Page 41 of Hunter's Game
“While fighting shadow empires and collecting ancient artifacts,” Katherine added dryly. “Very Romeo and Juliet. If Shakespeare wrote urban fantasy.”
“Speaking of fighting.” Hunter’s voice turned serious as he studied the tablets. “These things are still dangerous, even if we understand their purpose better than Romano does. The power they channel...”
“Could be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands,” Eden finished. “Which is why we wererecruited for this project. Why my family was trained to work with this technology safely.”
“And now we know why Romano’s so obsessed with studying genetic markers.” Katherine’s fingers flew across keyboards as she documented everything. “He’s not just looking for individuals with specific aptitudes—he’s looking for compatible combinations. Ways to multiply effectiveness through specialized teams.”
“Like us,” Eden acknowledged as she and Hunter coordinated their approach. “Different expertise working together to maintain security in ways neither could achieve alone.”
“Romantic.” Katherine’s voice carried warning. “But also incredibly dangerous. If Romano figures out how certain skill combinations enhance operational effectiveness...”
“Then we make sure he never gets the chance.” Hunter’s smile was pure predator. “By taking down his entire operation before he can use that knowledge.”
Eden felt her confidence grow as they made plans, their strategy developing with remarkable efficiency. Through it all, Hunter’s touch grounded her, his tactical expertise complementing her more analytical approach.
“You know this changes everything.” Katherine's voice was thoughtful as she monitored their progress. “Not just our plans for stopping Romano, but our understanding of what these artifacts were really designed for.”
“They're meant to facilitate collaboration between specialized teams,” Eden realized with growing certainty. “To combine different expertise in ways that maintain proper oversight.”
“While preventing any one group from gaining too much control,” Hunter added. “By bringing together people with complementary skills rather than competing interests.”
The tablets’ indicator lights showed increased activity as they worked, the sophisticated sensors reacting to their coordinated efforts. Eden recognized how their careful analysis was creating new strategic possibilities, potential scenarios developing as they processed more information.
“Well.” Katherine’s smile was calculating as she documented the effects. “Sarah would certainly appreciate the irony. Romano’s spent years trying to understand how different bloodlines might work together...”
“While the answer was right in front of him.” Eden felt Hunter’s silent laughter where they touched. “In the very outlaws he’s been fighting.”
“Speaking of fighting.” Hunter’s voice turned granite. “We still need to deal with whatever forces he sends after these artifacts. Now that we’ve stolen them...”
“Now we use them exactly as intended.” Eden felt her personal power settle into new patterns as she made plans. “To restore balance by exposing truth. To serve justice rather than corruption.”
“With help from certain compatible bloodlines?” Katherine’s amusement carried clearly.
Instead of answering, Eden pulled Hunter down for another kiss. The artifacts’ effects intensified when they worked together, his presence somehow amplifying the technology’s response to her genetic markers in ways that Eden couldn’t yet make sense of.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Katherine’s voice turned thoughtful as she studied readings. “Though we should probably figure out exactly what happens when you two combine genetic markers before we try anything too ambitious.”
“Ambitious like taking down an international shadow empire?” Hunter’s smile was dangerous as he kept Eden close. “While dealing with whatever other specialized operatives Romano sends after us?”
“Exactly.” Katherine’s satisfaction was clear as she documented everything. “Though something tells me ambition runs in both your bloodlines.”
Eden felt excitement hum through her veins as they made plans. Whatever came next would be dangerous. Romano wouldn’t take the theft of his artifacts lightly, especially now that she and Katherine were working together.
But for the first time since finding her mother’s body, Eden felt truly prepared for the fight ahead. She had Katherine’s fierce intelligence, her own developing expertise, and now Hunter’scomplementary abilities helping stabilize and strengthen their gifts.
Their strategic planning came together smoothly as they worked, their coordinated approach showing the effectiveness of their partnership.
The war was about to enter a new phase.
And this time, they had advantages Romano never anticipated.
After all, some skills were meant to complement each other.
Some families were trained to maintain oversight rather than build empires.
Some loves were written in power and probability rather than simple attraction. And whatever was building between them was changing everything.
God have mercy on those who attempted to intervene. Because Eden and Katherine were women who protected balance. Blind Jacks protected powered bloodlines. And together? They were about to rewrite the rules of reality itself.
