Page 38 of Treasured By the Hunter

The professional-looking mirrored foyer looked almost exactly like the one leading to my old doctor’s office. There was a board on the wall with all the room numbers upstairs. But next to each number were the names of people instead of businesses.

He took my hand in his giant one and led me up the stairs. When I got up to the top, I was surprised to step into a large, open room. I’d expected a narrow, carpeted hallway like the one to my doctor’s, but they’d knocked down the walls of the offices closest to the stairs to form a large common area.

There were comfy-looking couches, beanbag chairs, and several low tables. A large dry-erase board was mounted on the wall with a drawing of a chipmunk on one corner and what looked like a foraging list down one side. Many of the items had already been crossed out. In the middle of the room, there was a set of playmats with a baby fence around them and enough toys inside to open a toy store. There were several cat trees, even though I hadn’t seen a cat yet.

There were sheer white drapes covering the windows, and heavier blackout curtains pushed to the sides. I could see through the gap in the curtains that the windows were heavily reinforced with metal bars. No centicreep was getting in here!

It was already past sundown, and the large room was lit by sconces with a warm, soft light. The hallway leading to the other offices was dark though, and lights came from several open doors down the hall.

Harb’k went to the first open door, knocked, and poked his head in.

“Hey, Harby, you made it back in one piece,” said a friendly female voice from inside the room. “I was worried about you.”

Harby? Jealousy surged through me. Why was this woman calling Harb’k a cutesy nickname? I recalled Pip talking about women with crushes on him.

I quickly tamped down the irrational emotion. Harb’k wasn’t mine. We were temporary partners, albeit with benefits. We weren’t like Heather and Nov’k.

“I did, and I brought a guest.”

A woman with mousy brown hair tied up in a ponytail stepped out of the room. And holding onto her leg was—

I gasped, the jealousy fading. I was staring at an adorable, mauve-colored toddler.

“I’m Mary,” said the woman. “And this is my daughter, Mina.”

That couldn’t… that wasn’t possible. The scientists had said… but obviously, the scientists were wrong. Because right in front of me was a mixed Xarc’n and human baby. There was no doubt about it. It had all of Mary’s features but also little teeny tiny nubs on her temples that I assumed would one day be horns. And she was mauve. And had little claws on her feet. And she was absolutely adorable!

“Oh my god!” My words came out in a high-pitched squeal. “You’re so precious. I never knew. Oh, wow.” Then, realizing that I was being ridiculously rude because I’d completely ignored the hand Mary had stuck out for me, I grabbed it and shook, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of little Mina.

“I’m assuming from your shocked expression that you aren’t from another hunter group.”

“No,” I said. “I was a nomad.”

Suddenly, another hunter stepped out of the room, growling. The menacing sound had me stumbling back a few feet. Harb’k was instantly between me and danger.

The hunter snarled, and Harb’k’s device translated. “Get her out of here, or I’ll remove her myself.”

Chapter 18: Harb’k

Instincts had me tucking my female behind me and baring my fangs with a low growl of warning, the need to protect her overpowering my bond to my brother-in-arms. “She is not your enemy,” I hissed.

“She is from a hostile group.” Lok’n bared his fangs right back, the need to protect his family just as strong.

“Zoey is Xarc’n friendly. Her nomad group did not target hunters.”

“You do not know this. She could be spying on us. Learning our secrets. Pip claims she’s a traitor.”

The fact that our two species could interbreed wasn’t really a secret. It was, however, a secret that there was such a child on this base. He was worried about his family, and I didn’t blame him.

“Zoey is not a spy.”

“That doesn't mean they can’t get the information out of her later.”

Lok’n had a point. Would the others at Sanctuary torture it out of her? Some humans were unscrupulous. They had kept Kan’n prisoner.

I felt Zoey’s hands on my back as she peered around to look at the other hunter.

“I’m not a spy. My group was not anti-Xarc’n, and not everyone from Sanctuary hates you guys. But I understand why you’re cautious. I don’t have any ill intentions. Mina’s really cute. I’ll never do anything to hurt her. I promise.

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