“He requests to ‘catch and release’,” Bradliix said with a deep voice as if he’d imagined that’s how the hunter in question would sound. Bradliix humphed. “If we allowed him into that arena we would never find the body! He would end up cocooned within the first day or have his insides turned to liquid and sucked out through a hole in his head or stomach! Denied!
“Now on to more pressing matters. The space docking station will open tomorrow and ready to receive the next crop of prey. There are already five vessels awaiting clearance. Your father never reviewed the preliminary files on the prospective prey, but I didn’t know how you wanted to proceed. My advice would be to shadow one of the intake attendants so you could see how the process is done. It will give you a reference point if—”
“Why does she bother talking to him? Do you think she’s interested in him?”
“And here I thought that I had your undivided attention,” Bradliix muttered.
The hunter and Esme were at a standoff. From his distance, the hunter wouldn’t reach her before the evening alarm rang.
“Can you get me back to Earth?” Esme asked the hunter.
Xrez was riddled with guilt. If he hadn’t lied to her in the beginning and had been upfront and honest, maybe she would’ve accepted her fate of never returning to her homeworld.
“Of course! We can go together.” The hunter beckoned to her and Xrez humphed. His Esme would never give up so easily. She’d proven herself time and time again as smart and resilient. “Hurry now, time is running out.”
Xrez leaned forward with both elbows on the desk. “I can’t believe he thinks she will fall for that line.”
“Hm, I remember vaguely someone else had promised the very thing.”
Xrez cut his eyes at Bradliix.
“You’re not the first hunter who promised to take me home,” Esme told the hunter.
Bradliix lifted his eyebrows. “It seems she remembers as well.”
Xrez watched the hologram again. Don’t go. She shouldn’t be with anyone but him.
The hunter took a step forward, then another. “Those other hunters are liars. They can’t take you home, but I can.”
“Yes, he lied to me and so are you,” Esme retorted.
The stab that pierced his heart made him hiss in pain.
“Are you going to turn it off now so we can finish working?” Bradliix asked. “Or shall I leave you alone to wallow in self-pity again?”
“Leave,” Xrez ground out.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
After Xrez’s shuttle landed, he stood by the hatch, readying himself for the cold. When the door opened the blistering wind pummeled him and took his breath away. Xrez pulled up his collar to protect his ears and breathed a sigh of relief. He was home.
He made the short distance from the shuttle to his family home. He noted everything around him, taking in the familiarity. The homes were built using the finest materials and were vibrant in color. There was no need to paint the houses, the razquintel trees varied in colors, the bark was a stark contrast against the white of the snow, and when ice formed on them, it helped to reflect the bright light from a sun further away from Pi Vesna than the other planets in this solar system.
Other species thought Pi Vesna was cold and harsh, which was why they’d never had a planet that was booming with tourists. But what others didn’t know was that while the days were short, the nights were long and filled with ice skating on the potomi ocean. There were night games for family and friends and most importantly, the Dar’E were happy to spend long nights confined in their homes snuggled in front of one of the fireplaces with family or mates.
Xrez would never get to experience the happiness of his homeworld again. As the game warden, his time would be spent on Turolois with his visiting Pi Vesna less and less until he no longer returned home. Maybe that was why he’d been so headstrong to start another business that took him away from Pi Vesna and his family? He’d known what lay in his future and wanted to get Pi Vesna out of his system.
That was a thought for later.
Xrez pushed through the double doors of his childhood home.
“I was beginning to doubt I would ever see you again.”
Xrez ignored the chiding and leaned down to give his sister a kiss on her forehead. Chaeya wasn’t much shorter than him, only by a head. She was rounder than the last time he’d seen her, which was expected since she was heavy with child. Her hair was also different. She’d worn her hair short, as her husband had preferred, but now it was long and styled in two braids that fell down her back.
Xrez held onto her shoulders. The sturdy cloak she wore was finely made and expensive. He could tell by the feel of the cloth on his palms and the gems sewn into the design itself. His father had doted on his only daughter when he was alive and had left a generous inheritance when his spirit had moved on.
“I’m here now.” Xrez dropped his hand to his sister’s round belly. The infant beneath the stretched skin danced under his touch. Despite his sour mood, he smiled. “I would never miss this birth.”
“To hear Bradliix tell it, he had to force you to leave Turolois.”
Xrez let out a heavy breath and dropped his arms. “Why is Bradliix gossiping about me?”
“Bradliix is used to gossiping with me about father. We’ve become close.”
“So my next question is, why was Bradliix gossiping to you about father?”
Chaeya thumped Xrez on the chest. “Someone had to keep up with father’s prognosis.”
“Whenever I talked to father he assured me his symptoms were manageable.”
“He used to tell me the same thing. He even stopped coming home to hide from me.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t rely on him to be forthcoming. I knew he wouldn’t tell me if he was worsening. He wouldn’t have wanted me to worry. So I found a confidant in Bradliix who was more than willing to keep me posted on father’s condition.”
“I was so busy. I’d always thought that I had many years to prepare for the end.”
“Enough of that.” She wiped a tear away. “What’s this I hear? You’re in love?”
Xrez bristled uncomfortably, knowing his intimate feelings were being discussed behind his back. “I’ve got to have a serious talk with him.”
She waved a hand at him. “Bradliix didn’t tell me that you were in love with the human. He told me what you were doing and how you were behaving, and I came to my own conclusion.”
“My feelings in this don’t matter. She’s prey anyway, and I’m the warden. Besides…” He shifted on his feet and ran a hand over his head. “She doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
“On the account that you’ve stolen her from her homeworld, where I’m sure she was blissfully unaware of the dangers of the galaxy. Then you dropped her into a gaming facility where she’s forced to fend for herself by fighting and killing?”
He grimaced. “Um…”
“Yes, I suppose that would make me hate you too.”
“Hate? Do you really think she actually hates me?”
“Like I said, I would hate you too.”
“You’ve never been one to mince words,” he muttered.
“Why should I? The truth is more practical and less time-consuming.” She tapped the side of her face with a colored claw. “Now, the question is, how are you going to fix this mess you’ve created?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about Chaeya. I didn’t create this mess—”
“Let me quickly refresh your memory. You entered The Hunt when you shouldn’t have and you did it against your assistant’s advice. Engaged the prey. Lied to them about numerous items and promised them that they could return home. That’s the mess I’m referring to.”
“Well, about that…”
She crossed her arms and glared at him. Chaeya, while younger than him acted as though she were older and sometimes as the parent. It hadn’t always been that way, but after their mother had passed away, Chaeya had slipped from s
ister to mother figure seamlessly.
“I didn’t know that I would become close to her. I hadn’t planned on it. I’d only wanted to guide her and the others through the game to provide an acceptable level of sport for the hunters.”
“But she was smarter than you gave her credit for.”
He winced but nodded.
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“Do? Nothing. She’s asked me to leave her alone. I’m respecting her wishes.”
“You’ve stolen her—”
“Technically, the tracker abducted her and father completed the transaction.”
She narrowed her eyes and held up her hand. “You now own the business. Don’t get tangled in the semantics because she sure won’t. If something happens to her, you won’t be able to live with yourself and if she survives said event she won’t forgive you either.”
“I tried to remove her from The Hunt, but she didn’t want to leave her friends behind.”
“Loyalty. I like her.”
“She would’ve liked you too.”
“What do you think her chances are surviving and beating The Hunt? Another human female just completed. The first one in history.”
“The humans are smarter, cunning and more resourceful than I’d given them credit for. There are five of them still in. She can do it, but I don’t know if that’s wishful thinking or not.”
“And if she’s caught, you’ll let the hunter leave with her?”
The protective encasing surrounding his hearts squeezed painfully. He couldn’t open his mouth to say the words. He would have to let her go. That’s what the contract stated. Any hunter who captured prey could leave with their prize after they paid the necessary fee.
But what if he blocked the credit transfer and the hunter wasn’t able to pay?
Xrez smiled slowly.
Chaeya thumped him on the chest. “I know what you’re thinking and no.”
Xrez curled his fists. “Then I won’t have any choice but to let her leave.”
Chaeya nodded thoughtfully. “Or you could help her through and allow her to win.”
“She doesn’t want that.”
“And keeping her alive and away from a possible dismal future is better for her?”
He looked down at Chaeya lovingly. When she got her mind set on something and her determination took root, she reminded him so much of their mother. “When did you become the big sister?”
Chaeya chuckled. “When it became apparent that I was smarter than you could ever hope to aspire to be.” The smile slid from her lips. “Honestly, I had no choice. Father sequestered himself on Turolois and wouldn’t leave. He was consumed by The Hunt and wasn’t taking care of himself properly.”
“I never thanked you for watching over him. When mother died, I was sure he’d planned to never leave Turolois.”
Chaeya placed her hand on top of his and let out a sigh. “I wish father were here.”
If their father were still alive, he would be the one to guide the newborn’s spirit into the world. Now that duty fell on him as Head of the House.
Xrez turned his hand over and took hers to give it a squeeze. “I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. I was…” She let her voice trail off and glanced away, but not before he saw the mist in her eyes.
“Missing father. I understand, Chaeya. And I also understand how important this moment is for you, the infant and our family.”
Chaeya and her mate, Victr had finally been granted permission from the High Council to conceive. Pi Vesna was a small planet, and as was common, population control measures were in place. It took years for an approval to have a child and it was not granted lightly.
Chaeya opened her eyes wide and gave a surprised look. “Whoo! I think he wants to come out and meet his family now!”
“Then we shouldn’t keep him waiting.”
Xrez led her to the birthing hall. Already in attendance were the recorder, the person who would add the child’s name to the registry under Chaeya’s name, the last born of the Ym’ihla line, the medical staff who would assist in the birth and ease the child’s journey into this world and Chaeya’s mate waiting impatiently, pacing around the bed, his face twisted in worry. If they had any other family, they would’ve been here to witness the new life.
Sadness swept over Xrez. His mother and father wouldn’t have been able to contain their excitement. They’d been lucky to have their application approved twice. He pushed those sad thoughts from his mind. He wouldn’t dampen such a joyful day with gloom.
At seeing Chaeya, Victr rushed forward. His heavy braids swayed as he walked. His brows were furrowed and eyes only for his mate. “Chae! You shouldn’t have left. What if you went into labor without assistance?” He held onto her arms as if afraid she would leave again.
“Victr,” she chided affectionately. “Females and some males all over the galaxy give birth without assistance, and both infant and parent live through it.”
“But you are not just any female, Chae. You’re my mate.”
“And the only family I have left,” Xrez added.
Chaeya smiled and looked down at her stomach then rubbed it. “Not for long.”
Xrez smiled at her. The sadness he’d been trying to push aside was finally gone.
“Chaeya?” one of the medics called. She stood by the bed where Chaeya would give birth.
Chaeya nodded in the medic’s direction. “I’m ready. Come, mate, it’s time we meet the infant who has been keeping me up at night.”
Victr had a panicked look in his eyes, and Xrez guessed he’d stopped breathing. Xrez gave him a hard slap on the back, forcing the air from his lungs. Victr sputtered and choked.
“You’ve been waiting two years for this moment.”
“I’ve counted each day since gestation.”
“Then let’s get on with it.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Esme sat cross-legged and stared at the limp body sprawled on the ground in front of her. The hunter laid at an odd angle, limbs bent where they shouldn’t have, and twisted oddly. Esme tilted her head to the side and studied him. His joints had normally faced the opposite direction anyway. Maybe nothing was wrong with his position after all.
Other than he was dead.
Dead.
Her hands shook. The dagger she held felt wrong in her grip. Maybe because it was slick with blood. Repulsion made her want to drop it, but fear made her tighten her hold. Thick blood squished through her fingertips as she did. Vomit erupted up her throat, and before she could swallow, chunks and bile filled her mouth.
She leaned to the side, barely missing her leg and retched on the grass. It wasn’t really grass, but a meshy, thick-blue vine-y substance that covered the ground. It didn’t look like grass, feel like grass or smell like grass, but it was the only name she had for it.
It wasn’t much there, just some food she’d had the night before. She only ate once a day, but needed all the calories she could get. She really couldn’t afford to lose any of it. Her clothes were too loose as it was and she’d had to create new notches in her belt.
Piper inched toward her throw-up, nose to the ground and butt in the air. Esme pushed her away with a firm hand. Piper looked up and wagged her tail.
“Don’t eat that. Vomit is nasty.”
Piper turned her attention to licking Esme’s hand, lapping the hunter’s strangely colored blood from it.
Disgusted, Esme pulled her hand away. “Ew. Are you just really into gross things?”
Piper sat back on her haunches and cocked her head to the side. She looked like a miniature version of her mother, but instead of short coarse hair, Piper’s coat was fluffy. Bradliix, during one of his many intrusive check-ins, had told her it would change as she aged. Piper’s teeth would only get sharper and scarier, and her round body would turn into hard, formed muscles. Maybe Piper would even scare her one day. But right now she resembled an oversized cotton ball with three ey
es.
“I guess you don’t mind eating weird things. Your mother tried to eat me.” She frowned. “That came out wrong. I’m not the weird one here.”
Piper crawled into Esme’s lap and licked the splotches of blood splattered on her pants leg, furthering her point.
This is one way to get clean.
“I’m not sorry that I killed your mom.” This was something Esme told Piper at least once a day. She didn’t feel guilty about it. Only sad that Piper didn’t have a mother. “But I am sorry that I took her away from you before she taught you how to be a proper beast. I should probably let you eat the hunter. That’s what you normally would be doing.”
“Its mother would’ve eaten the hunter and vomited the partly digested meat for its pups to eat.”
Esme recognized the voice that came over her comlink. It wasn’t the voice she longed to hear or the one that made shivers run up and down her spine and set her stomach to flutter.
“Hello, Bradliix.”
“Hello, Esme.”
“I killed one of your hunters.”
“I see. Don’t mourn him. The hunters are well aware of the dangers involved when signing the contract to gain entry into The Hunt.”
Esme plucked Piper from her lap. Piper probably weighed closer to thirty-pounds. She couldn’t fit in Esme’s purse anymore, but her long legs were strong and when it came to running, Piper was faster than Esme could ever pretend to be.
She set Piper down in front of the vomit. “Go for it, babe.”
Piper dug in, and Esme swallowed another round of vomit and turned away.
“So what happens now? Will you send a pod to get his body?”
“No, he’s at better use where he is. Something will come along and finish him off.”
She turned toward the body and pulled her eyebrows together. “Wait. Are you saying I didn’t kill him?”
“Oh, you’ve killed him. His collar is no longer registering his heart beat or brain activity. I meant some animal will come to eat him.”
She twisted her mouth. “Gross.”
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