The Huntress Read Online Free Page B

scurried to keep up with him. “We’ve got trouble. She knows who we are!”
    He didn’t seem the least bit surprised, not even slowing down. When he didn’t respond, she told him the rest of the bad news.
    “She says there’s another hunter on the way, coming for you. She says her offer is still open.”
    That stopped him. He stared down at her for a long moment, face expressionless. She couldn’t see his eyes because he was wearing his goggles, and that blank stare made her squirm.
    “What offer, Terrik?”
    He still said nothing, turning his head slowly to stare into the dimness. Regan felt a cold knot form in her stomach.
    “What offer?” she whispered.
    He took her by the back of the neck and propelled her forward without replying. They walked for a while before she realized that they weren’t going back to their quarters.
    “Where are we going?”
    He didn’t answer, looking more remote than she’d seen him since the ship. The cold knot grew. Something was very wrong. After a short time, they entered the spaceport and stopped close to a sleek and silvery vessel.
    “That’s her ship. Your ride. Go.”
    She felt her heart squeeze painfully in her chest. “Without you?” she whispered. He said nothing, just folded his arms. “You’re just going to throw me to the hunter?”
    “She won’t hurt you.”
    “I know that, but I want to be with you. I—I…”
    He shoved her roughly toward the ship. The sight of him rippled as tears streamed down her face.
    “Just go, kid. I’m gonna have a hunter on my ass and you’ll just slow me down.” He turned away, but she went after him.
    “But I can help! I can—”
    “Don’t you get it?” he snarled, turning on her so fast she almost fell. “I’m sick of draggin’ you around! I only put up with your dead weight because your sister took my hit. You’re just lucky I haven’t sold your ass for transport.”
    He left and she watched him go, collapsing to the ground. Sobbing as though her heart was breaking, she curled up in a ball. First her sister and now Terrik. Her life seemed to be an ever-widening pool of misery. Clutching her knees to the pain in her chest, she closed her eyes and rocked on the cold ground, fervently wishing it would all just end.
    Some time later, strong hands lifted her up. She didn’t fight as she was carried away. She didn’t even bother to see who held her. She told herself that she didn’t care anymore what they did to her. But she winced and looked around when bright lights stung her eyes, blinking like a dazed kitten. They were in a ship. Curiosity snuck past her dark misery.
    The man placed her gently down on a soft bed, and then stepped back. He was tall and slim, his hair brown and his eyes kind.
    “Where— Who—”
    “I’m Warren. I believe you know Mea. This is her ship, the
Starfire.”
    Regan sat up slowly, wiping her face. “Her…ship?” she asked in a tiny voice.
    “Yes. She said if you came to make you comfortable. The sanitary is through there and the mess is just down the hall. I’ll be making lunch, so just follow your nose.” He winked at her and left.
    Regan looked around in wonder. The room was pretty large for ship’s quarters, the bed huge and soft. The whole room smelled clean and wonderful. She touched the coverlet and then pulled her hand back, the contrast between the clean cloth and her dirty hand making her aware of her grunginess. She wrinkled her nose, smelling her own rank odor for the first time, then got up to head directly to the sanitary.
    Getting clean was almost a religious experience, like waking up from a nightmare. The hot water shower was a welcome change from sonic and putting her clothes on again, clean and sweet smelling from the sanitizer, almost made her cry. She had forgotten what these normal, ordinary actions were like.
    When Regan stepped back into the bedroom, a delicious smell filled her nostrils and made her stomach cramp, bringing her attention in sharp focus