Hearts of Ishira (Hearts of Ishira Saga) (59 page)

“Not all of us can be ancient like you, Gust,” Hunter retorted. “How old are you now? One hundred eighty? Ninety?”

“One-sixty seven, and well you know it, boy,” Gust said, rolling his eyes. “I’m a hundred years older than you, and always have been. Now, stop teasing this old man and let me show you what we’ve found.”

An hour later, as the men around her were busily crocheting or knitting pieces of practice cloth, Arianna looked up to find Hunter striding their way. He reached down to help her to her feet, then waited as she brushed dried grass from her bottom.

“I apologize, gentlemen,” he said, “But I must show my mate the ship. It’s her first time being on a space ship, and I think she’s waited long enough.”

“First time?” one of the men, a tawny tabby named Hep, hopped up to join them. The others put aside their projects and followed, as well. Hunter grinned to himself. She was taking hold of his men’s hearts just as firmly as she had his and Jace’s. She had been here less than two hours, and already his men would kill or die for her. And she didn’t preen or act as though she were entitled to the treatment. Instead, she always seemed surprised, then gracious and appreciative when someone did something nice for her. He loved that about her.

In minutes, Trey had dragged Bev away from the computer by promising her more electronic wonders inside the ship. The girls were walking together, their men on either side, as they entered a real space ship for the first time under their own power.

Arianna found she was breathing more heavily.

This
was a ship! A real, live, space-ship! This vessel had brought her men to this world, had sustained them on their flight from their own planet. It had brought them to safety, and she couldn’t help but lean a palm against the walls of the corridor for just a moment in thanks. Then she found herself wanting to explore and touch everything. For hours, she and Bev flitted this way and that, taking in every aspect of the ship, asking questions about life support systems, waste control, water recycling, food processing… anything at all that popped into their minds popped out of their mouths.

Fortunately, Hunter and Trey didn’t have to answer all of their questions, though they easily could have. Bev and Arianna’s newest bevy of admirers answered every one of the girls’ queries with patience and indulgence, even the most indelicate of them. Apparently, human waste disposal was a major concern back on Ri’s world, especially in the populated areas, and she was interested in figuring out how to integrate the ship’s technology into future expansions of their colonies here. She seemed disappointed to learn that Hunter had already done all that, and that such was standard procedure when setting up a new colony or city for his people.

She got over her pout quickly enough, though, when he showed her the exercise areas and sparring room. Bev exclaimed over the high-tech displays around the room, while Arianna had to test every piece of equipment before her curiosity was satisfied. When one of the men picked up a small ball and showed her one of their crew’s favorite games, she amused them all by chasing the ball around with the others. Usually, it was a rather graceful game, intense and well-choreographed. With Arianna and Bev in the mix, though, it turned into a riotous affair, with the men laughing helplessly at the girls’ antics as they tried to get the tosses, throws, and swings just right.

Hunter vowed that he would organize the compound’s men to put on a game in the near future, so she could see how it should be done. But when she collapsed at his side, grinning, panting, and glistening from her exertions, he thought that perhaps her way was more fun. Not nearly as elegant and skillful, but he loved the way she looked right now, with damp corkscrews of hair curling tightly in front of her ears, her face shining and rosy, her mouth seemingly permanently curved into her lovely smile. He wanted to send the men out, lay her down on the mats stacked near the wall, and make love to her, right here and now.

She sensed his desire and caught her breath as her eyes heated. Her smile kicked up a little, turning into the secret, sexy smile he loved so much. Along their mental bond, she showed him something
very
naughty using one of the pieces of equipment, and his body hardened in a rush that took his breath.

“I believe I have created a monster,” he whispered to her. She wrinkled her nose.

“You didn’t create it,” she said with an amused sniff. “You should see some of the books I read. But you
have
been the one to bring it out.”

“Then I am glad that you read those books.” He would make it a point to inspect her library a bit further. Perhaps Trey and Bev could suggest something enticing for him to memorize and act out with her. He’d have to ask them when he got them away from her. “But for now, behave, or we will shock our men when I toss them from the room and bend you over that vaulting post and…”

She put her hand over his mouth to stop his indecent and intriguing words, giggling at him.

“Later!” she breathed, kissing his nose.

“You two lovebirds, stop it and come on. There’s more to see!” Bev called from the door. “Or should we let you lag behind for a few minutes?”

Hunter laughed and rose to his feet, helping Arianna to hers, though she was perfectly able to do so now. He just liked touching her, and she liked his touch. She loved the strength that he shared with her. It made her feel delicate, small, and cherished. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her from the room, following the group out into the corridor and toward the damaged section of the ship.

Hunter stood in the charred, twisted hole that had been part of the storage holds of his ship. Ri could feel his turmoil, sense his mind trying to come to terms with what they had discussed in the memorial yard. She twined her fingers through his, linking with him mentally, offering her love and support. For a long moment, they just stood there, watching workers remove the damaged areas so that new metal could be welded onto the frame. As one of the workers moved past them to grab a tool, Hunter stood back, closer to the wall. Ri stumbled a bit as she stepped out of the way, her back hitting the bulkhead behind them.

A gasp escaped her and Hunter whipped his head down to her. Her eyes were huge, wide and dilated, and he could tell in an instant that she was Reading. Clenching her hand securely in his, he touched her face and joined his mind to hers.

“Siae? Kale?” he breathed, his eyes widening. Ri cried out in distress, but stayed where she was. Even in grief and reliving a horrible moment of death, she was too curious to release the cause of her distress. Hunter breathed deeply, closing his eyes against the pain of losing his brothers all over again.

A rumble, the shaking of the bulkheads. The outer hull breaching. Several men killed instantly in the next compartment over. Siae and Kale grabbing onto a nearby beam and holding to it and to each other desperately. Their fervent vows not to let go, then… nothing. Absolutely nothing. No heat, no fire, no ripping of their bodies in explosion. There was simply… nothing
.

Hunter dragged in a breath as Gust and Trey grabbed hold of their commanders and pulled them apart, away from the wall. Gust cradled Ri, urgently calling her name, trying to bring her back to the present. Hunter lay on the floor, gasping with the memory. He wanted to go to Ri, but couldn’t summon the energy to do so.

“Hunter,” she said feebly. “What was that?”

“I… don’t know,” he panted, brow furrowing. “I don’t think it should have happened that way.”

“What happened?” Trey asked quietly. Hunter recounted his view of the memory, focusing on the end, where his brothers simply stopped feeling anything. He turned bewildered eyes on his second lieutenant.

“I had always imagined them in pain, in those last minutes.”

“And they should have been,” Gust said, sitting beside his commander, shaking his head. “I don’t mean to add to your grief, Hunter, but the men should have left more of an imprint of their final moments. It is odd that they did not.”

“Maybe the Solvari beamed them out at the last second?” Bev offered timidly. The men turned their attention to her. She shrugged, blushing. “If they developed cloaking technology without your knowledge, who’s to say that they didn’t know how to teleport people? Is it possible that they took your brothers hostage or something?”

Hunter and Trey blanched. Gust looked like he wanted to be sick.

“Ten years in the hands of the Solvari?” Gust uttered, aghast.

“I’d rather they died instantly,” Hunter said, dropping his head.

“I don’t think they’re dead, Hunter,” Ri said softly, sitting up with Gust’s help. Hunter stared at her. “I didn’t get the impression of death. Just… nothingness.”

“Little one,” Gust said gently, “How would you know the difference?”

“I was there, watching, when my entire family was killed in an explosion,” she whispered up to the much-older man. He choked in empathy. “I know what it felt like then. And I know what it feels like when someone loses consciousness. The impression I got from those last moments was the latter.”

She looked at Hunter, hope in her eyes.

“I just… it doesn’t feel like they’re dead, Hunter.”

He nodded slowly.

“I have avoided this section of the ship until now,” he admitted quietly, “Because I was afraid I’d feel their deaths. But you are right. It didn’t feel like death, but something else.”

Ri nodded, offering a small smile.

“If they are like you, at all,” she said, moving to his side, “Then they have either escaped or they’re giving their captors complete hell, waiting for the chance.”

Hunter managed a laugh at that, as did his men. She had never met his brothers, but she had just described them perfectly. Looking around the compartment, Hunter shook his head, allowing himself to hope for the first time since the attack. It had never occurred to him that anything other than death could have taken his brothers from him. But Ri’s senses were very keen, possibly more so than his own, and she was picking up on the possibility, as well. He trusted that.

With a gusty sigh, Hunter got to his feet, offering a hand to Ri.

“Why don’t we see the rest of the ship?” he asked softly. “Then perhaps some lunch? I am famished after that mental activity.”

“I am, too,” Arianna grinned. “That takes a lot out of me!”

Gust preceded his commander onto the bridge, then stood back and allowed Hunter to inspect the area. When Hunter’s eyes lit on a small blinking light on the commander’s station, he strode forward.

“Gust, when…”

“We got it working just this morning, Commander,” Gust said proudly. “The homing beacon is now broadcasting.”

“Then…”

“If any of our ships are within range, they will find us.” Gust said softly, his voice intense with the emotion he was holding inside. Trey’s team whooped with joy, and they took turns hugging and kissing Bev, hugging one another, then Hunter.

Arianna wanted to be happy for them, but she had to wonder what their people finding the colony would mean for her and her newfound life? She walked slowly around the bridge, looking at the various controls, stations, and displays that seemed to be working, though dimly, as though running on minimal power. There was a large window just past the commander’s station, where Hunter still stood, and she wandered over to look out at the tiny valley in which the ship nestled.

This world was so lovely. She had to admit that it was also very nice to be one of the few women in the population. What would happen when the warriors were reunited with their families? With other women of their kind? Would the matings that they had formed with her group be nullified? Would she and her women be discarded?

“Never,” Hunter breathed in her ear, having come up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, resting his chin lightly on her head as he held her back to his front and looked out the window with her. “I would not set you aside, nor would I ever try to replace you.”

“Surely you had a woman you were interested in back on Thorsan,” she mumbled. He chuckled and she felt his head shaking.

“No, little one. I think my heart always knew there was something better waiting for me. I had wonderful companions for short periods, of course, but I never fell in love. Somehow, I always sensed that you were out there, waiting for me to find you. I never questioned it, I just looked forward to the day I would finally meet you.”

She sighed happily, reassured a bit by that. He believed what he was saying, with all his heart. She could feel his emotions, his feelings for her. She had to stop doubting him. And she needed to stop doubting herself, as well. Hunter’s joy and the thoughts of his family swirled into her mind, mingling with her own hope for his people. Her body stiffened suddenly, as a strange feeling swept through her. She looked up through the window, toward the sky. Something was out there. Something strong, powerful, and… coming this way.

“Hunter,” she breathed, clutching his hand, opening her senses so that he could feel what she felt. His breath caught as he explored the strange energy. But in her ear, he merely whispered, “Say nothing, until we know what it is.” She nodded, then cast about for what they had been talking about before she got that feeling.

“So what does this mean, now that the beacon is working? Will someone rescue you?”