Page 63 of Treasured By the Hunter

“I can’t. I have to tell you.” The monitor showed her heart rate increasing.

“Be calm. I already know. It’s okay. You are still my mate, and I still want you.”

She shook her head. “No. You don’t get it. You want a family. I can’t offer that to you.”

“I know. I saw the report from the medical bed. The human medic explained it. You do not have a womb. I don’t care. You are worth so much more to me than an offspring I’ve never met.”

She blinked. Then she was crying.

“Do not cry,” I begged. “Please. I hurt when you cry.”

“I don’t want you to settle for half a woman who can’t give you what you want.”

I growled. “What do you mean? Who told you that? Tell me so I can end their existence. Your worth is not based on your ability to create life. You are not half of anything. You are fully my mate. And you are perfect.”

“But you want a family so much. You mentioned how much knowing you had a future gave you hope. I can’t take that from you.”

“There will be plenty of Xarc’n/human children to continue our race. Just the fact that they exist is enough to give me hope. I don’t need my own. I do need you. You are my future. When you were unconscious, I thought I was going to die from the pain in my chest. I cannot live without you.”

“You really mean that?”

“Yes. Every word. I love you, Zoey.”

“I love you, too.”

Then she was sobbing in my arms.

The door opened and the human medic walked in. “You’re supposed to alert me when she wakes, not make her cry. Go shoot some flyers or something.”

“I will not leave my mate.”

He sighed. “All of you hunters are the same. Fine. If you’re going to be here, at least help me get her back into the medical unit. She has one more round.”

I picked her up carefully and followed the medic to the next room.

When she woke again the next day, she was looking much better. She was also ravenous, which was normal after using a medical bed. She was shocked at how fast she’d healed, but I wasn’t. It took three whole days. That was a long time in a medical bed.

The doctor returned and proclaimed her good enough to go. But she’d have to return for a checkup in two days. I guessed we were going to be staying in New Franklin for a while.

With her hand in mine, we stepped out into the bustling town. It was a bright sunny day, the kind that flyers loved the best, but there were plenty of survivors—or were they settlers now?—out and about. They stayed under walkways and patios covered by awnings.

She inhaled sharply as she looked around, and I tried to see the settlement as she would, for the first time, after living out in the scourge-filled landscape. Since the original two-building affair, New Franklin had grown. Not only were there many newly inhabited buildings, but there was a general store, several restaurants, a bar, and an inn for travelers. That was where we were staying tonight, though I usually stayed in my shuttle when I visited.

With the new influx of settlers, they’d adopted a token system that worked in conjunction with bartering. But we didn’t need to worry about paying for food. There was a warm meal waiting for us at the hunter’s compound, which was just a short walk from the mothership building.

“Evie is eager to meet you. She’s Tavir’k’s mate, and she’s a very good cook. She found out you’ve been in the medical bay and insisted on making you her special lasagna. You should give her your meat cookie recipe. The hunters here will love it.” I found myself rambling, but I couldn’t help it. I was so happyto have Zoey by my side, and I was excited to show my mate everything.

“Uncle Harb’k!”

I braced for impact as the youngster launched himself at me. I caught him, then once he was back on his feet we butted horns in greeting. Ryan was still young enough that it was a gesture of affection, but he was growing fast.

“Uncle Harb’k has a girlfriend! Eeeew!” He made gagging noises. “You’re going to be boring like all the other adults now. No fair!”

Zoey watched us, amused.

“This is Ryan. Tilly and Rayk’n’s offspring. You’ll meet them soon.” I turned to Ryan. “Is Evie in?”

“Yeah. She’s making healthy food with vegetables.” Ryan made a face. “I have to go. I’m late for training. Nice to meet you, Zoey. Bye.”

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