The Alliance Boxset Books 1-6

Chapter 8-2

Hunter stood in the shadows of the alley. He had quickly caught up with Jesse. He had waited silently when she had stopped in the center of the road. He started forward when she sank down to the ground, concerned.

Now, her pain radiated out from her in waves that scorched his soul. He had never heard such agony coming from the soul of a living creature before. He could smell and taste her pain in the air.

Unable to bear the terrible cries any longer, he gently knelt next to her before scooping her body up in his arms. His fear that she would resist melted when she turned into his warmth and continued to cry. The violent shivers racking her body worried him. He feared she would make herself sick.

“Hush, little one,” he murmured softly. “It will be alright.”

“It’s all my fault,” she sobbed quietly. “It’s all my fault. I should have protected them. It’s all my fault.”

“Your sisters will be fine,” Hunter assured her as he cradled her tightly in his arms. “Soon, you will see they will be as good as new.”

“It’s all my fault,” Jesse continued to repeat over and over.

Hunter looked up as the transport they were using began to lower. A moment later, Dagger lowered the loading platform. Hunter nodded to Dagger as he strode up the ramp. He held Jesse tightly against him as he settled into one of the seats. Jordan sat leaning her head against the storage cabinet with Taylor’s head on her lap. Her fingers caressed her little sister who was very pale, but breathing steadily from the rise and fall of her chest.

“Saber gave her a sedative,” Dagger said as he moved to kneel next to Jesse. “I think it would be a good idea to give Jesse one as well. I can smell the distress on her. She is close to breaking.”

“Do it,” Hunter said, stroking Jesse’s hair as she continued to cry silent tears and shake.

Dagger nodded and reached into the medical kit they carried. He pressed a new cartridge into the injector and held it against Jesse’s neck. She flinched slightly as he depressed it. Within seconds, Hunter felt her body relax as the medicine coursed through her system. He looked over at Jordan, who was staring at him with dazed eyes.

“Thank you,” she whispered before looking down at Taylor’s bruised but peaceful face. “Thank you,” she whispered before her eyes widened in surprise when she felt the cold metal of the injector against her neck.

“Now it is time for you to rest, little fighter,” Dagger said as he pressed the injector. He glanced at Hunter with a grim expression. “You have your work cut out for you, my friend. I suggest keeping them sedated until you have them safely aboard the Star Raider and are on your way back home.”

Hunter gave Dagger a sharp-tooth grin that held no humor. “That is exactly what I plan to do,” he said, resting his head back against the wall. “I do not plan on giving her a chance to ever escape me again,” he added quietly as he shifted her in his arms so he could hold her even closer to his body.