by S. E. Smith
“Do you have an emergency kit on you?” Saber asked, lying back on the thin pallet. “I won’t chew your ass out quite so bad if you do.”
An amused smile curled the corner of Jesse’s lips as she brushed her fingers over his heated forehead. He had closed his eyes and was breathing shallow breaths. Jesse reached into the bag Taylor had packed. She swore her sister had emptied the medical bay of all their meds. She pulled an injector out and inserted a sedative. Pressing it against his neck, she depressed the button watching as his eyes blinked rapidly before slowly closing.
“You can chew my ass anytime you like, Saber,” Jesse whispered as she set to work on cleaning the deep wound. “Just as long as you take me to Hunter. You do that and you and the captain can stand in line. I have a feeling Hunter is going to want first dibs on the ass chewing.”
Jesse pulled her father’s knife out from the sheath she had it in and quickly disinfected it. Using the tip, she sliced open the infected wound. Using some of the cleansing solution, she quickly cleaned all the infection out. She briefly raised her eyes in thanks that each item had been marked in English. She easily recognized Taylor’s messy handwriting. Her little sister must have looked up each word and translated it before printing it on the outside of the vials.
Once the wound was clean, she used a small laser to cauterize the wound and seal it. A thin layer of spray antibiotic and a clean bandage finished the task. Jesse quickly cleaned all of Saber’s other cuts before spraying them as well. She cleaned up and packed everything back into the black bag once she was finished.
Taking a small flask of water from her bag, she tore a section of her shirt and used it to clean Saber’s face and neck. Already the antibiotic was working its magic. His fever had broken and his skin was much cooler. She touched his leg and found the skin was also cool to the touch. Now, she just needed to let him rest.
Picking up the small pistol Taylor had packed once again, Jesse moved over to sit near the edge of the roof. She could see fires burning in different parts of the city. Raising her face to the light breeze that blew, she stared up at the stars that glittered above her. She picked one and made a wish.
“Hunter, if you can feel this, I want you to know I love you,” Jesse whispered softly into the night. “I’m coming for you. I’ll always come for you, my Amate.”
Chapter 16
Jesse blinked in surprise when she felt herself being lifted. Her heart thundered in her chest as she tried to remember where she was. She looked up in surprise as she was carefully lowered to the thin pallet where Saber had been lying.
“What?” She started to say. “Saber? Are you…?”
“I’m fine thanks to you, little warrior,” Saber said with an amused smile.
Jesse grimaced as she lay back with a tired smile. “Not much of a warrior if I fall asleep on guard duty,” she said ruefully. “What time is it?”
“Mid-morning. The sun would burn your delicate skin,” Saber said, nodding to the area where she had been hiding. The sun was now creeping toward it. “It is a good thing I woke up.”
“How is your leg?” Jesse asked as she covered a yawn. “I have more medicine if you need it. I think Taylor emptied all of Carp’s supplies.”
Saber shook his head in amusement. “How did you get here, Jesse. You know Hunter is going to be very upset with you, don’t you?”
Jesse grinned. “He’ll have to stand in line. I think Jag is going to be even madder when he wakes up,” she said with a twinkle in her eye before it faded. “Where is Hunter? Is he… is he hurt?”
She couldn’t ask if he was dead. She couldn’t imagine a life without him in it. It would kill her if he was no longer there to hold her and make her feel safe.
Saber’s face grew grim. “One of the residents who pulled me from the rubble has been keeping me informed about Hunter and Dagger. They were captured shortly after the attack on us. They are being held in a compound not far from here. He will have more information tonight. His son works in the kitchen there,” he said. “They are alive but I’m not sure for how much longer.”
“We have to save them,” Jesse whispered. “Please, Saber. I can’t live without him. I love him so much.”
Saber’s eyes softened as he saw the distress on Jesse’s face. He needed to search for more of their warriors but he couldn’t leave Jesse alone and unprotected. He knelt next to her, studying her face.
“I need to let some of our people know where they are,” he said heavily. “I will see if Moor will go. I cannot leave you alone.”
“I’ve been alone for a long time, Saber,” Jesse said tiredly. “I’ve been on this planet for four days now. I think I can handle being alone for a few hours.”
Saber shook his head in amazement. “You are a remarkable alien, Jesse. Hunter is one lucky bastard to have claimed you.”
Jesse reached out and briefly caressed Saber’s cheek before dropping her hand onto her stomach. She yawned again and felt her body being dragged down to sleep from a combination of exhaustion and the heat. She blinked several times before giving up the fight. She wouldn’t be any good to anyone if she didn’t get a little bit of rest. She would only sleep for a few minutes.
Saber looked at the still figure of the female lying on the pallet where he had thought he would spend the last few minutes of his life. A tender smile curved his lips as she rolled over and tucked her hands under her chin. She looked so small and fragile but she had a core of steel inside her. Hunter was indeed one lucky bastard.
Saber glanced at the two bags next to the mat. He opened one and sure enough, it was filled with medical supplies. He began pulling items out, stopping and whistling under his breath when he found several high-impact explosive devices, a laser pistol with extra charges and a light-weight laser knife.
“Taylor,” he murmured.
He thought of the young girl who already showed promise of becoming a beautiful, strong-willed woman. He shook his head as he fingered the small but deadly explosives. That one was going to give some poor warrior a headache as he tried to keep up with her. A frown darkened his face as a sense of anger burned at the thought of some unknown warrior choosing the rambunctious female. He shrugged. It would be years before Hunter would let any male near her. In the meantime, he would help protect the female from not only others but from herself.
*.*.*
Jesse came awake as the first bands of stars began to twinkle. She rubbed her eyes in confusion before memories of where she was and what had happened washed through her. Sitting up, she raised her hands above her head and stretched. Her hands dropped when a familiar figure moved out of the shadows.
“Saber,” Jesse said with a relieved smile. “Thank you for letting me sleep. Is your leg still doing okay?”
Saber stepped closer and sat next to her. He handed her a small clay bottle containing water and a plate of fresh fruit and bread. He waited until she took them before he looked out over the tops of the roofs.
“My leg is almost as good as new. Where did you learn to heal?” He asked curiously.
Jesse shrugged as she took a drink of the refreshing water to wash down the bread she had been chewing. “I’ve been doctoring my dad, Jordan and Taylor’s cuts ever since I can remember. My mom died with I was ten and I kind-of took over her place. Dad was heartbroken. It wasn’t easy for a single guy to raise three little girls on his own,” she said as memories flooded her.
“What happened to your mother if you do not mind me asking?” Saber asked as he picked up a piece of fruit. “She was young to die, yes?”
“Yes,” Jesse responded softly. “She went to the grocery store to get some items for dinner. A truck ran the red light and hit her car. She was killed instantly. Dad was the first one at the scene of the accident. My grandma, my dad’s mom, was living with us at the time and she was watching us when it happened. It hit my dad hard. He used to always laugh but he didn’t very much after mom was killed. It didn’t help that grandma wasn’t in good health an
d died two years later. By then, I had taken over most of the cooking and cleaning under Grandma Sampson’s tutelage.”
“You are an extraordinary female, Jesse,” Saber reflected.
Jesse blushed and lowered her head, shaking it. “Not really. You do what you have to do sometimes, no matter what life throws at you,” she said before raising her head. “What are we going to do about Hunter and Dagger?”
Saber grimaced. He had hoped to avoid this conversation as long as possible but he knew it was unavoidable. He had sent Moor, the male mate of the woman and children he had saved, to find members of their ground force.
Moor had returned an hour before with good and bad news. The good news, he had made contact with some scouts. The bad news was his son had returned to say the two captive warriors had been staked in the middle of the courtyard and were to be executed at first light and left on display.
Saber related what he had learned to Jesse, watching as she paled and raised a shaky hand to her temple. After several minutes her eyes cleared and the determination that he was beginning to associate with her reappeared. He knew that he wasn’t going to like her response when her mouth tightened into a firm line that meant she wasn’t going to be denied what she wanted.
“We have to go in and get them out,” Jesse said, daring Saber to tell her that they wouldn’t. “Tonight.”
Saber’s mouth twisted. “I am too big to be mistaken as one of their guards,” he noted with a raised eyebrow.
Jesse’s lips curved at his observation. “But, I’m not,” she commented.
“But you, Hunter’s fiery Amate, are not,” Saber agreed. “Moor’s son drew out a map of the compound, the placement of the guards and their schedule. Here is what we will do.”
*.*.*
Hunter jerked awake. He tightened his fists around the ropes holding him to the posts sunk into the ground. His eyes flashed to Dagger who was tied up next to him.
“What is it?” Hunter murmured.
“I thought I saw movement in the shadows,” Dagger whispered. “A scout.”
“Which one?” Hunter asked as he tilted his head back and sniffed the air. “Thunder,” he grunted.
“Bastard always did have his own unique scent,” Dagger murmured with a slight grin.
“It will be dawn soon,” Hunter whispered. “It will be hard to get in without being seen.”
“He’ll have to get his team together,” Dagger said, bowing his head when he sensed their guard coming toward them. “Something tells me we don’t have much time left.”
Hunter’s eyes narrowed as the guard walked by. The mercenary bastards that the group of Arthuran’s hired were a cold bunch of cutthroats from the lowest regions of the Alliance star system. Bitter rage burned in his throat as he remembered watching them blow the building that Saber had rushed into as the medical transport carried their wounded away.
Saber had seen a woman and two small children at the same time as the mercenaries. When they had turned their weapon on the building the woman and children had run into for protection Saber had followed, trying to get them out. His friend had been buried under the pile of stone.
He flashed his teeth as the guard stepped closer to check the ropes holding him. He would give anything to rip the bastard’s throat out. That was exactly what he was going to do to every one of them once he was free.
“Don’t you flash your teeth at me, buster,” a soft, familiar voice said. “At least not until you can do something with them,” she added in a trembling voice. “Hey, Dagger. How’s it hanging?”
Hunter froze. Every muscle in his body stiffened as if he had suddenly been turned into stone before hot, fiery warmth swept through him. His eyes burned to see if he was imagining things. There was no way in hell….
“Jesse?” He muttered in a hoarse voice filled with horror.
Dark brown eyes turned to look at him as she sliced through the rope. A soft smile curled her lips. The dark hood fell forward when she bowed her head to walk around the other side of him as if she was checking to make sure that strap was secure as well.
“Act like you are still tied until I get Dagger undone,” she said quietly. “When you get loose, head to the left. There is a cart that you can use to get over the compound wall.”
“What of the guard?” Dagger asked, following Jesse’s figure as she knelt and acted as if she was adjusting her boot. The knife she held sliced through the thick rope as if it was butter. “There are at least three of them on the roof.”
“Not anymore. Saber took the one out on that side. That is him standing guard,” she replied as she stood up and sliced through the rope holding his right arm.
“Saber?!” Dagger hissed. “He lives.”
“Yes,” Jesse said, turning as another guard walked toward her. “Be quiet.”
“Shaj nu!” Who are you? The man called out.
Jesse shrugged and lifted a glove covered hand up. She turned and started walking toward the wall where Saber stood watch. She ignored the man as he called out again.
“Shaj nu!” The man demanded again.
Jesse gasped when the man reached out and grabbed her arm forcing her to turn around. The man reached up and yanked down the hood of the cloak she was wearing. A loud curse burst from his lips and he turned to yell out an alarm.
Jesse didn’t know what to do. She hadn’t understood what he was saying as it didn’t translate in the translator in her ear. She reacted without thinking. She threw her arm out, her hand flat and karate chopped him in the throat as hard as she could. The male’s choked gasp showed she had caught him off guard.
She had not expected him to backhand her. The blow lifted her off her feet and sent her flying several feet before she hit the hard ground. Her ears rung from the blow and she lay still as her vision blurred.
She almost cried out when hard hands gripped her forearms and lifted her off her feet. The sound of bones cracking behind her barely registered before all hell broke loose. Shouts from the other guards stationed across from them echoed a warning to those sleeping inside.
Saber opened fire with the laser rifle he had taken from the other guard. Jesse found herself wrapped in warm arms that swept her feet up off the ground. She heard Hunter grunt out to Dagger to go up first. She did scream when she felt herself going airborne as Hunter tossed her up to Dagger as if she was a toy doll instead of a hundred and ten pound human.
“I’ve got you,” Dagger said, turning with her.
Jesse’s eyes flew over Dagger’s shoulder trying to keep Hunter in her vision. She breathed a sigh of relief before crying out for him to duck as a figure behind him fired. She struggled to be set down but Dagger’s arms tightened around her.
“Not yet, little warrior,” Dagger said with an amused chuckle. “Your Amate would have my head if I didn’t get you to safety first.”
Additional fighting broke out on the ground and Jesse saw a large group of Trivator warriors pouring into the compound. Her head fell back to watch as several battle transports flew over the building. The sky brightened as the sun broke over the horizon illuminating the battle, or what was left of it, below.
Jesse felt her body being transferred again and pressed protectively against Hunter’s solid form. She relaxed back into him as relief washed over her. He was safe. Her Amate was safe. She closed her eyes as the sounds of fighting ceased and more battle transports arrived.
“Hunter,” Jesse murmured.
“What, my Jesse?” Hunter asked, running his hand over her hair as he watched Thunder’s men round up the last of the mercenaries.
“I love you,” she whispered, burying her nose against his neck. “I’m glad you didn’t leave me too.”
Warmth spread through him at her words. The tightness in his chest appeared again. This time in a different way than it had when he first realized that it was her and not the guard. The tightness and the burning in the back of his eyes were beginning to irritate the hell out of him. He needed to speak with Carp ab
out it.
“We are going to talk about this when I have you safely back on the Star Raider,” he said gruffly.
Jesse sighed heavily again. “About that,” she murmured. “I think I might be in a little bit of trouble.”
A chuckle from Saber drew Hunter’s attention. “She might be in a bit more than a little,” Saber laughed. “She knocked Jag’s ass out just like she did you when he threatened to lock her in a detention cell.”
Dagger’s bark of laughter mixed with Hunter’s groan.
Chapter 17
Several hours later, Hunter wrapped his arm around Jesse’s waist as they departed the transport that had taken them back to the warship. She had refused to let him carry her off it. Fury still burned him. It was a good thing Dagger had killed the guard that had struck Jesse. His eyes moved over the dark bruise covering almost the entire right side of her face. He had not noticed it before because she had kept her face turned into his chest. It was only as they settled in the transport and one of the medics came over to ask if he could examine Jesse that Hunter remembered that the guard had struck her.
“I’m okay, you know,” Jesse said quietly as two guards escorted them to the bridge. “Has anyone let Jordan and Taylor know that we are back?” She asked worriedly. “They should be told.”
“I’ve asked Bree, Carp’s Amate, to inform them,” Dagger said coming up behind them. “I figured you’d be as worried about them as they are about you.”
Jesse gave Dagger a smile of thanks before wincing as the swelling that had begun on the transport pulled on her face. She sighed deeply. She looked a mess. She hadn’t had a bath in almost a week and knew she must stink, her face looked like she had been in a boxing match and lost and she was covered in dirt. She pulled on her shirt but it was useless. A large section was missing from where she had torn it to use as a washcloth to clean Saber’s face.
“Are you sure I can’t get cleaned up first?” She asked self-consciously. “My face…”
Hunter stopped in the middle of the corridor outside the bridge and swung around to glare down at Jesse in concern. Dagger and Saber had to stop quickly so they didn’t run into him. His face turned dark with rebellion.