Page 61 of Treasured By the Hunter

I laid her in my sleeping nook and returned with my medical device.

“Hang on, Little Star. I’m here.”

“Harb’k.” She reached for my face as I unzipped her hoodie.

Then, I pushed her shirt up to see the damage.

I had seen countless injuries before in my lifetime. On myself, on other hunters. Even on humans. This was the first time it made me feel physically ill.

“It’s bad, isn’t it?”

“No,” I lied. “You’ll be fine.”

I realized only now that I needed to remove the bullet before I could get the medical unit on her. I didn’t know how to do iton a human. If it were me, I’d just dig it out, but her body was delicate.

“Shuttle? What should I do? I need to remove the bullet. But I can’t.”

Krux! My entire universe was imploding, and I didn’t know what to do.

“Put the device on her first. The medical bed can remove the bullet later.”

Right. Why didn’t I think of that?

The shuttle suddenly jerked, and Zoey inhaled sharply.

“Sorry. Flyers. I won’t be engaging, just evading. I’m trying to convince the shuttle it can go faster. I’m contacting the mothership building now.”

“Harb’k?” Zoey reached up to touch my face, and I cupped her hand in mine. Her hand was so cold. “Did... did I ever…” She gasped.

“Shh! Don’t try to talk. You can tell me after.”

“No.” She panted, trying to get the words out. “I need to tell...”

“Whisper the words. I can hear you.”

“I love you, Harb’k.”

“I love you too, Little Star. You are my mate. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. I’m so sorry.”

She didn’t reply.

“Zoey?”

Her eyes were closed, and she did not respond.

“Zoey! Wake up! Please.”

“Ahh, stop, Harb’k. You’re breaking my heart, and I don’t even have one,” said Pip’s voice.OurPip’s. “Kan’n says he’ll neutralize the threat. Sam’s with Riley. Zoey’s still alive. I’m receiving her vitals from the healing device. We’ve got flyers on our tail, though. I need you to hold her still.”

I did, while keeping pressure on her wounds.

“And Harb’k?”

“What?”

“Did you know your shuttle is scared of flyers?”

***

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