THE BOUNTY HUNTER LUNA

CHAPTER 6 - AINE'S POV

When I woke up in the morning, Emmet was half off his cot and half on mine, with his arm around me, which would explain why I was so warm, and why half the cot was on an angle, his body weight was making it dip.

He was breathing heavily, his eyelids fluttering from whatever dream he was having, but he looked peaceful.

I wasn't sure if I wanted a mate, but this need to be close to him was making it hard to pull away.

I reached out and gently pushed his messy black hair back, revealing his full face.

He had long dark lashes, and tiny freckles over his nose that you could only see from this close up. His lips were full and there was a small scan only his jawline.

Wondering where it came from, I reached out and gently ran my fingers along it.

Flashes sprang into my mind, of a small boy running through a corridor and a woman in dark maroon robes chasing after him as he giggled. He must have only been 3 or 4 at the time, but he tripped on a rug and landed against a suit of armor, cutting him chin.

When my eyes focused again, I realized Emmet was awake, and I quickly withdrew my hand, blushing at being caught.

"Morning. You don't have to stop, it felt good."

"Good morning," I said back.

"You were touching my scar."

I just wanted to know where you got it."

"I don't remember. I think I fell over." He shrugged.

I smiled and told him how it had happened, and how I knew. Emmet listened with interest.

"Wow, you saw that?"

"It's onto of my abilities." I shrugged, "Sometimes when I touch someone and focus on a specific topic, I can see memories."

"Elf powers are so wonderful," Emmet said dreamily, and I rolled my eyes.

"Emmet."

"Mmm." He responded, still in deep thought about powers.

"You're going to break the cot."

He looked down and realized he'd moved closer in the night, laughed and moved back to his own cot, that creaked a little, while mine leveled out.

"Sorry, I must have moved closer while I was asleep, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"I wasn't uncomfortable."

"Really? Great," He said happily, sounding like a little boy being allowed a second slice of cake. It made me smile, "Because I absolutely want to sleep beside you again.''

I giggled, "You sound like an excited kid."

Emmets expression shifted angrily as he sat up and turned back to me.

"I am not a child," He pointed out, his tone offended, "I am all man, and I would gladly show you anytime."

I laughed and sat up, before gently placing my hand upon his firm chest.

"I know, I can see that," I said, trying to keep my face straight. He was actually kind of adorable. And clearly a virgin, which made him so much more appealing to me. I liked that no other woman had touched him, which, of course, made me feel like a guilty hypocrite as I'd slept with me before. "I was kidding, Let's get up, we should start getting ready."

I moved my hand back and went to move, but Emmet grabbed my wrist.

"Wait, don't go yet," He said as his eyes moved up my face to my ears, and he blushed slightly, "Can I ask you something while we're alone."

Alone? I looked over at Alex's cot and realized it was empty.

"Go ahead."

"I... If this is inappropriate, please just let me know," He stuttered, looking nervous, "But I read something in a book once, something about elf women and I just wanted to know if it was real."

"So ask."

He gulped, "I read that their ears are extremely sensitive," He said, his voice dropping a few octaves, "That is the equivalent of touching them..." He paused and cleared his throat, "In other sensitive areas."

I smirked. He was so cute. I might as well have some fun, to get even for him asking such an inappropriate question.

"What sensitive areas?"

Emmet's eyes widened and he cleared his throat again.

"You know what I'm talking about."

"No I don't," I feigned innocence, but when I saw the embarrassed expression on his face, I giggled and pushed him playfully, "I'm just messing with you, yes, it's true."

"And is it true that you only let your mates touch them?" He asked, as he looked at my pointed ears, "Even if you sleep with others?"

"Yes."

"So, will you let me touch them?"

"In theory, if I were to accept you, yes, you could."

"And in practice?" He asked, leaning closer, "May I touch them?"

I thought it over, he was right, elf woman didn't allow just anyone to touch our ears, but he wasn't just anyone. He was my mate.

"Yes."

"Truly?"

"Yes," I repeated, this time barely over a whisper.

Emmet didn't hesitate, he quickly reached up and ran his calloused fingers along the skin of my ears, making me tremble and my heart race.

I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation that was rippling through my core and down between my legs, which was only amplified when Emmett leaned in, pressing his cheek to mine, and softly biting my earlobe.

I inhaled sharply, I hadn't expected that from him. I guess he wasn't as shy and inexperienced as he seemed.

"I can't smell your arousal, Aine," He said softly, making me blush. Damn it, how had a virgin turned the tables on me and left me being the one trembling nervously? "It smells so good. I can't wait to taste you. May I kiss you?"

Seriously?! The man sucks on my earlobe without permission, knowing what it would do to me. Or perhaps he didn't... But then he goes and asks for permission to kiss me?

"Yes," I said breathlessly as I gripped his arms.

Emmet turned his face. Our lips were only inches apart, and I could already smell his sweet honey scent on my tongue, when the tent flap opened.

"Rise and shine. Breakf..." Alex paused mid-sentence as we pulled apart. His eyes widened as Emmet growled furiously, "I didn't see anything, carry on, but the food's ready!" He added and slunk away.

My heart was racing, and I giggled nervously, before I jumped up.

"We should eat and go."

"Aine, wait!" Emmet called out, but I'd already grabbed my boots and bag and rushed from the tent.

Alex was standing a few feet away looking awkward.

"You should help him up." I ordered, before rushing behind some rocks to change.

I heard Alex rush back into the tent, and then gasp in pain, ''Ouch, what was that for?!'' He complained, as Emmet growled.

''For being stupid!'' Emmet said angrily, ''Why didn't you link me before coming back in!''

''I thought you were both sleeping. How was I meant to know you were...''

''Is the tent still open?!'' Emmet cut him off, and Alex gasped again.

''Ouch, would you stop punching me!''

''Stop being stupid then!'' Emmet growled, and I pressed my lips together, to stop myself from laughing.

When I was dressed, I pulled my bag over my back, and walked back towards them, brushing my hair. I turned towards the fire I'd started a few feet away to burn the bodies, and nothing was left now but ash. Good. Let them blow away in the wind.

''Easy,'' Alex ordered, as he helped Emmet sit on a log by the smaller fire, before passing him some food, ''This is the last of our supplies.''

I shrugged, ''We'll be out of the mist in a few hours, we can restock,'' I responded and handed them the last of the potions I had.

''What's this?'' Emmet asked me.

''Drink it, it's to help us get through the mist, and don't drop it, I don't have anymore, the last vial broke.'' I informed them, before sitting down and finishing my braids.

''Aine, I was thinking that, if you're okay with it, we could stay with you for a few days,'' Emmet asked me, and I paused.

''Oh, you were thinking that were you?'' I asked and crossed my arms, but Emmet pouted and looked up at me. Goddess, I knew he was faking it, but the idea of refusing and hurting him, made me feel uncomfortable. ''Fine, just for a few days while I think things over.''

''Perfect,'' He smiled and started eating.

An hour later, Emmet had his arm over Alex's shoulders, and I'd managed to find him a thick stick to use as a walking stick, and we ventured back into the mist, at a slower pace than the first time.

''Do you need me to slow down?'' I looked over my shoulder, but Emmet shook his head.

''No, let's just get out of here.'' He told me, but I could hear the strain in his voice. I turned around and touched his chest, ''What are you doing?''

''Helping,'' I said, as I closed my eyes, and pushed part of my strength into him. I'd learned this skill years ago when visiting an Elf village, but I'd never done it with anyone, it felt to intimate, but I didn't mind with Emmet. ''Do you feel it?''

''Yes, what is this? What are you doing? I feel stronger.''

''I'm sharing my strength,'' I told him, as I opened my eyes, ''It'll fade in an hour, but we can move quicker while it lasts.''

''Thank you,'' He smiled as he reached up and touched my face, as we looked into each other's eyes.

I felt the bond begin to build, and I was drawn closer to him, but Alex cleared his throat, and Emmet stepped back.

''Can you two cool it until we leave?'' He asked, partly in amusement and partly in annoyance.

''It's almost like you want another punch?'' Emmet asked him, but Alex just laughed.

''You two deserve each other.''

''Just follow me and be quiet.'' I ordered and started walking.

We moved quicker than before, moving through the hardest part of the canyon before Emmet's strength seeped away again, and he inhaled through clenched teeth and fell forward, grabbing my shoulders as Alex quickly put his arm around Emmet's waist.

''Sorry, Aine, did I hurt you?'' He asked nervously.

''No, I'm alright.'' I answered, as I rotated my shoulders, and frowned. He was really heavy.

''I'm fine too,'' Alex joked, and I laughed and started walking again.

It took us 6 hours to get out of the canyon due to our slow pace, but finally, we were out of that awful mist and the suffocating air of the canyon.

''Wow, it's a unicorn!'' Emmet's eyes widened as Avalon ran over to us.

''Helly my friend,'' I smiled and ran my fingers through his mane, ''Sorry to keep you waiting so long, but we won and got the Alpha back. Avalon, this is Emmet, my... mate, and Emmet, this is Avalon.''

''Hello.'' Emmet waved at him, and Avalon bowed his head slightly.

''This is your mate?'' He spoke to me, as he eyed Emmet, ''He's alright, for a Lycan, but if he hurts you, I'll run him through.''

I giggled, and shook my head, ''He won't, don't worry.''

''What's he saying?'' Alex asked.

''He talks to you? Wow, he must trust you a lot.'' Emmet said, impressed, just like Alex when he found out.

''Yes, he does,'' I turned to Alex, ''Do you think Spike can carry Emmet if you shift?''

''I can shift,'' Emmet said quickly.

''No, you're still injured, you'll slow up down, and I want to get to Blackstone before nightfall.'' I shook my head.

''Why are we going there?'' Alex asked me, ''We didn't come that way, on the way here.''

''We were in a hurry,'' I pointed out, ''But we're out of food, a need to restock. I know Alpha Saun, he actually hates Laric. His sister and her family were killed, about 3 years ago, when he found out she mated a witch. He has strong fighters. While we're restocking, you could talk to him about joining the fight.''

''That's a good idea, thank you.'' Emmet smiled, ''And yes, Spike is strong enough to carry me.''

''Perfect,'' I said, as I jumped onto Avalon's back, ''Let's move out.''