arrived in the country and you can bet Verrick has already told him
about our visit.”
    “Shit .”
    “My Alpha says I should search the car and if
the pups are not here, you may leave. Have them step out the
car.”
    Hawke waved everyone out the car. “ Take
everything you need, chances are Chacal is going to be out another
car. I hope you don’t mind riding a bike .”
    Asia chuckled through their link while
gathering all her things. She noticed Niall helped Granira do the
same. Their glances met and the older woman nodded, but continued
pushing things into her bag.
    “No, I love them. I have my eye on
the big red and black one near the road. Are we expecting
bluebirds, hybrids or something new?”
    “I don’t know what new toys Lancaster has
brought to field test. We’ll know in a few moments. I’m surprised
she told Niall about Lancaster and not us .” Hawke waved Asia
and the others closer to him before standing in front. Asia stood
behind Niall and Granira to watch Hawke’s back.
    “The last few weeks were too quiet I
suppose ,” Hawke said. The full-bloods moved closer, and
surrounded the car. No one opened