Hunter's Claim: The Alliance Book 1 (18 page)

“Get your ass up,” Hunter growled at Saber.
“You can take a damn nap when we get across the line.”

“Fuck you,” Saber slurred. “We are both
going to die if you don’t leave me.”

“Then we both fucking die,” Hunter retorted.
“Now, help me get your ass up. We have to move.”

Hunter heard the loud hiss that Saber
emitted as he wrapped his arm around his waist and lifted him. They
had been on the move for over a week now, one step ahead of the
opposing military. He cursed when he smelled fresh blood coming
from Saber. His friend had lost a lot of blood and couldn’t afford
to lose any more.

The Alliance military had taken control of
this planet two years before after the initial Trivator contact had
secured it. Unfortunately, the Alliance governing board that
monitored planets after the Trivator troops left had been slow to
call in re-enforcements when an insurgent group rose up. The civil
war between two different factions had caught the Alliance off
guard.

His people had been called in to save the
asses of the Alliance ambassadors and the merchants who had
followed them. Hunter cursed as Saber sagged again, barely
conscious. Neither one of them were in that great of a shape. He
knew he had at least three broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder that
he had snapped back into place before wrapping it tightly to keep
it from popping out again and was covered in cuts and bruises.

It was Saber he was worried about. He had
set Saber’s broken leg but it had been an ugly break. In addition,
he knew Saber had head injuries along with broken ribs, a broken
arm and several deep lacerations that he had to cauterize. He
suspected one of the wounds had re-opened.

“Come on, Saber, we’re close. I can feel the
other members of our team,” Hunter grunted. “It is growing more
powerful. They will be able to sense us soon if they haven’t
already.”

“Tired,” Saber muttered. “Hurt. Sleep.”

“Soon, not now. Now, I need you to stay
awake,” Hunter demanded. “I swear I can’t believe you are giving
up. Hell, even Taylor would kick your ass,” he said desperately.
“She liked to kick it when you were in good shape.”

A choked sound was the closest sound to a
chuckle that Saber could make. Hunter knew he had found the one
thing that might keep his friend motivated. He hadn’t been wrong
about Saber’s interest in Jesse’s younger sister.

“She needs her ass spanked,” Saber mumbled.
“Takes too many risks.”

“It is going to be hard when she is of age
to decide which warrior can handle her,” Hunter said, pausing at a
section of buildings and scanning the area to see if it was safe.
He scented the air. There, to the left. He could just catch the
scent of another Trivator warrior. “She is going to be a
handful.”

“Already is,” Saber muttered.

“So, which warrior do you think would be
good for her?” Hunter asked, gripping Saber tighter and half
dragging, half carrying his friend.

“Needs someone strong,” Saber grunted.

Hunter heard Saber hiss when he stumbled and
Saber instinctively used his bad leg to keep from falling. Hunter
felt Saber pitch forward as he lost consciousness. Gritting his
teeth against the pain, he pulled Saber’s limp body over his good
shoulder. He would not leave his friend behind.

Hunter leaned against the wall to keep from
falling. His legs were threatening to give out under him and his
shoulder and ribs were killing him. It was the pain that kept him
going. That and the fear that he was losing Saber. He could hear
Saber struggling to breathe.

He refused to think about Dagger. He had
seen the other transport as it hit the ground. A few minutes later,
a huge explosion had ripped through the air. That was probably the
only thing that had saved his and Saber’s life. The black smoke
from the explosion combined with other return fire had caused
enough confusion that he had been able to get out and drag Saber
with him.

He thumbed the tracking device on his vest.
Hopefully, it was still working. He was about to step out and head
for the next alley when the wind shifted and he caught the
unfamiliar scent of others. A moment later, the air lit up with
laser exchanges.

He had walked right into the middle of a
clash between the two opposing sides. Stepping back into the
shadows, he carefully lowered Saber to the ground. He knelt over
his friend and looked up at the sprinkling of stars that appeared
in the cool night.

He turned and sat down, the last of his
strength drained. He wondered if this was what Jesse had felt that
night when she had saved his life. He clenched his fists. He had
promised her that he would come back to her. He would keep that
promise. Never before had he ever had something so important worth
fighting for, worth living for
,
as he did
now.

Resting his head, he knew if they were going
to survive he was going to have to make a decision. He needed to
find his people. He needed to get Saber medical attention
immediately. He looked down at Saber who was breathing in low,
shallow pants. One side of his face was smooth while the other had
been cut open by flying debris.

“Don’t you fucking die on me now,” Hunter
whispered before pushing off the ground. “I need you, my friend. I
don’t have a clue how to handle three females on my own so don’t
you fucking die on me.”

Hunter knew that Saber couldn’t hear him but
it didn’t matter. He looked up at the stars again. He would go up
and over the buildings. It was the only way to avoid the conflict
raging on the streets. Not letting doubt cloud his decision, he
gripped the deep grooves in the stone and began climbing. Once on
the roof, he rolled his bad shoulder to ease the ache and took off
running toward the west. It was time to get out of this
hellhole.

*.*.*

Hunter crossed over three blocks before he
was forced back to the ground. He could scent other Trivator
warriors in the air and knew they would be able to scent him as
well. He rolled over the side of the building he was on and climbed
down the wall.

He was almost to the bottom when his bad
shoulder gave out and he fell the last few feet. He landed hard and
fell to his knees as blackness threatened to engulf him as he
jarred his broken ribs. He rose just as a small group of men came
around the corner.

Low cursing filled the air from the men as
they rushed him. Hunter caught the first man under the chin with
his good arm. He could feel the bones crunching as he struck him.
He was no match for the other eight men who swarmed him.

The blows to his broken ribs was
excruciating. He fought as best he could but one of his broken ribs
had punctured his lung. Breathing was growing more and more
difficult as he tried to protect his injured ribcage. He fell to
the side when another male slammed a long pole across his back.

“Kill him,” one male grunted. “We need to
get out of here before others come.”

“Too late,” a deep voice growled. “Take
them. I don’t care if it is dead or alive.”

Hunter rolled over onto his side and coughed
up blood. Thunder’s menacing voice echoed through the air and he
swore it was one of the sweetest sounds he would never admit to
hearing. He listened to the brief sounds of struggles before
everything became quiet again. Hard, firm hands turned him gently
back onto his back.

“Ribs,” he groaned. “Saber.”

“Jaguar’s team has Saber,” the medic said.
“They picked up your scent but you had already crossed over before
they could get to you.”

“Dagger?” Hunter asked, already knowing the
answer.

“Dead,” Thunder’s voice said over the
medic’s shoulder. “Shit Hunter, you are messed up.”

“Yeah,” Hunter choked out hoarsely before
relaxing as the medic injected him.

“He’s in bad shape,” the medic said looking
over his shoulder at Thunder. “I hope he makes it.”

“He will,” Thunder replied with
determination, waving his hand. “Call for a medical transport.”

*.*.*

The world blurred in and out. Hunter had the
sensation of floating for a short period before darkness descended
again. The next time he woke was to shadowy images and quiet
voices. He knew he was in the triage set up to stabilize warriors
before they were transported to one of the warships. He turned his
head and blinked several times.

A figure stepped in the way. “Saber?” He
muttered.

“I need an injector. He’s coming to,” the
figure ordered.

Hunter reached out and gripped the arm of
the male as he pressed the injector against his neck. The figure
held still for a moment before Hunter felt the cool metallic taste
of the sedative. His arm fell limply to his side as darkness
engulfed him once more.

“How is he?” Thunder asked.

“He’ll make it,” the healer said, turning
away. “How? I don’t know. He had a fractured left arm, dislocated
left shoulder, a concussion, three broken ribs, a punctured lung,
several cracked vertebrae and that is just the beginning.”

“What about the other one?” Thunder asked,
nodding to where another healer was working on Saber.

“They are trying to stabilize him,” the
healer said with a shake of his head. “The break is bad but I think
we can save his leg. It won’t ever be the same again, though.”

“Just keep them both alive,” Thunder said.
“They are both good men and we’ve already lost enough.”

“I just wish the Alliance reports had been a
little more detailed than a minor conflict was in progress,” the
healer said wearily as he looked over the number of warriors that
had been injured. “The entire council should be dismissed if you
asked me.”

“After this, they just might be,” Thunder
said with a grim smile.

“Jesse!” Shana called out from the covered
patio.

Jesse rose from the swing she had been
sitting on under the large trees that provided shade during the
day. She had taken to spending more time outside. She had not been
able to sleep in her and Hunter’s bed since the night she had been
told he was missing. Instead, she found peace out under the stars.
It made her feel closer to him.

“I’m here,” Jesse answered.

Jesse moved reluctantly down the path
leading back into the house. She didn’t want Shana to see that she
had been crying again and knew her eyes were red from her tears.
Straightening her shoulders, Jesse drew in a deep breath. Her
footsteps faltered when she saw the man who initially told them
that Hunter had gone missing step out onto the patio as well.

“Hunter?” Jesse asked fearfully.

“He’s alive,” Shana said with a tearful
smile. “He is wounded but he is alive.”

“What about Saber?” Taylor asked, stepping
out of the darkness. “Did they… did they find him too?”

“Yes,” the man replied. “He is in critical
condition at this time. The healers are doing everything they can
to save him.”

Taylor turned to Jesse. Her dark brown eyes
widened and filled with tears. She let out a low cry when Jesse
opened her arms. Jesse held her little sister in her arms, closing
her eyes for a brief moment as relief overwhelmed her.

She opened her eyes and looked back at the
man who was still standing behind Shana. Scout came out as well to
hold his
Amate
. She cleared her throat so she could ask him
the questions that was paramount to her.

“When can I see him? Where is he? Can I go
to him?” Jesse asked.

“I have received permission from the council
to have you transported to a warship that will take you to him,”
the man replied. “It leaves within the hour.”

“Shana?” Jesse asked.

“Of course,” Shana responded immediately.
“Scout and I will stay with Taylor and Jordan.”

“But… I want to go,” Taylor said, looking
back and forth. “Someone needs to tell that old fuddy duddy that he
better get well.”

“Taylor, I think Jesse is perfectly capable
of telling Hunter he needs to get well,” Scout said dryly.

“I’m not talking about Hunter,” Taylor
replied with a shake of her head. “I’m talking about Saber.”

“I’m afraid only Hunter’s
Amate
has
permission to go,” the man interrupted.

“Give me five minutes,” Jesse told the man
before turning to Taylor. “I need you to be here, Taylor. I’m
worried about Jordan. She’ll fight if she has you here to look
after.”

Jesse breathed a sigh of relief when Taylor
nodded in agreement. It was true, she was desperately worried about
Jordan who had become very withdrawn when she learned of Dagger’s
death. She felt torn. She had always taken care of her sisters
first but Hunter needed her now.

“Go,” Jordan’s soft voice echoed from the
side door leading into the lower library. “I’ll be alright. Hunter
needs you, Jesse. Your place is by his side now.”

“Thank you,” Jesse whispered.

“No thanks are needed,” Jordan replied.
“You’ve given enough to us. It’s time to take a little for
yourself. Come on, I’ll help you pack. You don’t have much
time.”

Jesse nodded to the others before she
hurried up the steps to Jordan. Weaving her arm through her younger
sister’s, she realized that Jordan appeared much older than her
eighteen years. She squeezed Jordan’s arm as they hurried up the
stairs to her and Hunter’s bedroom.

“Thank you, Jordan,” Jesse whispered as they
began pulling items out of the dresser.

“Like I said before, no thanks are needed,”
Jordan responded quietly as she folded several long-sleeve tunics
and placed them in the small bag on the bed. “You’ve sacrificed a
lot for us, Jesse. Both Taylor and I are aware of that.”

Jesse stopped and gripped Jordan’s arms,
stopping her when she turned to gather more items. Jesse needed her
sister to understand that she had done what needed to be done out
of love, not sacrifice. She had never felt her position as being
the oldest was a burden or chore.