He lifted his chin. “Your beast will have a home with us.”
She’d never had a problem with willpower before. She finished everything she set her mind on. But she had no clue how much longer she could endure, especially since she wasn’t even sure how long she’d been on Turolois or how much longer she had to stay. She also didn’t know if she could physically survive staying any longer.
She’d long ago stopped looking in her compact mirror. She didn’t recognize the woman who stared back. Her once round face was now gaunt and sunken. Sunspots were across her forehead, and windburn made her cheeks red and tender. Her dark eyes looked hollow and vacant. Whenever she remembered to brush her hair, clumps of it stayed tangled in the bristles. Where it was once thick and bouncy, it now hung limp and thin.
Her hands used to be soft but now they were callused and scarred. She’d never been thick, but now she was skinny to the point that she could count her ribs by sight and her hip bones jutted out. She wasn’t sure if the vitamin deficiencies she experienced could ever be corrected. Her teeth hurt constantly, and some were even loose. Her legs cramped throughout the night and her bones hurt. She was a shadow of her former self.
“I don’t care if you’re royalty or not. What I do care about is how you treat me once you get me off this planet.”
“Like a queen.”
She put up a hand. “Yeah, yeah, so you’ve told me. I don’t need to be treated like a queen. I just want you to respect me and to treat me as your equal.”
He stared at her with puppy dog eyes. “I can do that and more.”
“If you mistreat me in any way I’ll kill you. I wouldn’t care about any repercussions that may come my way. I will slit your throat. Do you understand?”
It was like the words came from someone else and not her. She shook her head. This wasn’t what she wanted. What was she doing? How could she even contemplate giving up on The Hunt or on Xrez? She stepped away, putting distance between herself and temptation. She’d come too far to give up now.
“I do—”
Screech! Screech! Screech!
They both glanced at the sky. Esme frowned. By her calculations, she still had a few more hours before the evening alarm.
The hunter yelled as he dropped into the ground.
She threw up her hands. “What the heck is happening—” the ground moved beneath her feet. One minute she was standing, the next she was dropping into a pod and racing forward on its track.
“Xrez!” she screamed.
* * *
She’d known exactly what was happening when she’d dropped into that pod. She hadn’t called one, and unless Bradliix and Xrez had lied to her, there was no other level after three.
Xrez had pulled her from The Hunt.
When she was pushed from the pod, she was greeted by a handful of aliens who’d identified themselves as the medical technicians. Despite her many demands they hadn’t called for Xrez. They’d performed her physical by waving some kind of handheld device across her body, then administered a series of medications through a puff of air into her skin. They also removed her collar and comlink.
Esme had kept Piper calm as they’d performed her physical then they were both escorted to a bedroom where she was encouraged to shower. The room was more of a three-room suite. There was a room with a bed, furnishings to hold clothes if she had any and large overstuffed chairs. There was also a room with couches and chairs and one that held a desk and small meeting area. She’d washed herself and Piper, and when she was finished, she found a fresh pair of clothes waiting on the bed and all the medical technicians gone.
Out of habit she went to touch her comlink but pressed her naked wrist. “Dammit, Xrez!” she yelled out loud.
Piper whimpered. She laid on the floor near the bed. Esme was feeling the same way she was sure Piper did, unsure and nervous about the entire experience.
The sliding door opened and Esme stilled. Xrez sauntered in, and she caught her breath. Had he always been that handsome, predatory, sexy and perfect? His eyes settled on her, and she felt the weight of his stare. A multitude of emotions flashed across his eyes at once.
“Esme.”
She wanted to leap into his arms. She wanted to touch him to assure herself Xrez was real. She wanted to feel his hair on her fingertips. She wanted to take in his scent and let it fill her lungs. She wanted to cry and bury her head on his chest.
Instead, she stood her ground and crossed her arms. Piper growled at her side. “Xrez.”
His hands opened and closed at his sides. “I trust you like your room? It’s many steps up from what you’ve had.”
She leaned on one leg and tapped the foot of the other against the floor. “You can’t do this, it’s against the rules.”
“You’ve won.”
She snorted. “Oh, I just so happened to have won when I was negotiating my capture with a hunter?”
He balled his hands into fists. “You were doing what?” he growled.
The tone in his voice would’ve made her recoil before, but she wasn’t that docile woman from Earth anymore. “You heard me.”
“Why would you do that when you’ve come so far?”
“Because I was tired!”
He spread out his arms. “You would’ve left with another?”
She raised her chin. “I might’ve.”
He opened his mouth then snapped it shut.
“You have to send me back.”
He shook his head. “Despite what you think, you won.”
She narrowed her eyes. The anger she’d had before came raging back. “You knew how I felt about being rescued, and you did it anyway because you didn’t want me to leave with someone else. But guess what? I would gladly accept my fate, good or bad, rather than to get a free pass when I know you didn’t afford my friends the same consideration. Send. Me. Back.”
“I couldn’t if I wanted to. Your collar and comlink have been removed. Once that happens it goes on record that you’re out of The Hunt. Notifications to the hunters have already gone out, explaining your accomplishments.”
She rolled her eyes. “Puh-leez. My greatest accomplishment was catching your eyes. My friends that were captured didn’t have you to save them at the last minute. My friends didn’t have you helping them out every step of the way. They did it on their own. I cannot forgive you for rescuing me.” Her voice began to break.
“Can I—”
She glared at him. “How can I live with myself knowing what they’ve endured and knowing that I cheated through you?” She shook her head as the tears streamed down her cheeks. “I will never forgive you for this. You promised that you wouldn’t interfere.”
“Esme—”
She glared at him and held up her hands. “Get out, Xrez.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Esme sat cross-legged in the middle of the oversized bed. She’d eaten so much that her stomach was distended and hard as a rock. If it weren’t for the pains, she would’ve still been stuffing her face.
Someone had come an hour ago and delivered what Esme could’ve only described as a plethora of food. She hadn’t recognized a single dish, but that hadn’t stopped her from taking a bite out of everything. What she didn’t like, she gave to Piper who was more than happy to finish off the plates.
Piper lay stretched out beside her. The only giveaway that Piper wasn’t sleep was that every few minutes her ears would twitch, and she would lift her head to look at the door. Apparently, Piper was just as nervous about what lay ahead as Esme was.
She wasn’t sure if Piper was allowed on the bed, but she didn’t care. Piper was clean and deserved some pampering after sticking with Esme through thick and thin and watching her back.
Right on cue Piper lifted her head and stared at the door and whined softly. Esme thrust her fingers into the fur along Piper’s back. “I know this new place makes you nervous. It makes me nervous too.” Piper’s tail thumped on the bed. “Just think of this as a new Level. We’ll b
eat this one too.”
There was a chime at the door. Piper growled. Esme splayed her fingers on Piper’s back and applied pressure, keeping her arrancar in place. “Come in,” she yelled.
The door slid open and in walked Bradliix. He was just as she’d remembered him. Dark and willowy and dripping with shiny jewelry. He took one look at the empty tray of food that she’d pushed to one side of the wall, then with a satisfied nod he turned to her. “I wasn’t sure what you would like.”
“Piper liked it all.”
He raised a dark-colored eyebrow. “Did you eat as well?”
Esme snorted. “Why are you asking the question when you already know the answer?” She glanced around the room looking at nothing in particular. “I know you have cameras in here.”
Bradliix lowered himself in one of the chairs and crossed one thin leg over the other. “You are no longer in The Hunt, Esme. You are afforded privacy.”
“So there wasn’t anyone watching me shower or dress?” In the arena she’d gotten over her modesty real quick. She couldn’t tell where the cameras were or who watched her, but she knew if she let herself dwell on it, she would’ve had a harder time than she was already having.
“You are free. Trust that there are no cameras in your suite. Once we get your account set up, you’ll be a citizen of the Galactic Federation of Planets.”
“If I’m free, as you say, that would mean I can walk out of here and leave.”
Bradliix cocked his head to the side. “Not yet.”
“Ah, so I’m still a prisoner on Turolois.” Just as she’d suspected.
“You’re no longer a captive, Esme. You’re being kept here for your own well-being. As we speak, the technicians are creating your profile, a record of your existence. After your profile is in place, we’ll transfer credits into your account.”
“Then I can leave?”
He gave her a nod. “Of course, after the ceremony.”
“Ceremony?” She snorted. “What’s the point of celebrating?”
“There aren’t many who complete Level Three.”
Instantly, the others came to her mind. She’d had long hours in solitude to think about everyone she’d woken up on this God forsaken planet with. They’d been strangers, and they still were, but they’d shared something that would bond them together forever.
“Where is everyone else? Ben? Miranda? Her kids? Payton?” When Bradliix tilted his head to the side and gave her a confused look, she immediately knew those names meant nothing to him and didn’t see the need to continue. She let out a humorless chuckle. “Of course you probably hadn’t taken the time to learn their names.” She took a deep breath to steady her nerves and hold back the tears that threatened to rush forward.
“There were two humans who were captured on the first day and a third taken a few days later. I don’t know their fates. The hunters aren’t required to provide us any information.”
She pursed her lips. From what Xrez had told her, Spencer, Mary Ann and Kaylin wouldn’t have a good life since they’d been taken in Level One. That thought made her terribly sad, but it was one that she’d accepted a long time ago.
“The mother and her children were taken by the contract hunter. He’d intended to sell her as a mate to another, but I have it on good authority that he has kept her for himself.”
Esme couldn’t help it. The tears poured down her cheeks. She’d known the odds had been stacked against Miranda and the kids, but hearing it ripped her heart.
“The male that you initially traveled with was taken by a female warrior race. He will most likely be used as a breeder.” When Esme hiccupped out a cry, Bradliix held up his hand. “They treat their males well. He went with the warrior willingly. It was his choice. Another made the choice as well. The female with the beast.”
“Payton.” Esme couldn’t imagine Payton going willingly to a hunter. But then again, Esme had almost been driven to make that same choice.
Bradliix gave a short nod. “Do not grieve for her. She will have a good life.”
“The others, Danny, Min and Yesinia?”
“They were taken by force. Level’s Three and Level Two.”
Esme curled her hands into fists. No one had gotten out of this mess easily. She could only imagine what their life was like now and she didn’t like the pictures that popped into her mind. “Scrap the ceremony.”
“Esme, it’s a high honor, and we gather to recognize this great accomplishment.”
She rolled her eyes. “I was kidnapped from my home, forced to kill, and because I won against the odds I get to be recognized at a ceremony.”
“I’ll scale it down. I had invited all of the employees to attend. I cancel that. The recorders will have to be present though. They’ll have to document your win for the records.”
“You and I both know that I really didn’t win. Did Xrez tell you I was this close to being captured?” She pinched her thumb and finger together. “This close. A few minutes later I might’ve been in the processing center on my way to starting my new life.”
“You weren’t in danger of being captured. You’d proven yourself time and time again. You were surrendering.”
“Of course, you know about it.” She narrowed her eyes. “Were you and Xrez watching together?”
He tilted his head to the side. “Xrez wasn’t privy to what was transpiring. He was in a meeting with his sister’s mate. They were finalizing the transition of his personal business.”
“Oh, he watched me.” She leaned forward. “I don’t believe any of this is a coincidence, Bradliix. Just when I was thinking about surrendering, I won? Nah, I don’t believe it.”
“You’re right; it wasn’t a coincidence. I was watching you because we were already making preparations to pull you from the arena. Understandably, I didn’t want any mishaps before the extraction. When I saw what you had planned I removed you immediately. Yes, it was before your time, which we’d already determined would’ve occurred at the evening alarm.
“But it would’ve been unfortunate for you to come as far as you had only to throw it all away. Take comfort in knowing that I would’ve authorized to pull you from The Hunt for any number of reasons while we awaited extraction. You won. The delay was over a technicality.”
She furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head vehemently. “But…but, I thought Xrez did it.”
“You were very adamant about staying in The Hunt. He respected your wishes. It would have shattered his heart to see you claimed, but he would’ve seen it through. As it is his duty.”
“I don’t know about his heartbreaking.” She’d expected someone wearing that much jewelry would be overdramatic. “I think that’s a bit much.”
“I don’t believe so, Esme. His heart has been broken since the day you rejected his claim. Signing the documents releasing you in the care of another would have splintered it beyond repair.”
* * *
Esme was ushered into a room that held two chairs next to a table but otherwise bare. There was artwork on the walls depicting scenery she didn’t recognize. True to his word, Bradliix hadn’t packed the room with a lot of fanfare, celebrating her accomplishments of finishing Level Three. There were only Bradliix, Xrez and two staff members present.
At seeing Xrez, she tripped over her feet. Bradliix righted her before she made a total fool of herself and hit the floor. She’d thought to make a joke of it to break the ice with Xrez, but there wasn’t a hint of a smile on his lips or friendliness in his demeanor. He stood with hands clasped behind his back and head held high.
She owed him an apology, and she’d planned to give him that and more. She’d thought about her decision the entire night, even talking it through with Piper, who had agreed with her. Well, not verbally, but Esme was sure Piper would like Xrez as much as she did.
Before she could talk to Xrez, the personnel, who she’d recognized as the medical staff, embedded a chip in the inside of her wrist. Bradliix explained the chip had her file and
credit account downloaded on it. She was also given a new comlink, fancier than her previous one. She was now a true citizen of the Galactic Federation. Before she could process what that meant, seven hunters were paraded inside.
Even though the room was a nice size and the hunters didn’t encroach her personal space or approach her, she still felt smothered. She kept telling herself she wasn’t in The Hunt any longer, but that didn’t do anything to calm her nerves. It was ingrained in her to run, fight and hide.
She stood straight, chin held high and shoulders back and stared down the hunters lined up in front of her. She recognized some of them. They’d given her nightmares. They’d hunted her relentlessly. They’d begged her to accept them as a mate. They’d promised her riches and an easy life.
If she weren’t trying her best not to freak out, she would’ve found the situation hilarious. She’d spent her time being terrorized by them, and now Bradliix and Xrez thought she would pick one as a mate. Ha!
All the hunters who were interested in her were present. Bradliix had explained this wasn’t a claiming but a partnership if she chose it.
She’d known all morning the hunters would be present. She’d talked herself into being strong and told herself not to show fear. Even as she faced them down, trying to portray confidence and resolute fearlessness, she couldn’t stop her hands from shaking. Piper, sensing her distress, pressed against Esme’s leg and had her sharp teeth on full display.
Esme was sure anyone watching her would believe that she paid attention to every single word spoken to her. But as each hunter stepped forward and laid out their promises to her and their future, she couldn’t for the life of her concentrate on anything they said.
She didn’t want any of them. How could she? Yes, in a few moments of weakness she had considered one, but that moment was well past.
But she did want a mate. Her mate would be someone who made her laugh easily. He would respect her opinions and counsel. Her mate would light a fire in her belly every time she thought about him. And he would bring a smile to her lips whenever he whispered in her ear. Her mate might have his faults, but despite that, she still craved to be around him.
The Game Warden's Mate: An Alien Abduction Romance (The Hunt Book 1) Page 27