Worlds Apart 2: Hunter's Revenge (17 page)

Good idea. We just need to keep them separated until after the battle is over. I’ll make sure
Mikel
stays away from Maryann’s quarters and the Recreation Room until all this is over.

Thank you.

Hunter felt Amy close their connection then focused once again on
Mikel
. His friend once again seemed to be staring out into space. Knowing that he’d prefer his privacy while he worried over his mate, Hunter said his goodbyes and headed back toward his and Amy’s quarters. He wanted to spend as much time with her as he could before they reached
Drimada
. Once there, time alone would be impossible to come by as they battled the Black Rose’s forces in their attempt at rescuing as many hostages and victims as they could.

Chapter Twelve

Three days later… Above
Drimada
, aboard the cloaked Chantrean Warship
Vengeance

Amy stared down at the planet
below,
awed by the beauty of the ringed-planet despite the activities she knew took place there. Soon, they’d move the
Chantrean
fleet into position. Their ship,
The Vengeance
would move to
Drimada’s
moon,
Vinusa
, where they were set to raid the dark side.
Mikel’s
fleet had already positioned themselves to target the Black Rose’s camp on the light side of
Vinusa
. Taliff along with Taliff and Hunter’s father,
Brantiff
, would stay above
Drimada
and attack the Black Rose’s base of operations here.

If all went as planned, within days, possibly hours, most of the Black Rose’s hostages would be free and the Black Rose and all her followers would find themselves locked inside the prison levels of the
Manruvian
and
Chantrean
ships. She could only pray to Hunter’s Goddess that all went as planned and that their injuries would be few.

I am your Goddess as well, little one. Have faith in yourself and your man. You have a good plan. Just remember if you get into trouble use the mate bonds to call out to your mate and encourage him to do the same. Good Luck, my child.

Amy swallowed past the thickness that seemed to lodge in her throat and sighed.
Thank you, my Goddess for your well wishes. We’ll need them, I fear.
Even now, Hunter was making last minute plans with his father and brother. Both
Mikel’s
father and Hunter’s insisted he have both
Chantrean
and
Manruvian
guards to protect him when he goes into battle, since neither man would be with him to protect him. Only when Amy agreed that it was the right decision did Hunter finally relent and give permission for bodyguards to accompany him when the time comes.

As though her thoughts had conjured the man himself, she knew the moment he entered their quarters. She didn’t leave her post at the view port, taking these last few seconds to prepare herself for what lay ahead.

Do not worry so,
moya
. We’ll protect each other in the coming battle, and no matter what happens in the coming hours you need to know that I won’t leave your side.

Amy turned and faced Hunter as he quickly closed the distance between them. When he reached out to pull her into his arms, she didn’t resist, laying her head on his chest just over his steadily beating heart. “I know you won’t leave me, I just have this horrible sense of doom riding me. I don’t even know if it has to do with the mission itself or what we’ll find on the dark side of
Drimada’s
moon, on
Vinusa
.”

Hunter ran his hands through her hair, gently stroking its silken length until she began to purr against his chest. His rumbling laughter didn’t even faze her. As far as she was concerned, this might be the last peaceful moments they’d have for the foreseeable future and she would enjoy them while she could.

After a few more moments passed, she felt Hunter’s sigh. “It’s time to put on your fighting leathers,
moya
. I’ll have your back and all those guards you insisted on will have mine. The three-pronged attack is scheduled to commence in less than an hour.”

Amy nodded and with one last gusty breath, pulled out of her mate’s arms. “Okay. Give me a few minutes to suit up and I’ll be ready to accompany you to the debarkation chamber.”

Suiting actions to words in less than five minutes she was dressed for battle in the tan and brown fighting leathers Hunter had presented her with this morning. As she turned to tell Hunter she was ready, she found him holding a woman’s sword and not just any sword but one identical to his own, only smaller in size.

Nothing Hunter could have done would have made her happier. He truly wasn’t going to keep her in a safe place as he fought her battles for her but was instead going to let her stand up to her rapists, her tormenters. Not only that, but he was giving her the means to truly fight by his side.

She didn’t even have the words to thank him properly. Nothing she could say would be
enough,
would mean enough.

Words are unnecessary,
moya
. I know you can wield this with as much skill as you showed when you held me off with my own sword.
“Happy hunting, mate,” he said as he handed her the weapon he had crafted for her.

Amy nodded, took the weapon from her mate then repeated the warrior’s phrase.
“Happy hunting.”

Together, Amy and Hunter left their quarters and headed toward the debarkation chamber. They had a battle to fight and to win. She’d allow no other thoughts or worries to intrude. There would be time enough to worry later.

* * * *

Team One, check in,
Hunter demanded. He was ready to kick some rebel ass. He just hoped he ran into his sister at this base. Sister or not, she’d die by his sword or by one of his compatriots. He’d not allow her to hunt women down and subjugate them to rape and torture ever again. Transporting her to
Chantrea
for trial would just give her another chance at escape. That he couldn’t allow.

Team One, in place
, Taliff answered, speaking telepathically using their blood-bond. Hunter sighed in relief, knowing that right now, Taliff and his father along with three squadrons of warriors were positioned to attack the Black Rose’s supposed main base of operations on the ringed-planet of
Drimada
.

Pressing the mini-microphone button embedded in the sleeve of his leathers, Hunter spoke to Team Two. “Team Two, report.”

The gruff voice of
Mikel
whispered through Hunter’s nearly invisible earpiece. “Team Two, in place. There is some movement. It looks like they are preparing to take off. I’ve seen several male prisoners dragged toward a transport ship, in chains, since our arrival an hour ago.”

“Then we’re out of time. On my mark, all teams attack.”

Amy, who sat crouched beside him behind one of the large black monoliths scattered throughout the dark side of
Vinusa
reached out and gripped his arm, nodded, a fierce expression on her face.

After giving her cheek one last caress, Hunter returned her nod. It was time to take back what was theirs.

“Three.”

“Two.”

“One.”

“All teams converge on targets. Converge on targets.”

As the sound of battle began to transmit through his headset, Hunter’s own adrenaline started to increase. He could even feel Amy’s impatience to begin. Using their night vision goggles, Hunter, Amy and their team, quickly but soundlessly approached the base camp the Black Rose had built inside of a mountain. First they crossed a murky lake then climbed a set of steps carved into the mountain itself. Only at the top of the steps did they finally find access to the hidden tunnels where the hostages and victims were stashed.

This whole side of the moon felt spooky to Hunter. He could only imagine the hell his mate now faced knowing that she might run into her rapists and tormentors. He couldn’t forget about Chrissie who had lived here and had to tell him and the others about her time here while giving then the general layout of the tunnels within the mountain. Without reliving her painful memories, they wouldn’t have a plan to put into action. Even Maryann relived her captivity on the light side of the moon, so that
Mikel’s
team was armed with enough knowledge to rescue anyone still held there. The
Earther
women had more courage and strength of any race of people he’d seen to date. They continually impressed him and his comrades.

With one last glance at his mate to reassure himself that she still remained by his side, Hunter led the squad into the belly of the mountain. He’d gone no more than three meters when he began to hear static through his communications unit. “Say again,
Mikel
. Say again.”

“Shit. My woman transported down here when she recognized one of the men being dragged to the transport. She’s threatening to hijack one of our ships to follow it if I don’t let her go willingly.”

“Why that ship? Who’s on it?” Hunter asked, fully aware everyone around him was listening in on their conversation.

“She just spotted Amy’s brother and the Black Rose get on that ship, so she had
Skalldari
send her down her to plead her case.”

Hunter didn’t need to think about it. He reached out and squeezed his mate’s hand in reassurance. “You and your mate go after that ship. Take your warship,
Victory,
with you. Leave the rest of your team to continue the raid. We’ll make sure they all have quarters.”

“But, the hostages, the rebels, what if—“

“You have your orders,
Mikel
. My sister must be stopped. And recovering my mate’s brother would be appreciated. I trust you to carry out those directives where I’d trust few others.”

“Understood.
Skalldari
?
Two to transport up to the command deck of
Victory
.”
Hunter heard a little bit of a scuffle then nothing as
Mikel
and Maryann were transported to
Mikel’s
ship.

Amy closed her eyes then sighed. “Be careful, my friends,” she whispered. “Be careful.”

Before they could once again begin moving down the darkened tunnels, Hunter stopped as a telepathic message was coming through from Taliff.

What is it, Tal?

There’s nothing here.
Nothing at all.
This place looks completely abandoned. Eve’s parents aren’t here and neither are Amy’s. There is no one here at all, though it looks like this place was just abandoned, maybe only hours ago. I think she’s abandoning all three of these bases, so be on the lookout.

Understood, get back aboard your ship, the
Adventurer and await word. We may need you down here before this is through
.
And while you’re up there having a rest, see what kind of scans Shoshoni can perform on
Drimada
and
Vinusa
.
Perhaps the rebels are gone but some of the hostages could be trapped somewhere we can’t see.

Understood.

Hunter raised his sword as he and his team continued down the tunnels, following the directions Chrissie had given him for the locations of the cells. He hoped to find some survivors at least, but if the rebels got in the way, he and Amy and the others would cut their way through them. They would not be stopped. Not by fear of the unknown.
And not by the rebels.

* * * *

The deeper they moved into the tunnels, the more Amy’s stomach began to cramp up. Something was going to happen, something bad. Before she could even shove that thought away, a feline growl ripped through the tunnels.

A shiver ran down her spine. She’d recognize that particular growl anywhere. Apparently, this is the hellhole
Myra
had chosen to heal in. Well, it would be the last mistake she ever made.

The feline shriek sounded closer, eerie in the enclosed darkness. Back to back, she and Hunter searched the tunnels, while the others spread out, looking for the one tunnel in which she planned to attack them from.

But Amy knew
Myra
, remembered her treachery. She wouldn’t fall for her tricks again. She’d go after the Alphas on this mission, meaning her and her mate, Hunter. For now, everyone else would be safe.

Be on your toes, Hunter. It’s you or me she’ll go after, not the others. Eve bested her
once,
and I nearly killed her the last time we met. She’ll be after blood.

I remember. I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine. The others can take care of themselves
.

Amy grinned, even knowing that in just a few moments she’d have to kill another being. She could give
Myra
no mercy.