Hunter's Claim

by S. E. Smith

  “I knew it!” Hunter bit out. “You do need to go to medical first. I should have ignored the order to…”

  “No,” Jesse interrupted. “No, Hunter. I’ll be fine. I just wanted to get cleaned up before I faced the music, that’s all. It is bad enough to have to face your boss after knocking him out but to do it looking like something the dog dug up doesn’t give me a lot of courage.”

  Twin barks of laughter drew a furious scowl from Hunter. He shot both Dagger and Saber a heated look. He pulled Jesse closer to him, as if to protect her.

  “You think she looks bad?” Hunter snarled.

  Saber held his hands up. “No, I think it is funny as hell that she knocked Jag out and thinks she doesn’t have courage. I’ve never met a braver, more determined warrior in my life.”

  “That goes for me, too,” Dagger added quietly. “You have nothing to fear, Jesse. We will stand beside you.”

  Tears glittered in Jesse’s eyes as she stared at the three men towering over her. This is what it meant not to be alone any longer. For so long, it had just been her and her sisters. Now, she felt like she had found a home for all of them. Some place safe where they could lay their heads down to rest and not wonder if they would live through to the next day.

  “Thank you,” she replied in a husky voice. “Thank you for everything.”

  Dagger cleared his throat. “Let’s get this over with so Carp can take a look at Jesse before you take her to get clean,” he said gruffly. “I’d like to have a talk with one of her sisters as well.”

  “You aren’t the only one,” Saber muttered. “Taylor is lucky she didn’t blow her and Jesse up with all the explosives she had packed in that damn bag of hers.”

  Jesse tuned everyone out when she saw Jag waiting impatiently for them. She tilted her head defiantly as his eyes skimmed her appearance before resting on her battered face. His eyes flashed with fury before he concealed it.

  She walked stiffly into the conference room off the bridge, very conscious of the silence on the bridge as all eyes followed her. Hunter squeezed her hip in support. She stood stiffly, clasping her hands in front of her to hide the trembling in them. She waited until the commander of the Star Raider turned before she said anything.

  “I’m not sorry for what I did,” she said softly. “I’d do it again. If you want to… to…,” her voice broke and she had to draw in a deep breath before she could finish. “If you want to throw me in prison… or… or worse, I’ll accept my punishment.”

  Three low growls filled the room as Hunter drew Jesse back against his body while Saber and Dagger stepped up on either side of her. Jag glared at the three men in warning.

  “I’ll throw all your asses in detention if you don’t shut up,” he warned before turning his eyes on Jesse again. “Is it true? You patched Saber up and snuck into the compound dressed as a guard and cut Hunter and Dagger free.”

  Jesse bit her lip only to wince when she discovered the cut on it. She slowly nodded her head. She looked up at Hunter when he caressed her side in comfort.

  “Yes,” she said. “I found Saber, well, he actually found me as I was climbing up onto the roof of a building to see if I could get a better look of the area. He had been hurt. His leg was infected. Taylor,” her voice faded when she saw the commander scowl again. “Taylor had, well, she had gathered a few medical supplies in case we needed them. I was able to use them to patch him up.”

  “Yes, I am aware of some of the items your youngest sister took,” Jag commented coolly. “Including the explosives,” he added dryly, glancing at Saber.

  “Hunter, I expect a detailed report sent to me by tomorrow afternoon,” Jag said. “I want Carp to check your Amate out when you leave here. Until further notice, your Amate will remain in your living quarters under your supervision. I expect you to remain with her to make sure that she does not cause any further problems. Additional forces have been sent by the Alliance to clean up the remaining insurgents. The Star Raider has been redirected back to Rathon. You are dismissed.”

  Hunter nodded tersely before he scooped Jesse up in his arms and turned sharply on his heel. He didn’t pause, even when Jag barked out for Dagger and Saber to remain. His only concern now was for Jesse. He could feel the trembling she had tried so bravely to hide. He could smell her pain and feel her fatigue. He had no intentions of disobeying his current orders.

  A small smile curved his lips as he thought of his commanding officer’s reaction to what Jesse had done down on the planet. He knew Jag well enough to know that the huge Trivator warrior was not immune to the effort it was taking for Jesse to stand upright. He also knew that his orders had not been what Jag had originally planned but once word swept through the warriors of Jesse’s bravery he couldn’t discount her courage.

  “Hunter,” Jesse murmured. “Can I just get a shower and go to bed? I’m so tired.”

  “Soon, my Amate,” he replied. “Just close your eyes and let me care for you now.”

  “Okay,” Jesse replied, closing her eyes and releasing a deep sigh. “Love you.”

  “I… love you too, Jesse,” Hunter whispered in shock as he finally understood what that tight feeling was in his chest. “I love you too, my Amate.”

  Hunter stepped inside the lift that would take them down to medical. He blinked against the burning in his eyes as he stared down at Jesse’s closed eyes and swollen face. He was in love! All this time he hadn’t understood what was wrong with him and it was him falling in love. His heart beat heavily as he thought of how easily he could have lost Jesse without ever telling her.

  Bending, he rubbed his nose along her forehead as visions flooded his mind. Memories of her staring at him terrified as she worked the locks holding the chains on him the first time he saw her. Other visions followed. Images of her lying on the floor of the collapsed garage, flushed with fever and bleeding. Her fighting against the men that had surrounded her and her sisters, the first time they made love, teasing him as she cut the ropes from his wrists and ankles and defiantly telling his commanding officer that she would disobey him again if necessary.

  “Gods, Jesse,” he whispered as the lift slowed. “I love you!”

  He cradled her tenderly in his arms as he stepped off the lift. Warriors in the corridors paused, placing their hands over their chest in a show of honor as he carried her. Word of what she had done had spread throughout the warship. She was being given a warrior's salute for her bravery.

  Hunter nodded as he carried her into the medical unit. Carp stood ready, along with Bree who cursed when she saw Jesse’s battered body. Hunter carefully laid Jesse down on the bed. She was so tired, she didn’t move. He brushed her hair back from her bruised cheek. He didn’t care if the others saw that his hand wasn’t quite steady.

  “Go get cleaned up while we care for her,” Bree said. “I’ll watch over her until you return.”

  Hunter nodded. He needed time alone to come to terms with his feelings. Leaning over Jesse, he brushed his nose along her forehead before pressing his lips tenderly against hers. Straightening, he nodded once more before he turned and left the medical unit. There were times when a warrior needed to be alone and discovering he was in love was one of those times.

  Chapter 18

  Jesse woke slowly. She stretched her arms over her head before blinking several times to clear her vision. Sitting up, she was surprised to find herself in a clean tunic. She didn’t remember anything after Hunter picked her up and carried her off the bridge.

  “Hunter?” Jesse called out.

  She frowned and pushed the covers back. Slipping from the bed, she looked in the bathroom and saw that it was empty. She figured he must have gone to get something to eat. She rubbed her stomach when it growled. She hoped he had because she was starving.

  Deciding she might as well get cleaned up while he was gone, she pulled the soft tunic over her head and stuffed it in the clothing refresher. She groaned as she stepped into the shower. Adjusting the mist a little warm
er, she leaned her head forward and let the cleansing mist do its job. She poured a small amount of Hunter’s soap into her hand and breathed deeply before she began shampooing her hair and washing her body.

  “I had planned on returning before you woke,” Hunter’s deep voice echoed in the bathroom.

  Jesse pushed her wet hair out of her eyes and smiled at him. “I hope you brought food,” she said. “I’m starving! How long was I asleep for?”

  “Over twenty-four hours,” Hunter replied. “I have brought you food. I noticed you were moving more in the last hour and hoped that meant you would awaken soon. I was going to have Bree come check you over again if you didn’t. How are you feeling?”

  “A million times better,” she said in surprise. “Except for being hungry, I can’t believe I’m not hurting. I know my face was a mess but it doesn’t hurt at all.”

  Hunter’s eyes followed her hand as she brushed her right cheek. The majority of the damage had been repaired and only a light discoloration was still evident. That would disappear within a few days according to Carp. He reached out and touched her cheek.

  “Carp was able to heal most of the damage,” he said huskily. “Finish up in here. I will set the food out for you.”

  “Thank you, Hunter,” Jesse said softly.

  Hunter frowned. “For what?” He asked confused.

  “For not dying. For not leaving us alone,” Jesse said with a small smile. “For everything.”

  Hunter scowled. “You do not have to thank me,” he said gruffly. “Now finish up or I will come in there and finish washing you.”

  Jesse’s delighted laugh echoed in the small room. Hunter felt the tightening in his chest again. This time he welcomed the feeling. He wanted to hear her laugh a lot more. He was slowly figuring out all the things he wanted to give Jesse. He wanted to give her the universe. He would start by properly courting her.

  He had been watching a program one of the other warriors had downloaded from Earth. It showed a man ‘dating’ a female. He fixed her dinner, took her places and bought her gifts. He was limited while they were on the Star Raider but once he got her to his home, he could do all of that and more.

  It is time to show Jesse just how special she is to me, Hunter thought as he placed a small glowing torch in the center of the small table. How very, very special.

  *.*.*

  “Jesse, I’m so excited!” Taylor said, dancing around in the transport area. “What do you think their world is going to be like? Do you think there are kids my age? Oh God! Do you think they’ll like me? What am I going to do if they don’t like me? I haven’t been to school in years. They are going to think I’m such an idiot!” she moaned out, grabbing her head.

  Jesse hid her smile when Saber stormed across the floor and grabbed Taylor’s wrists in his hands. He had a fierce, protective look on his face. Taylor blinked at him in shock.

  “If anyone even insinuates that you are stupid, you will tell me!” Saber growled. “You are not stupid! You are smart, brave and have an ingenuity that all those other children can only dream of!”

  Taylor scowled. “I’m not a child, Saber,” she said. “I’m growing up. I’ll be sixteen in less than a month.”

  Saber flushed as he looked down at Taylor’s face. “You are still a child,” he bit out, releasing her wrists and stepping back. “But, don’t ever think you are stupid.”

  Taylor’s eyes flashed with temper before a mischievous grin curved her lips. Jesse knew her little sister was about to go fishing. She had seen that look all too often when Taylor was little and she wanted to get a rise out of someone.

  “Okay,” Taylor said with a shrug. She glanced over her shoulder, smiled and fluttered her eyelashes. “It’s good to know that the others won’t think I’m stupid. I wonder what the boys are like. I’m sure they won’t think of me as a child.”

  “You will not be going near any of the young warriors!” Saber snarled. “Hunter! Tell her. She is under your protection. You will forbid her from associating with any young males.”

  Hunter looked wide-eyed back and forth between Saber and Taylor. It was obvious he had no idea how to handle the situation. He opened his mouth but closed it again when Jesse touched his arm.

  “I’ll handle this,” she murmured.

  Hunter nodded in relief. He looked back at Saber and shrugged. He had no experience in dealing with the interactions between young females and males. The only experience he had was when he, Saber and Dagger were young warriors. His eyes darkened as he glanced down at Taylor’s slender figure thinking of what they would have done if confronted by a beautiful, intelligent female that was so different from their own species.

  “Taylor has the right to associate with members of the opposite sex. She is…” Jesse began before Hunter spoke up.

  “Not going anywhere near them!” Hunter interrupted. “I will not allow any males near her. I will find a place where she can be educated away from them. I…”

  “Will do no such thing,” Jesse said sternly. “Taylor is going to have as normal a life as possible. She will go to school, have boyfriends and attend parties. She has missed out on enough things. She has a good head on her shoulders.”

  Hunter growled. “School, yes. Parties, if we are there. Boyfriends? I do not know this phrase but if it has the words ‘boy’ and ‘friend’ together, then no. Absolutely not!”

  Jordan giggled as she wrapped her arm around Taylor. “Don’t worry, Taylor. We’ll just outnumber him. I need to finish my education as well. I…”

  “What do you mean? Your education?” Dagger said. He had been quiet during this exchange. “What type of education?”

  Jordan flashed Dagger an annoyed glare. “I missed out on over three years of high school. There is a lot I need to catch up on. Taylor and I used the time we were restricted to our living quarters to study some of your world’s history and work on the language and a few other things but there is a lot we need to learn. I figured if we worked together, we could help each other out.”

  “As long as that does not mean being around males, that is fine,” Dagger agreed.

  Jordan glared at him again. “What I do on my own time is no one’s business but mine,” she said. “I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. I’ll be eighteen in a week. According to Earth culture, that means I’m an adult.”

  “You… will… not… be around young males,” Dagger said menacing. “I’ll rip their throats out if they come near you. You need to be protected.”

  “Okay,” Jesse said, looking with wide eyes at her sisters. “I think we’ve gone as far as we need to with this conversation. When are we leaving?”

  “Now,” Hunter said. “And this conversation is not over. Jesse, as head of the house and you and your sisters new protector, I will have final say.”

  “Not in this lifetime or any other,” Jesse said, crossing her arms. “This is a situation that we will work on together but ‘we’ are the head of this house and ‘we’ are the protectors of it. Do you understand that, Hunter?”

  Hunter realized this was a battle he would need to be very careful about entering when Jordan and Taylor came up on each side of Jesse and crossed their arms as well. He was definitely outnumbered. Releasing a deep sigh, he nodded.

  “We will discuss this later,” he said. “Let me show you my world.”

  “We’d love that,” Jesse said, reaching up and brushing a kiss across his lips. “Thank you.”

  “I have much to learn about you, my Amate,” Hunter admitted.

  “So do I, Hunter,” Jesse replied tenderly. “So do Jordan and Taylor.”

  Chapter 19

  They landed in the nearby city of Julumont. It was the second largest city on the planet. From there they transferred to a different transport that Hunter flew. It looked like a sleek race car with small wings. There was a clear top on it so they would see up as well as all around. Hunter kept the transport at about five hundred feet off the ground and pointed out differ
ent areas of interest as they flew over them.

  Jesse’s breath caught in her throat as her first view of the small city area near the ocean that Hunter lived in. He took them a little further up the coast before circling back around to land in the courtyard of a small compound. High walls encircled the dome shaped home that glistened a brilliant white against all the dark greens of the plant life surrounding it.

  “It is necessary to build the walls around the homes,” Hunter explained as he carefully lowered the transport to the ground. “The vegetation here grows very fast and thick. If the walls did not hold it out, the homes would be covered in a matter of weeks. We use a special rock that the plants do not like so it will not grow up and over the walls.”

  “How do you keep the paths clear?” Jordan asked as her mind worked at all the different characters she could create a world around. “What about wildlife? Is there a lot?”

  “Yes,” Hunter said. “You must never venture off the paths. A force field helps keep them clear but every once in a while a stray wild creature will break through. It is best to remain alert and if possible travel with a companion.”

  “That’s the way it was when we were at the cabin,” Taylor said. “How big is the town we flew over? Do they have a school there? Is that where I’ll be going?”

  Hunter chuckled. “Why don’t you settle in first? Give yourself time to adjust to your new world. There are approximately ten thousand residents in the city of Trivas. There are several schools. I will ask Charma, my house minder to assist with finding out which one is best for you. She has been with my family since before I was born. She will know what to do. She also has several children who have children of their own about your age.”

  “Really?” Taylor asked excitedly.

  “Yes, really,” Hunter responded as Jordan and Jesse chuckled. “Now, let me show you our home.”