The truck passed under the opening in the stone wall that fortified three sides of the fortress. Core swiftly analyzed the defenses. The men relied heavily on the wall to protect the interior structures. There were two turrets, each containing a man and a large mounted weapon.

Core inspected the front of the fortress when the truck pulled to a stop. Another mercenary soldier stood near the entrance. So far, he’d counted almost a dozen men.

The ones called Carter and Bradley jumped out of the truck. Owens motioned for him to follow the two men. He rose and jumped to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Owens and the rest of the men. Then he recognized Markham standing in the doorway. RITA had displayed his image when they were searching for Merrick.

Core started to take a step forward when Owens stepped in his way. He looked down at the man. Owens sneered.

“You don’t move unless I say you can move,” Owens gloated.

Core’s hand shot out and gripped the man’s throat. He lifted Owens off his feet until the smaller man’s head was almost level with his. Owens’ feet dangled in the air and he frantically clawed at Core’s hand as it slowly crushed his windpipe.

“Tell me to move now,” Core baited.

“Stand down,” Markham loudly ordered when the other soldiers surrounded him.

Core looked back at Markham when he lifted up a small black device for Core to see.

“I would cooperate—unless your feelings for Ms. Lennox aren’t as strong as I thought. If that is the case, she would be of no more use to me,” Markham said.

With a low snarl, Core tossed Owens body away from him. Owens rolled several times before he lay still in the dirt. Core returned his attention to Markham.

“I am here. State what you want,” Core ordered.

“I make the rules here. What is your name, alien?” Markham demanded.

Core sighed. The human would have the upper hand as long as he held the device that could kill Avery, but Markham would never truly be in charge—not as long as Core was alive.

“I am Core Ta’Duran,” he replied.

Markham nodded in satisfaction and turned his attention to Carter. The group of soldiers was still standing ready to shoot him.

“Restrain him, scan him for weapons again, then escort him to my study,” Markham ordered.

“Yes, sir. What about Owens?” Carter asked, nodding to his fallen comrade.

Markham waved a dismissive hand in the direction of the unconscious man. “If he wakes, send him out first. I have no use for weak men,” he replied before turning and disappearing back inside the fortress.

Carter turned to him, and gestured with the tip of his gun. Core started to raise his arms in front of him when Carter shook his head.

“Behind you. I’m not going to risk you breaking my neck. Cuff him,” Carter growled.

Core placed his hands behind his back. He grinned when the man trying to restrain him cursed. The silver cuffs they had were not large enough to go around his wrists. A moment later, he felt a tug and the bite of plastic into his skin. They had used a tie similar to the ones Borj told him Hannah had used on him. Unlike Borj, though, they didn’t hit him upside the head with a frying pan and knock him out. That would be their first of many mistakes.

Carter motioned for a man to come forward. The man swept a long, flat detection wand over Core’s body, then he stepped back. A second man gingerly patted him down, then moved back, and nodded to Carter. Carter motioned toward the steps leading into the fortress.

He strode up the steps and into the fortress. Unlike the medieval exterior, the inside was ultra-modern. Polished marble floors gleamed under hand woven carpet runners. Paintings, sculptures, and elegant porcelain vases—many of which he suspected were valuable to humans—were displayed throughout the interior. He focused on the large center staircase when Carter began climbing the steps and followed when Bradley prodded the tip of his weapon into his back.

At the top of the staircase, the group turned to the left. They proceeded down the large corridor to the double doors at the end of the passage. Core mentally catalogued the details of the room’s interior when they entered. The stuffed wildlife carcasses were an atrocity. This man clearly had no respect for anyone but himself.

Markham stood near the fireplace, and when the human didn’t speak, Core looked more closely at the frozen form of the woman in the display case, then averted his eyes from the grotesque display. Markham had turned and was watching him with an assessing expression.

“I would offer you a drink, but something tells me now is not the time to release you,” Markham said with an almost amused smile.

“I can kill you without spilling the liquor,” Core taunted.

Markham chuckled. “I’m sure you could,” he replied.

Core’s gaze moved to Markham’s hand. He was turning the small black box over and over in his hand. When Markham noticed where Core was looking, he lifted the box.

“An insurance policy,” Markham commented before he slid the box into the pocket of his jacket.

“What do you want?” Core demanded.

Markham walked away from the fireplace and over to the large desk. His fingers trailed along the polished surface of the dark wood before he waved a hand at the painting. Core’s eyes followed the movement.

“I come from a family of hunters, Mr. Ta’Duran. Unlike my predecessors, the hunt is more than the thrill of the kill for me. I enjoy matching wits with my opponents. I’ve hunted and killed some of the most dangerous animals in the world, but, alas, I’ve grown bored.” Markham turned to face him. Core grimaced with disgust when Markham took his time looking at Core from head to toe. “When I found the other of your kind, I realized that there was finally a predator out there that might actually give me a challenge,” he said.

“You want to hunt me—like one of your animals?” Core questioned with a dawning sense of understanding.

“Yes. Two predators pitting their strengths, their skills, and their intelligence against each other,” Markham agreed.

“Why didn’t you hunt Merrick when you had the chance?” he asked.

Distaste crossed Markham’s face. “Unfortunately, I never mix business with pleasure. Once my client found out about your comrade, he offered a price that was too generous to refuse. There was a clause in my contract that I could… regain possession of Merrick when my client was finished with him. Sadly, it looked like the alien wouldn’t survive the good doctor’s treatment, but then,” he said with a smile, “CRI raided the complex and rescued the man—and the little housekeeper he was enamored with,” he added, waving his hand dismissively.

Core growled and Markham’s smile widened. “Imagine my delight when there was more than one alien at Banks’ cottage. Merrick may be gone now, but you’re here now, aren’t you? One of your kind steps out of the ring, and another steps in. Tell me, what is your species called?” Markham asked.

Core’s patience was beginning to wear thin. Avery was chained somewhere on the island with an explosive device inside her and Markham was acting as if they were having social hour. If Markham wanted to hunt, then it was time to start the game.

Clenching his fists, Core took a deep breath through his nose and flexed the muscles in his arms. The thick plastic bands cut into his skin, then they snapped. He casually pulled his wrists up and rubbed one of them.

“I come from a world of warriors. Our species is Prime. My world is called Baade. I am a leader of my clan. I do not care if you know this because by the time I am finished, every single one of you will be dead. If you think you are such a fierce hunter, then shut up and let the hunt begin,” Core snarled, allowing his teeth to elongate. The men behind Markham moved warily back several steps, but Markham just pulled the small black box out of his pocket and held it so that Core could see it, chuckling to himself as he did so.

“As a matter of sportsmanship and to make the hunt more interesting, I’m giving you a twenty minute head start before my men leave to kill Ms. Lennox. If she is still chained to the poles where we left her, she’ll die there. In forty-eight hours if she is still alive, I’m going to depress the button on this remote. The capsule implanted in her will explode and release an acid that will seep into her bloodstream, causing her to die an excruciatingly painful death,” Markham explained in a hard tone.

“What guarantee do I have that you won’t kill her sooner?” Core demanded.

Markham smiled. “None,” he replied before nodding to Carter. “Make sure he is escorted to the gate. The countdown starts the moment you pass through it.”

Core turned on his heel. He had to find Avery, get her to safety, and remove the capsule. Striding down the corridor, he ignored the men jogging to keep up with him. His focus was on his mate.

Once out in the courtyard, he paused and looked up. Markham was watching him from the upper window. Core glanced at the men warily watching him before he looked at the turrets. A sense of determination swept through him.

Avery, ku lei, I am coming he promised as he crossed under the arch. I need you to guide me to you,

A weak chuckle slipped into his mind. I’ll be chilling out and dreaming about how we’re going to kill all of these bastards until you get here, she tiredly responded.