Page 54 of The Hunter's Empire

The man I know is sharp-edged and impossible to read. The man they know seems somehow more human.

That realization stays with me as we continue walking beneath the Irish night, talking about everything and nothing while the manor watches from a distance behind us.

After another lap around the estate grounds, Roisin finally lets out a tired sigh and slows her pace. "I think I am officially done for the night."

The admission makes me smile. A few hours ago, she seemed full of endless energy. Now the long day appears to be catching up with her.

"You're giving up already?"

"Some of us appreciate sleep." She gestures vaguely toward the dark grounds surrounding us. "And some of us apparently enjoy wandering around isolated estates in the middle of the night."

I glance toward the lake, where moonlight ripples across the water. "It helps me think."

"That sounds suspiciously like something Lucien would say."

I laugh softly. "I am not sure if that is a compliment."

"It isn't." The answer comes so quickly that it earns another laugh from me.

Then she steps forward and pulls me into a quick hug. "Goodnight, Vivienne."

"Goodnight, Roisin."

"Try not to get lost."

"I make no promises."

Roisin laughs before turning toward the manor.

I watch her disappear through one of the side entrances before reaching for the earpiece she loaned me. A few seconds later, music fills the silence. The familiar rhythm settles immediately into the background of my thoughts.

Then I start running. The cool air feels refreshing against my skin after hours spent inside crowded rooms and carefully managed conversations. My pace remains steady as I follow the winding paths that weave through the estate grounds.

From a distance, I probably look exactly like what I am pretending to be. A wealthy guest enjoying a late-night run. Nothing suspicious.

Meanwhile, my attention remains fixed on everything around me. The cameras mounted discreetly beneath rooflines. The guards positioned near entrances. The sections of the estate that receive constant surveillance and the areas security seems to consider less important.

Every detail matters. Every detail could become useful later.

The manor gradually shrinks behind me as I continue along the outer paths. The estate is enormous. Much larger than it appeared during the drive from the airfield.

Ancient trees line portions of the property, their branches swaying gently in the night breeze. Beyond them, the lake stretches across the darkness like polished black glass.

For a brief moment, I almost understand why people become attached to places like this. Then I remember who owns it.

The thought fades quickly. My breathing settles into an easy rhythm as I complete nearly a full circuit of the property. That is when the feeling starts. A subtle awareness. The sensation that someone is watching.

At first, I try to ignore it. The estate is filled with guards. Being observed is hardly unusual. Yet something about this feels different.

My pace slows slightly as I glance toward the manor. Nothing. Then my eyes move higher. And find him.

Fergus.

He stands alone on one of the upper balconies overlooking the grounds. The distance between us is considerable, yet I recognize him immediately.

He isn't speaking to anyone. He isn't smoking. He isn't moving. He is simply standing there. And watching.

A chill settles low in my stomach. The expression on his face is impossible to read from this distance. That somehow makes it worse. I cannot tell whether he is curious. Suspicious. Or merely thoughtful.