Worlds Apart 2: Hunter's Revenge (5 page)

“But…”

“No buts, Hunter. I’ll call you on the communications system the second she shows signs of waking.”

“Fine,” the man agreed. She could hear both reluctance and resignation in his voice, could almost feel it. But, that was impossible. Wasn’t it? Nothing about this situation made sense, especially nothing they said. And what’s with all this mate business anyway?

She felt the lightest touch as someone smoothed a hand down her hair. Calloused fingers trailed down her cheek, the column of her throat. Then the hand retreated and so did some of the warmth surrounding her. Goddess, she’d lost her mind. It was the only logical answer to the strange connection she sometimes sensed between her and the male—if you could call insanity logical. She couldn’t be connected to him. She refused to admit to any connection with him. He was a man. That alone was enough to keep her from wanting anything to do with him.

“Already I can’t live without her, Eve. What if she won’t accept me? Won’t accept the bond between us?”

Amy sensed Eve move closer. “Just give her time, Hunter. She needs time to adjust—adjust to her new surroundings, even to the freedom she’ll have aboard your ship. Hell, Hunter, nothing is going to be easy on her once she wakes. Let her take this time to rest so that at least her body is rested and strong when it’s time for her to face the everyday things we take for granted.”

Amy heard Hunter’s sigh and relaxed a bit, knowing he’d soon leave the room. How could she tell Eve she would never be comfortable here? She could never be comfortable with a man, ever again.

“You’re right, Eve. No wonder my father made you his advisor. You are wise beyond your years. I’ll be back shortly. Take care of her while I’m gone and if…”

“Yeah, yeah.
I know. I’ll call the second she so much as twitches.”

Even with her eyes closed, she sensed Hunter’s hesitant nod, could visualize it in her mind’s eye. Within seconds, she heard the door whoosh open then close. She felt it the instant he left the room. Some insane loneliness crept over her when he left. Just knowing he was gone left her feeling strange, bereft,
insane
. She would
not
feel anything for the man. She would
not!

“
It’s
okay, Amy. He’s gone. You can open your eyes now.”

At first Amy stiffened then relaxed, opening her eyes for the first time since she regained consciousness. She should have known that Eve would realize she was awake. She squinted, holding her hand above her eyes, the seemingly bright light of the room nearly blinding her. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, even with the lighting dimmed as it was. Only half the bulbs of the recessed lighting were lit and she still felt pain when she opened her eyes. How long had she been kept in the dark tunnels? How many months had they kept her there, trying to impregnate her and the others?

When her eyes finally grew accustomed to the light, the first thing she noticed was the beautiful woman sitting across from her. Oh, Goddess. She was real. Eve. So many days she woke in hell, wishing, praying Eve would come for her. Days became weeks, weeks became months, and eventually all hope for rescue withered and died. “It’s you. It’s really you.” Tears slid down her cheeks as she stared at the woman she’d longed to see for so long.

Eve smiled, tucked a long strand of her blonde hair behind her ear as she leaned forward. “Yes, it’s me.”

Amy watched as tears filled Eve’s eyes. She turned her head away and quickly wiped them away before turning back. “We never gave up hope of one day finding you.” Eve cleared her throat. “You and the others,” she added. “Hunter wouldn’t give up. He knew you were out there. After a few years of searching, he said he finally felt you. He said he felt your pain, your humiliation. He wouldn’t rest—hasn’t truly rested—since he connected with you several months ago.”

“Connection?”
What connection? She wondered, but her heart knew. She’d felt him there from time to time. Felt him giving her comfort.
Whispering unbelievable promises of rescue.
She’d never believed him. How could she? He was a male, after all. What man would ever be that caring, that compassionate?

One question ran through Amy’s mind repeatedly. She needed to know. “How l—“

Her voice cracked so she tried again.
“How long?”

Eve winced, lowered her head to stare at the floor. Amy stiffened, tried to sit up. Eve stood and quickly pushed her back against the pillows. “Just
lay
down and rest. Your body still needs to recover. I’ll answer your questions.” With a sigh, Eve returned to her seat, rubbed her back yet again. That’s when Amy finally noticed the curve of Eve’s belly.

“You’re pregnant,” she said, though how she hadn’t noticed it at first she’d never know.

Eve chuckled. “Yes, and not for the first time either.” Eve’s smile disappeared and her gaze grew somber as she reached for her hand. After lacing their fingers together, Eve looked her straight in the eye. “Nearly six years, Amy. The Black Rose attacked
Taliff’s
ship, kidnapping you and the others nearly six years ago.”

 
Amy swallowed, looked away. She fisted her hands in the sheets as rage filled her. Six years of her life stolen with no way to ever get them back.
Six fucking years.
If she ever got her hands on the Black Rose, nothing and no one would stop her from hacking the woman into bits with her claws.

She licked her lips then turned back to Eve, letting her see all the hatred and rage inside her. “How many women were rescued besides me?”

Eve stood, running her palms over her belly as she did. “Counting you, we brought nearly three dozen women on board.”

Amy heard the sadness in the woman’s voice and knew whatever Eve said next would not be pleasant. “One woman died before she could get to the medical bay for help. Several more are in critical condition.”

“And those sent down to the surface? How did they fare?”

Eve grimaced, rubbed her belly before returning to her seat. “Two, as you know, died protecting Maryann. There was nothing we could do for them, but—“

Amy pushed herself to her elbows before slowly sitting up. Gripping the sheet beneath her arms, she scooted back until she rested against the headboard. Even that much movement wore her out. She didn’t have time for weakness, not now, maybe not ever.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

Eve stood again, paced from one end of the small room to the other and back again, rubbing her lower back the entire time.

“But what, Eve?” she asked again. “Don’t stall. I’m obviously not the girl I once was.” She cast her gaze around the room thinking. God, how old was she now?
Twenty-five, Twenty-six?
Shaking her head, she turned her thoughts back to what was important. Her age didn’t matter anymore. “I can handle whatever you have to say.”

Eve winced then nodded before turning to face her once again. “
Myra
wasn’t with the others. Somehow, she managed to find a hole to crawl into before we sent the guards to retrieve the fallen men.”

Amy snarled, not even bothering to control the furious lioness that raged within. She should have made sure the treacherous bitch died before they headed to the rendezvous point.

Eve nodded. “I had the same reaction when I heard that piece of information. The good news is we have one of the Black Rose’s followers in a cell for questioning. Perhaps we can finally learn where she keeps her headquarters.”

“I want to be there. When you question the rebel, I want to be there.”

“I figured you’d feel that way.” She stood and made her way to the door, then stopped and turned giving her a thoughtful look on her face. “You’re right, you know. You’re not the same girl I knew. Now you’re a strong, courageous woman. You’ve grown in the last years. You’ve become stronger, more sure of yourself and you’ve become a woman who has and
can
face anything, and don’t you forget it.” Eve waved as the door slid open then stopped on the threshold. “I imagine Hunter will be here shortly. I’d take this time to shore up your defenses. It’s never wise to let a man—
any man—see
you at your most vulnerable. It always has a way of coming back to bite you on the ass when they do.” She turned to go then stopped herself once again. “He’s a good man, Amy. He deserves a chance. At least give him that.”

“I’ll remember that,” Amy whispered, but Eve was already gone leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Chapter Four

By the time Hunter managed to clean in the public bathing pool and grab a quick meal in the ship’s refectory, more than one standard hour had passed. He hated leaving Amy, even for that long, no matter the reason. He couldn’t fault Eve’s wisdom, though. He
did
feel better, rejuvenated, after the small respite. But he’d been gone long
enough,
he needed to return to his mate.

How much longer
would she
sleep, he wondered. If she slept much longer, he’d contact his father’s personal physician on
Chantrea
. Perhaps, he’d have some advice, something to suggest that the
Manruvian
healer may have missed because of the difference between the
Lionese
and
Manruvian
physiologies. Briefly, he wondered if she would be upset or relieved by the news she must be told.

As he moved closer to their quarters, Hunter’s connection with his mate strengthened. He knew before he reached their suite that she was awake. Awake and agitated. When he reached their cabin, he braced himself before entering the security code that would allow him access to the suite. He just prayed that whatever his mate needed to heal, to move forward in her life, he had the power or the resources to give it to her.

He closed his eyes and prayed to the Goddess Alana that he would also have the patience. His body raged at him, his inner beast demanded he claim his mate but he knew she needed time. He just hoped he had the strength to give her the time she needed. The last thing he wanted was to become the monster she now thought every male to be. Taking a deep breath, he forced his raging libido under control and waited for the door to open.

Tucking his fear and nervousness into the farthest corner of his mind, Hunter stepped into his quarters. He immediately looked toward the bed, expecting to find his mate huddled beneath the covers. Instead, he found her bent over one of his storage chests, rummaging through its contents. Pride surged through him as he realized just how strong his mate was. She was one to take action when the situation warranted it. She stepped up and took charge of her life, instead of sitting back and waiting for things to happen. Those were wonderful and almost required qualities for a queen.

His cock jerked, pulsed with need as he glimpsed the pale cheeks of her rounded bottom as she bent over. She hadn’t heard his approach yet, so for just this moment he could watch her while her guard was down. She managed to locate one of his tunics to cover
herself
in his absence, but that didn’t prevent him from remembering exactly how she looked unclothed while in the healing chamber.

Her skin had been as soft as a dream, her complexion creamy and flawless. Her golden-red hair hung long and thick, nearly to her waist. Her breasts—her breasts were perfect, high and firm and would completely fill his hands. He closed his eyes for a moment and swallowed thickly at the memory. Her waist was narrow, her hips and bottom lush. His breath hitched when he glanced at her legs. They seemed to go on forever. Her entire body had a lushness to it that absolutely fascinated him.

The healers had thought him out of his mind when he demanded that every cut, every bruise be healed before she awoke. It was bad enough she would have her memories of her time with those animals. She didn’t need the visual reminders of her abuse.

He’d give anything to have the right to touch her right now, to bind her to him using the
Manruvian
Mate Bonds stored in the trunk she was busy ransacking. He wanted to sink his cock into her wet heat, to merge their bodies as he bound their souls together. But no matter what his body wanted, his soul craved, her needs came first, would always come first. He would not take away her choices, would not force such a bond on her. She’d suffered at the hands of others enough. He refused to act like all the others, taking away her choices for his own selfish needs.

Knowing she’d hate being caught unawares, Hunter silently stepped back out into the hallway. As soon as the door silently slid closed in front of him, he pressed the button for the suite’s intercom system. He hoped in announcing himself to her before meeting him face to face, she might feel more in control, thus more comfortable in his presence. That was the plan anyway.

“Yes?”

Hunter shook his head when Amy’s voice cut through his thoughts surprised to be caught daydreaming.
I wonder how many times she responded to my call while my worries played through my
mind?
He cleared his throat then spoke as gently as he could. “Good morrow, Amy. My name is Hunter Shi’Lan. Do you mind if I come inside and speak with you for a few minutes. I’m sure you have many questions you’d like answered.”