Hunters

by Michelle Marquis; Lindsey Bayer

  AEssyria was just as she remembered it—large, green and hot. Of course she’d only been gone two weeks so she hadn’t really expected it to change. As she set her ship down on the dusty landing pad, her external temperature monitor elevated to a balmy 103 degrees, and a desolate feeling chilled her heart. She hadn’t wanted to return here so soon after her lengthy confinement. In fact she hadn’t wanted to return here at all…ever. But she didn’t have much of a choice if she wanted to get Prime. She’d just have to watch her step so she didn’t upset any of the locals.

  Reaching across the seat, she grabbed a black leather pack that contained all her gear, then lowered the cockpit steps and climbed down. Just as she expected, two soldiers stood in front of the landing pad staring at her with open hostility.

  “Missed us that much did you, Knox?” one of them said.

  Harmony decided not to respond and instead tossed her pack at their feet. Turning around, she held up her arms and waited for them to pat her down. She kept her hands raised as they carefully searched her bag.

  She recognized both of the soldiers from her previous stay. One of them looked younger than the other and seemed to be under training. But the other one, the one who had spoken, had obviously seen his share of combat. His forest-green face was deeply lined and his long black hair had gray streaks all through it. The thing that really caught her eye was a thick raised scar that ran from his wrist to his hand. The index finger was missing. From the nature of the wound, her first guess was that it was removed during torture.

  With a lusty smirk he walked around her and placed his hands on her shoulders. Slowly, much too slowly, he ran his large hands across her collarbone, over her breasts and down her belly. The fact that he wasn’t speaking told her that he was enjoying this…a lot.

  The soldier walked behind her. “Take your boots off.”

  Harmony obeyed and tossed them over to the younger soldier who was still searching her pack. She felt the older one’s hands on her shoulders again. Slowly they caressed down her back and over her butt. He was taking time, lingering and giving her some inappropriate squeezes. She bit her lip to keep from uttering something nasty. After he finally reached the bottom of her legs, he stood back up and exhaled a breath right by her ear. “Do I need to search any other parts of you, Knox?”

  “No. I promise I’m in compliance. I won’t do anything that stupid again.” She really didn’t want to be strip-searched.

  “Good, then we’re almost done here.”

  It took those two bastards forty-five minutes to search her pack, her ship and her person before they were satisfied. She answered all their questions in her flawless AEssyrian but that just seemed to aggravate them.

  When she had finished pulling her boots back, on she glared at them. “Are you really finished? Can I go now?”

  The older one nodded, shoved her pack at her and escorted her down the dirt road. When they reached a clearing, he pointed. “There’s a mount for you tied by the gate. The general is waiting for you at the Imperial City in the officer’s mess hall.”

  “Is there a coach?”

  The soldier, who had turned to walk away, turned back around. “A coach? Are you kidding? Who the fuck do you think you are, visiting royalty?”

  Harmony sighed. “Forget it. I’ll walk.”

  The soldier laughed. “Walk? What for? It’s almost five miles to the military compound from here. Why don’t you just take the hyperia?”

  “I don’t like them. Don’t worry about it. Five miles really isn’t that far. I’ll be fine.”

  The soldier shook his head. “Suit yourself.”

  About an hour and half later, Harmony climbed the large steps into an old gray stone building that was the officer’s mess hall. She walked down the cavernous hallway to the main dining area, wondering if the general was still waiting for her. She wiped her sleeve across her brow to clear the sweat away.

  The room was simple but elegant with numerous large round tables covered in white linens and a glossy dark wood floor. At first she thought he had already left but then she spotted him through the open glass doors. General Theron was sitting with his first officer, Colonel Caraculla, at a table in the landscaped courtyard. Both bull males were an impressive sight, standing well over six feet tall with easily three hundred pounds of pure animal muscle. They wore heavy black battle armor with golden rank etchings on the chest, thick black boots with rowel spurs, and long curved sabers.

  Harmony made her way over to them. The general was the first to spot her. His piercing yellow eye fixed on her, the pupil narrowing to a black sliver. The other eye was covered in an eye patch, and a deep diagonal scar ran a little above and below it. Her stomach tightened in apprehension, a primal reaction to being singled out for attention by such a large, dangerous predator.

  The hard planes of the general’s face softened, making him surprisingly handsome.

  Harmony gave him her friendliest smile. “Thanks for letting me come back so soon.”

  He responded by pushing a chair out with his foot in invitation. Harmony sat, glancing at the colonel. He was a Razorback, close cousins to their AEssyrian counterparts in almost every way except they had dark red locks at the temples and could spit corrosive, deadly venom. The colonel caught her eye and nodded to her. She returned the nod and was momentarily mesmerized by the savage beauty of his young masculine features. Breaking her gaze, she focused her attention on the general. A few beads of sweat ran down her hairline and moistened the side of her face.

  “Walked, did you?” the general said. “Honestly, Harmony, I don’t know why you’re so afraid of animals. The mount we provided was harmless.”

  Harmony scowled and let out a long sigh. “I am not afraid of animals, General. I just haven’t had a lot of experience with them. They make me uncomfortable. Now can we get down to business?”

  Gavin gave his colonel an amused glance and leaned across the table toward her, the olive-green skin around his eyes darkening in quiet fury. “No blast weapons this time, Harmony,” he said firmly. “I mean it.”

  Harmony held up her hands. “You don’t have to worry about that. Your goons at the landing pad did everything short of a cavity search. I’m clean. I swear it.”

  The general leaned back in his chair and draped a lock of black hair behind his ear. “I had to make a lot of assurances to the emperor to allow you to come back here. If you fuck up this time, I cannot help you.”

  “I understand, General. Believe me I have no desire to waste another year of my life rotting in one of your prisons. I’ll be good. I promise.”

  Reaching under his chest armor, Gavin withdrew a map of the area with a thick red line drawn through it. Harmony had to resist the urge to snatch it from him. Instead, she grabbed the underside of her chair and scooted closer. The general pointed at the red line with a sharp, curved nail. “As before, he’s gone into the thickest jungle he could find. My scouts tracked him to this river but broke off after that.”

  Harmony studied the markings. “How many has he killed since he’s been back?”

  Gavin glanced at his colonel, who answered. “We’ve recovered three bodies so far. Well, pieces anyway, and the usual bits of clothing and exoskeleton. Those are the only confirmed kills. We have a few missing-person reports from some of the surrounding areas. Their disappearance may or may not be related to your bounty.”

  “He’s waiting for me. That’s why he hasn’t enlarged his hunting ground and ventured into other kingdoms. May I keep this?” Harmony asked, gesturing to the map.

  The general folded it up and handed it to her. Then as an afterthought, he said, “Did you come alone?”

  She bristled but tried not to show displeasure as she put the map in her pocket. “Yes, of course. Why?”

  Gavin shrugged. “Perhaps it would be wise to get some assistance. This hydrocore knows you, knows your habits. He can follow your scent. I would think the fact that he’s waiting for you would be incentive enough to bring a
partner.”

  “I know him better than he knows me. He’ll have his own disadvantages to contend with.”

  The general chuckled darkly. “A hydrocore is never at a disadvantage, my dear. You’re going on foot, I suppose. I’ll have a coach drop you as close to his last kill spot as possible. From there you are on your own.”

  Harmony shifted, anxious to get moving. “I’m not worried. Do you have any other instructions for me?”

  The general took a cigar out of his pocket and placed it between sharp teeth. “No. Just catch the fucking thing and get it off my planet.”

  “Don’t worry,” she reassured him. “I’ll get him this time.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Few things were as thick and rugged as an AEssyrian forest. From the towering hardwoods to the scrub brush that covered almost every square inch of ground, forging a trail was all chopping and pushing through dense undergrowth. It was also the perfect terrain for a hydrocore to set its trap.

  Harmony threaded through the vegetation, hacking vines and leaves out of her path as she went. The coach had dropped her on one of the main roads a few miles back and she had immediately picked up Prime’s trail. Unfortunately hydrocores didn’t stay on roads and paths, preferring to scurry through the underbrush, which made her job that much harder. Dull pain racked her arms from the constant work that grew worse with each passing minute. The only change was the occasional muscle spasm born of exhaustion.

  Luckily for her, the hydrocore’s presence was everywhere. Dark brown bits of exoskeleton littered the forest floor as the creature navigated through the rough terrain far ahead of her. Like mammals that shed their fur, these creatures routinely shed their many outer layers, which made them easier to track. But the intense heat kept forcing her to stop, rest and drink. She would, grudgingly, and then as soon as she could she’d be up again, forcing herself through the brush.

  Alone.

  Her thoughts wandered to Tanner and a feeling of loss filled her. She hated to admit it, but she missed him more than she’d expected to. Somehow, for some unexplained reason, she felt comforted by him, and now that he wasn’t around there was a distinct loss of fun. That feeling of something missing had returned. Did she really enjoy spending all that time with him?

  The only answer could be yes.

  Tanner had to be long gone from Galaxy Recovery by now. He had probably gotten a new assignment from Edna and was off making another bundle of cash. She doubted he’d given her a second thought. Tilting her head back, she stared up through the bright green leaves and wondered if she hadn’t made a mistake not bringing him with her. Was it just ego pushing her to do this alone? She sure hoped not.

  Harmony took another sip of her canteen as a trickle of sweat rolled down her scalp. She dragged her arm across her forehead, mopping away the ever-present perspiration that threatened to run into her eyes. She leaned back against a tree, opened her rations and took a small bite of dried meat. From the condition of the tracks she’d managed to find, she guessed Prime to be about two hours ahead of her. The realization that she wasn’t going to be able to catch him before nightfall descended on her like a case of night sweats. She was going to have to sleep out here without her skip in custody. The prospect did nothing to lighten her spirits. Knowing Prime, he would double back to set her nerves on edge. She’d have to be extra vigilant.

  Harmony stood again, which sent a tired ache down both legs that she ignored. The twin suns were already in the late afternoon phase and she needed to cover a lot more ground. Maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to catch up with Prime before nightfall.

  Harmony followed Prime’s trail until darkness prevented her from going any farther. Exhausted from the long grueling day, she climbed into the largest tree she could find and wedged her sleeping bag along the crook of a thick branch. A rope from her gear secured her to the tree trunk so she wouldn’t fall to the ground in the middle of the night. Although she would have preferred making camp on the ground, it was much too dangerous with all the predators in the forest, most of which would like nothing better than to happen upon a helpless, sleeping Kirillian snack.

  Removing one of several small plastic containers from her pack, she picked out a plump piece of dried apple and chewed it slowly. It wasn’t much but if she took her time it would take the nasty edge off her ravenous hunger. When she got a chance, she would prepare something more substantial. Harmony stopped chewing for a moment and listened. The forest was full of rustling, chirping and squawking. Exactly the sounds she should be hearing. Silence was the one thing that you didn’t want echoing through the wilderness because it usually meant something large, hungry and deadly was nearby.

  Sitting in the darkness with the triple moons casting light through the dense canopy, she realized her thoughts had returned to Tanner. Harmony closed her eyes and recalled every detail—his wolfish gray eyes, the slight hollow of his cheeks, the rich, dark coffee of his hair. Why hadn’t she let him come with her? Again the only answer she could come up with was pride. She didn’t want to even appear to need help and perhaps that had clouded her judgment. There was no doubt having him around made catching skips a whole lot more interesting.

  A new need blossomed within her, a need to be touched and loved, but she angrily pushed it down as a sign of weakness. Could it be that she was so love-starved from her childhood that she needed him more than she realized? Had she been so lonely all these years that she convinced herself she preferred solitude?

  The idea seemed almost ridiculous.

  She had been involved with plenty of men and most of those relationships had lasted a lot longer than the mere few weeks she’d been with Tanner. And when those relationships were over, they were over. No pining, no regrets, and no emotional attachments—just time to move on.

  The truth was there, even though she did everything to deny it. She loved Tanner. It shouldn’t have been a surprising revelation, considering how kind he’d been to her and how loved he made her feel. Heck, he even thought he’d saved her life. She’d been his from the first moment they made love.

  He’d bared his soul with a fearlessness that still shocked her. Harmony hadn’t known how to respond to a desire of that wattage so she’d chosen to reject it and, in a way, a part of him. Looking back over the last few weeks filled her with a searing shame. Perhaps she should have tried to open up to him more. Now she’d lost him, and that truth was a difficult pill to swallow.

  The forest sounds grew softer as the night wore on. It was a blatant reminder other creatures were finding sleep, but not her. She had to stay awake as long as possible because Prime was out there somewhere doubling back, and at night, he definitely had an advantage.

  The attack came just before dawn. In the back of her sleeping mind Harmony heard the guttural clicking of the hydrocore and awoke immediately. She stared down the tree trunk, horrified to see the creature coming up to get her. The hydrocore began his ascent using his prothoracic legs like a climber’s axe to penetrate the thick bark, then used his hook-like feet to grip the tree. Harmony’s heart froze and her throat tightened. A faint aroma of fresh-cut wood drifted up from each wound Prime’s feet made in the trunk.

  For what seemed like an eternity all she could do was stare in horror as the hydrocore scaled the tree with alarming speed. He moved like a finely turned machine, each leg maneuvering smooth and clean, back and forth like a pendulum. A mind-numbing terror took over, a fear so profound and deep she was rendered immobile. But then something inside her snapped and instinct took over.

  Harmony reached for the buck knife sheathed in her boot. She pulled it out fast, too fast for her fingers to encircle the handle, and the weapon fumbled from her grip. Time itself seemed to stop. No! her mind shouted as the breath in her lungs turned to frost. Just as she was certain the knife would fall, she managed to grab it by the blade. Harmony let out a tiny sigh of relief, grateful for the reprieve even though the steel had nicked a cut in her ring finger. It stung and bled a littl
e but was nothing compared to the danger at hand. Thank the gods for small favors.

  Halfway down the tree, Prime continued his climb. He was so close now she could smell the putrid stench of pheromones whiffing from his abdomen. It reeked like wet towels abandoned in the dark to grow mold. She squeezed the knife tight and cut the rope securing her to the branch.

  She was ready for a fight. Prime, seeing she was awake, hesitated for a moment.

  “Come on, fucker,” she said. “Come and get me.”

  An acidic musk filled the air, forming words in her head as the creature replied. “Are you so certain you’d win, little Kirillian? The first time we met I almost took your life.”

  “I’ve learned much more about your species—and you—since then.”

  “We shall see.” Prime scurried up the tree faster.

  When he was only a few inches from her, his jagged mandibles opened and readied for a bite. Harmony gripped the branch over her head and swung forward, slamming her boot into the side of his skull. The hard blow sent him tumbling down to the ground. Prime landed hard on his back, his legs wriggling in the air, looking for purchase.

  Harmony sheathed her knife, slung her pack over one shoulder, and leaned down, gripping the branch she was standing on. Backing her feet off, she fell to a hanging position then let herself drop to the ground.

  Once her feet hit the ground, Prime pushed off from a rock and managed to right himself. Hissing, he lunged at her. Harmony ducked and yanked a net from her pack. Prime jumped in close for a bite and she tossed the net over him.

  But only part of the net landed on the creature, and he effortlessly pulled it off.

  “You’re a poor shot for a bounty hunter,” Prime taunted. He reached down and picked up the net as best he could with hooked hands.

  Without missing a beat, Harmony rolled on the ground to the side of the creature and snatched the net right out of his claws. He clicked several times and hissed loud in protest.