Page 25 of Marked By the Bounty Hunter

His voice roughened with anger. “The whole setup was designed to look normal while screening children for... compatibility.”

“The screening program.” I straightened as the pieces connected. “Vami said they tested the children first, called it routine medical checks.”

“Found something.” Dasari’s filaments rippled like vids I’d seen of wind through tall grass.. “Cross-referencing station records... pattern in maintenance requests around specific sections. Security changes matching transfer dates.”

Dasari’s sensory filaments spread wide, the metallic beads catching light as they vibrated at frequencies that made my teeth ache. Her bronze skin rippled with patterns I’d never seen before - concentric circles radiating outward as she processed the data streams. Her fingers moved almost too fast to track, interfacing with multiple screens simultaneously.

She pulled up another screen. “Medical data showing progression of changes in test subjects. They were screening for specific genetic markers.”

“Shit.”

Seeing Liseth’s name in those cold transfer records made bile rise in my throat. I’d served her drinks, listened to her stories, watched her slowly change - and never realized I was watching her being erased.

“The maintenance crews.” Tyrix growled. “They’re being exposed during routine work. Unintentional subjects.”

“Transfer date matches exactly.” My voice cracked. “Three days before she started showing symptoms. She came to thebar that night, complained about feeling strange...” I trailed off, remembering how her hands had shaken as she lifted her glass. How many other warning signs had I missed? How many regulars had I written off as just having a bad day?

Tyrix’s hand found mine under the workstation, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. The gesture was intimate, grounding. His markings seemed darker than usual, a sign of agitation I was learning to read.

“You couldn’t have known,” he murmured, but I could hear the same guilt in his voice - the hunter who should have seen the pattern sooner.

Dasari’s security systems pinged. “Patrol approaching. Different pattern than usual.” Her filaments rippled. “Movement suggests…enhancement.”

“The secure room.” She ushered us through a hidden door and a soft hum filled the air as privacy shields engaged, masking both sound and electronic signatures. Even with the shielding, we kept our voices low - no sense testing its limits.

The space was barely large enough for two. The close quarters amplified every sensation - his heat, his scent, the slight tremor in his muscles that betrayed his tension.

“You need to stay away from Blue Section,” he murmured, voice rough with something between anger and fear.

“My maintenance access is crucial. You know that.” I pushed against his chest, needing space to think past the intoxicating closeness of him. “I know these systems better than anyone.”

“It’s too dangerous.” His hands gripped my hips, holding me still. “They’re watching you already. The bar is going to be the one spot they watch heavily-”

“So I should just hide while they take more children?” I snapped, anger flaring hot in my chest. “While they experiment on my friends?”

“I can handle the investigation.” His scowl darkened. “I’m trained for this.”

“And I’m what - just some helpless bartender?” I shoved at him again, but in the tight space there was nowhere to go. “I’ve survived on this station for years. I don’t need your protection!”

His protective instincts should have irritated me more. Instead, they made something warm curl in my chest, even as I prepared to fight him on this. The same hands that had worshipped my body hours ago now sought to cage me - but I’d never been good at staying in cages.

“You have no idea what you’re walking into!” His growl vibrated through me. “I’ve seen what they do to people who interfere-”

“So have I!” My voice cracked. “I watched them drag Vami away. I saw what they did to Grot. These are my people, Tyrix. My station.”

“And you’re my-” He cut himself off, breathing hard.

“Your what?” I challenged, tilting my face up to his. “Some fragile human you need to shelter?”

His eyes blazed red in the darkness. “You know damn well you’re more than that.”

“Then trust me!” I fisted my hands in his shirt. “Stop trying to push me away just because you’re scared-”

His mouth crashed into mine, cutting off my words. The kiss was all heat and fury, a clash of wills as much as bodies. I bit his lower lip in retaliation, tasting the metallic sweetness of his blood. He growled, the sound shooting straight to my core.

His hands tangled in my hair, tilting my head back as his mouth moved to my throat. I gasped as his fangs scraped the sensitive skin.

“I won’t lose you,” he breathed against my pulse. “I can’t.”

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