Claiming His Unexpected Baby (Assassins Guild #2) - Michelle Howard Page 0,48

have to contact. He does not get away with this, Sulen.”

Garik took off again, leaving Sulen behind with the truth of his words. Time was ticking, Fleur needed her father and it wasn’t Roan. She needed him. Filled with a rush of determination to not fail her, Sulen started sending out comms to all of his assassin compatriots.

As soon as he’d sent out the last emergency message, his comm began a continuous vibration. Responses piled in, message after message of his peers offering their services immediately. A sense of purpose filled him. Scrolling through the names, Sulen selected the one with unparalleled tracking abilities due to his genetic traits.

He entered the correct comm code and the call was picked up instantly. “When and where do you need me, Sulen?”

His pulse steadied and Sulen finally felt in control since receiving Garik’s call. Amar. His skills were exactly what he needed. “I’m on Covard, the Gerelin colony. Faster is better. There’s a little girl’s life on the line.”

“Yours?” Amar asked, surprise reflected in the question.

“Yes.” As far as Sulen was concerned, Fleur was his.

“On my way.”

Not willing to go back and see the disappointment on Amelie’s face, Sulen headed toward the woods. He’d do his best tracking until Amar arrived. It could be several hours depending on how far Amar was. Sulen had no intentions of waiting when Fleur could be terrified.

***

It was well into the night and the sun had gone down when Sulen received Amar’s comm. A simple message scrolled over the screen.

I’m here and tracking. I found your marks easily.

Good. Sulen had deliberately left signs for Amar to be able to catch up to him quickly. Within minutes a low whistle came from above. Sulen tipped his head back and the other assassin dropped down from a cluster of trees.

Amar walked toward Sulen and flicked his hands, retracting the deadly claws he’d more than likely used to jump from tree to tree to reach Sulen. Sandy blond hair ruffled in the cool night air. Temperatures were falling and it would soon be cold. Too cold for a little girl who tended to wear frilly skirts for twirling.

“Any more info?” Amar asked when he was close enough their voices wouldn’t carry.

“Nothing. Garik and I checked around the home but we feel certain he’d use the woods to hide.” If Roan thought they’d exhaust the search and he’d be able to hide on the ambassador’s ship when they departed, he was sadly mistaken.

Amar closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. His nostrils flared and a low rumble rolled forth. “Blood. Not a lot.”

He opened his eyes and pointed toward the right. It was the direction Sulen had been heading. They both took off at a run, Amar soon outpacing Sulen with his animal grace and speed.

The sound of crying reached them before they caught sight of anything. Amar veered sharply to the left and leaped for the nearest tree, his claws silent as he scrabbled to the top, leaving Sulen behind.

Sulen dropped to a crouch fighting the urge to burst into the clearing and beat Roan within an inch of his life.

“Shut up! Let me think!” Roan screamed, digging his fingers in his hair as he walked back and forth in front of Fleur.

She was sitting on the ground, her yellow skirt torn and flared about her legs. Leaves stuck to her hair and her lips trembled while she worked to still her whimpers. Her dark hair was in a tumble, the lone ponytail covered in more leaves and bramble.

For all her energy and mischievous ways, Sulen had never seen Fleur in such disarray. She worked hard at her princess angle and loved to be neat and flashy.

“I wanna go home,” Fleur whispered stubbornly, kicking her legs out.

Roan spun around and glared. “You’re going with me.”

“I want my mommy.” With a pout, Fleur jumped to her feet and stomped. “You’re mean and a bad man.”

“Aviana will be your mommy and I’m not a bad man. I’m your daddy.”

Hurt flashed on Fleur’s face and her bottom lip poked out. Then she shook her head and backed up. The stubborn and brave nature Sulen admired came back in full force. “You’re bad. My daddy hugs me. He picks me up and smiles at me. You yell.”

“That bastard is not your father!” Roan screamed, proving Fleur’s words about yelling. “I am! And no test your lying mom forges will change that.”

He strode the two steps to Fleur and grabbed her arm, shaking it while he