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  “We are warriors, not matchmakers.”

  Kerm stepped forward. “I am more familiar with the traditions in this country than Darrogh. I understand your concerns. Darrogh speaks the truth. We are here only to protect.”

  Tamsin glanced at all of the men. They seemed sincere enough and except for their leader Darrogh, she felt comfortable with them. It wouldn’t take them long to realize that she wasn’t in danger and then they’d leave.

  “You can stay, but remember, if I ask you to leave, you go.”

  “Of course.” Darrogh nodded. “We will obey your wishes. Now I need to secure this house so that we are aware of everyone who comes and goes.”

  “That shouldn’t take you too long.” Tamsin walked to the window. “I’m the only one who lives here, and I seldom go out during the day except to the park.”

  “Two men will accompany you.”

  Tamsin rolled her eyes. What a sight that would be. Two gorgeous giants walking beside her. The neighbors would immediately suspect something was wrong. Perhaps the park wasn’t such a good idea.

  “What happens when I go clubbing?”

  “Clubbing?” Darrogh’s voice held confusion.

  “It is a term for going out and partying,” Kerm said.

  Darrogh nodded. “Is this at a private house?”

  “It’s at a nightclub. I’m a member of several and if my father insists on knowing my actions, I think I should give you something to report back to him.”

  “Your father has not asked us to tell him your movements,” Darrogh said. “I need more information about your nighttime activity. Are there many people at these clubs?”

  “Hundreds.”

  “Then we would need to setup surveillance outside and accompany you inside.” Darrogh’s voice was serious. “We are a large team. We will be able to guard you no matter where you choose to go.”

  Tamsin grinned. “I might take you up on that challenge.”

  She couldn’t let these men or her father interfere with her life. Since she’d freed herself from her engagement to Winchester Nethercott and her father’s dynastic dreams, she’d been able to make her own decisions about her future. That future didn’t include being bound by the demands of Creighton’s Bank. Even though the bank had been in the family for centuries, she didn’t want the burden of continuing the traditions. She wanted to use her knowledge to make a difference in the world.

  She wouldn’t allow her father’s concerns to destroy her plans.

  When she’d turned twenty-five she had gained access to her trust fund and started to invest on her own. Soon she would see her dream of a bank that made a difference, come to fruition. Her father didn’t know what she’d done. As far as he was concerned she’d wasted the last year with partying and spending money. She’d guarded her privacy to ensure that nothing would stop her from her goal.

  “So we are clear on the rules.” Tamsin raised her hand and folded her fingers as she made each point. “You do not spy on me. You do not report my activities to my father. You do not interfere in my life. This is my house. You don’t question my actions.”

  Darrogh crossed his arms over his chest.

  A fission of doubt went through Tamsin. He was a formidable opponent and it might have been a mistake to challenge him. For several seconds there was silence and then she noticed a gleam of approval in his gaze.

  “I respect a woman who knows how to command.” Darrogh’s voice held admiration. “I am a Hunter and am bound by the Sacred Code. My team and I will abide by your commands except where your safety is concerned.”

  Tamsin released the breath she’d been holding. “I have your word.”

  “As long as you understand that if you are in danger, we will act as necessary.”

  Tamsin glanced at the rest of the men. They were as serious as Darrogh. She didn’t believe for a minute that she was in peril. Her father had dreamed up this ploy to gain access to her life. What did it matter? It couldn’t hurt to humor him as long as these men abided by her rules.

  Tamsin held out her hand to Darrogh. “We have a deal.”

  Darrogh looked down at her outstretched hand and paused before taking it in his. A jolt of electricity passed through her. It felt as if energy passed from Darrogh to her. There was a whisper of sensation at the back of her head and then it was gone. She inhaled a sharp breath and looked up at him.

  Darrogh scowled and released her hand as if she’d burned him.

  Whatever had happened, he’d felt it too.

  Tamsin straightened her shoulders and turned to the rest of the men. She’d have to be more careful around Darrogh. She didn’t understand what had passed between them and she had no intention of finding out. Keeping her distance from him was the best solution.

  “I’ll show you where you can sleep.” She forced her voice to remain steady.

  “We will not need much space.” Darrogh’s tone was gruff. “We will guard in shifts.”

  “I’ll put you all up on the top floor.” She headed toward the stairs. “It’s an open space, with a couple of futons. If you need more beds, then you’ll have to use the bedrooms downstairs.”

  When they reached the third floor she led them into the open area. There was a bathroom with a shower, closets, soft carpeting on the floor, and three futons that were set up as a seating area. The previous owners had used the space for a playroom and Tamsin had kept the space open. On the right side of the stairs was another room that was unfurnished.

  Tamsin opened the door of the spare room. “If you need extra space we can arrange to have a bed put into this room.”

  Darrogh stepped close and peered into the empty room. Tamsin’s heart started to beat fast and she gripped the door handle tighter. Her breath caught in her throat and she had to force herself to remain beside him.

  “We will set up our controls here.” Darrogh moved away.

  “There is a control room in the basement. That’s where the house’s security system is installed.”

  Darrogh glanced at Savis. “Will that be sufficient?”

  “I will connect into the system.” Savis clasped a black backpack and headed down the stairs.

  “These arrangements are more than adequate. Firbin and Kerm will set our gear up here. Breanon will scout the outside.” The men did as Darrogh asked and then he turned to her. “I need to see where you sleep.”

  “I sleep alone.” Tamsin’s voice rose. “No one is guarding me there.”

  “As you wish.” A nerve twitched in Darrogh’s jaw. “I want to make certain that the room is secure. We will guard you from the outside at night.”

  Tamsin shut the spare door with a quiet click. “I overreacted. I apologize.”

  “There is no need.” Darrogh followed her down the stairs. “I would never intrude on your personal space unless you were in danger.”

  Tamsin paused on the landing to the first floor. “I have your word on that?”

  “You have my vow.”

  Tamsin would have to accept that. She walked into the master retreat. It took up the whole first floor with a bedroom, ensuite, sitting room, and a private outdoor terrace. She’d decorated it in muted tones of cream, beige and slate gray. It was her sanctuary and the one place she could relax in. She waited while Darrogh looked into each room, testing the locks on the windows and walking out onto the terrace. He was there for several minutes before coming inside.

  “I would like to set up camera surveillance on the terrace,” Darrogh said. “I’ll have a man on the roof at all times too.”

  “Is that necessary?”

  “Yes.” Darrogh’s voice was firm.

  “My father thinks I can’t take care of myself. He’s wrong.”

  Darrogh nodded. “I understand your concerns. Every man of my team is committed to protecting you. We will keep you safe. You have no need to be worried.”

  Tamsin raised an eyebrow. “The only reason I’m allowing you to stay is because my father insisted. I have no intention
of relying on you for my safety. I trust no man.”

  Chapter 3

  It had been a week since Darrogh and his team had accepted the assignment of guarding Tamsin Creighton. She still did not trust their motives and she made no secret of that fact. Every night they had followed her from one play spot to the next. Tonight was no different. They were in Beauvie’s, an exclusive, members-only London nightclub.

  Colored strobe lights flashed to the beat of ear-shattering music.

  Bodies crowded the floor, gyrating to the deafening noise.

  It reminded him of the battlefield. The only thing missing was the smell of death. He did not understand humans. Why would they deliberately reproduce the sights and sounds of the frontlines of a war zone? Was it because they liked warfare or was it just a coincidence? Whatever the reason, the constant barrage of stimuli had his senses on full alert.

  Darrogh’s eyes narrowed as he focused on Tamsin. Her name was a constant litany in his head. He could not ignore the effect she had on him, but he was stronger than his fellow Hunters. He would not succumb to the lure of a woman. It was forbidden. A Hunter had no right being near women, much less feeling a connection to one. Some of the warriors in his unit had found mates, but he did not believe in the legends.

  She moved in and out of the flailing bodies as she made her way to the long steel bar at the edge of the dance floor. She was a vision of grace and poise in a short red dress that hugged her curves. Darrogh inhaled a quick breath and followed.

  She did not want him near.

  He ignored her rejection.

  Her protection was his job and he had never failed a mission before. She would not be the first to underestimate his abilities as a warrior. He reached her side and stood a step behind her. It was right and fitting for a Hunter to show deference to a woman. Despite customs being different on this planet, he had sworn to live and die by the Hunter’s code. Nothing would change that.

  “Leave me alone.”

  Her voice sent a frisson of heat through him.

  Darrogh ignored the sensation.

  “I cannot. My mission is to protect you.”

  “I’m not in danger here.”

  She swirled around and glared at him. Blue eyes flashed and even in the darkened club, Darrogh could see her wariness. Her reaction to him was always the same. It was not his place to judge her behavior, but he had observed that this was how she treated most of the men she encountered, except her father.

  “Your safety is my concern.”

  Darrogh kept his voice neutral. He had spent his life fighting among men on the frontlines and was used to barking orders. Since arriving on Earth, he had come to learn that women did not respond to the same tone of voice as men did.

  “It’s a waste of time.” She turned back to the bartender and waited until he presented her with a concoction of frothy pink liquid. She took a couple of sips before turning to face him. “I don’t know how you expect anyone to hurt me in this place.”

  “There are enough people here to do harm.”

  Tamsin took a step closer to him and looked up into his face. She was a tiny woman, barely reaching his shoulders. She stood near enough that he could smell the exotic perfume she was wearing and feel the brush of her breath against his neck.

  “And enough witnesses to ensure that they wouldn’t get away.” Tamsin pushed a finger into his chest. “My father’s worries are not mine. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t live by his rules anymore.”

  Darrogh glanced around the nightclub. It was a scene of constant motion and lights, a stark contrast to the elegance and quiet of Tamsin’s residence. Every day she spent in quiet seclusion at home, only to leave it for the noise and confusion of the nightclubs. Even though she laughed and danced, Darrogh sensed it was an act. He did not know if it was for his team’s or her father’s benefit.

  “To live by another’s rules can be a burden.” Darrogh looked down into Tamsin’s deep blue eyes, fighting the temptation to succumb to their lure. “That does not mean those rules are not necessary.”

  Tamsin opened her mouth to speak and then shut it. She continued to stare at him for several seconds before glancing away. “Have it your way. I’m going to the Ladies’ Room. Don’t follow me.”

  She took another gulp of her drink before handing it to him and walking away. Darrogh clenched his jaw. He was a warrior, not a servant. He had never had a charge who fought his security before. Tamsin might not think his protection was necessary, but her father did. He took a step forward and then stopped.

  His presence only antagonised her.

  She treated the rest of the team with relaxed tolerance.

  “Firbin, follow her. She has gone to the Ladies’ Room.”

  The ease of being able to mind connect with his fellow warriors was a relief on a mission like this. It would have been impossible to hear each other with all the noise and chaos of the nightclub. It was not the first time it had been a tactical advantage, and that was why it was a closely guarded secret among Hunters. Firbin was the youngest of their unit. He had taken to life on this planet quicker than the rest of them and had an ease of interaction with humans that Darrogh would never have.

  “Did she refuse your protection again?” Firbin’s words held a hint of curiosity.

  “Yes.” Honesty between warriors was necessary for survival. “My presence is unwelcome.”

  “She thinks you hover.”

  “How do you know this?”

  There were a few seconds of silence before Firbin answered. “She told Jehon.”

  The fact that Tamsin had spoken to Jehon about their protection was the first sign that she was accepting their presence. The soldier in him knew that he could use this to make their security more effective.

  “When did she communicate this?” Darrogh’s tone was clipped.

  “Before we entered this place. You were still with the vehicle. I did not think it was important.” Firbin’s voice held regret. “We would have told you at the debriefing this evening.”

  “I can use this information to keep her safe now.”

  “She is not pleased with your commands.”

  “A warrior does not take words personally. Survival depends on knowing everything, no matter how small.”

  “I have located Tamsin. She is exiting the restroom.”

  “Keep close.” Darrogh’s eyes strained through the crowd, searching until he spotted her. “If she prefers your company, then you can guard her tonight.”

  “It will be done.”

  Darrogh watched Firbin take his place behind Tamsin. The tightness in his chest still did not ease. He should be pleased that he had found a way to overcome her reluctance to having them guard her. Instead, his anxiety increased. His eyes scanned the overcrowded dance floor before looking up at the second-floor balcony that surrounded the main floor.

  It seemed as crowded as the main floor. Patrons were leaning over the railing with drinks in their hands and fingers pointed down below to the dancers. The crowds alone made this place difficult to provide protection. Add in the low lighting and flashes of strobes, and it was a nightmare. Darrogh’s only consolation was that it would be just as difficult for someone to abduct Tamsin from here as it was to protect her.

  He refused to let his thoughts linger on Tamsin’s harsh criticism. He had sensed since their first meeting that she was not comfortable with him. Her father’s insistence that she was in danger had not changed her attitude toward his security detail. She wanted them to leave her alone.

  She was a woman.

  Hunters obeyed women.

  Tamsin was human and unused to the ways of commanding warriors. He could not trust her to make the right decision. He did not even trust her to stay with them. She tried to escape their protection at least once a day. Today had been an easy one until they had come to her favorite night spot.

  Tamsin had been unusually compliant. She had not once tried to escape. He glanced around the floor searching for h
er, breathing a sigh of relief when he caught sight of her beside Firbin. She was leaning close and laughing, something she had never done with him.

  Darrogh crossed his arms and turned away. He did not want her to treat him like the others. He was in charge of the team and he needed to maintain control of the operation. If Tamsin was too friendly with him, he might be tempted to bend the rules. That could only lead to one thing. She would slip away from their protection and be at risk.

  Her father, Sir Robert Creighton, was paying a lot of money to have his daughter protected, and it was his job to stop any harm happening to Tamsin. It did not matter that she did not cooperate. He had seen enough combat to know how to defeat obstacles.

  Darrogh continued to survey the patrons in the club for the next half hour. Every few minutes he would locate Tamsin and ascertain that she was safe. He had just finished another assessment of the front entrance and dance floor when a familiar twinge of apprehension stopped him.

  A tingle of unease raced up his spine.

  It was a sensation he had not felt in over a year. In the past, the feeling had warned him of danger. He had learned never to ignore it because it had saved his life more than once.

  “Jehon, do you have anything unusual happening at the door?”

  “People are still arriving.” Jehon answered immediately.

  “Breanon report.”

  Breanon was doing surveillance outside. He was on the roof of a building across the street with a rifle trained on the road. He was one of the best marksmen in their unit. If anyone tried to snatch Tamsin his orders were to shoot them dead. The Sacred Code was very clear that there was only one outcome for someone doing harm to a woman. Death.

  “Cars are still arriving with guests. None of them are gaining access. They are lining up outside the building.”

  The knot of disquiet had settled in his stomach.

  “Firbin take Tamsin out of the club.”

  He headed toward Firbin. He would feel better once he was certain Tamsin was safe. She would be upset over his orders to leave, but he could not risk ignoring his gut. Something was not right about this place. He needed to get her to safety.