Hunting Faith (The Hunting Series Book 1) Read online

“I could never forget such a thing,” he assures me, and the sincerity in his voice wounds me to my core.

  “Yeah well… I won’t ever forget this,” I tell him sincerely. Rylan pulls back a little and I can tell he’s trying to look at me, but I don’t want to let him. I don’t want to look into those electric green eyes, knowing that the second he drifts off to sleep I’m going to betray him.

  Slowly, he relaxes again and his stroking of my back comes to a halt. Eventually his breath evens out and his hand on my back becomes heavy. He’s asleep.

  I want to lie there with him, to fall asleep in his arms feeling happy and sated. I want to sleep in a place where I know I’m safe and protected and I want to wake up in the night to his hands touching and exploring me. I want him to make love to me again and again all night long—but it’s time for me to get up.

  I have a ship to steal.

  Chapter 7

  Rylan

  It’s the feel of a cold bed that pulls me from my sleep. Before I even open my eyes, I know she’s gone. It makes me not want to open my eyes. So, I lie there for a while, trying not to give in to the hollow feeling in my chest.

  I’ve woken up like this before. Females want status and I am Aragrandani. They’ll bed me, but they don’t often stick around the next day. I don’t normally mind, but something about Faith was different. I sigh. I can still smell her scent on me. It should make me upset, but I think it is more likely that I’ll be upset once I can no longer smell her.

  I crawl out of bed and don’t bother with rebinding my hair. Grabbing my bag, I do a quick scan of the room, hoping that maybe she left a note or some personal item behind. But there is nothing beside the ghost of her scent.

  I roll my shoulders and exit the suite. Angrily, I push through the throngs of perverts out in the passageway, silently hating the whole universe. When I pass Itharene or Hradun males I bite back growls, resenting them for their status. Would she have left me without even a goodbye if I were Itharene?

  Before I know it, I reach the docks. There’s a new attendant on duty and I dig in my bag for my e-lock port…but I can’t find it. I wonder if I might have dropped it last night when Faith hit me, but I remember seeing it when I searched my bag for missing items. No matter, I can just do a bio scan. I mumble a greeting to the attendant and hold my hand over the scanner.

  “Did you want to loan a ship, sir?” the young attendant asks.

  “Loan? No, I want my ship.”

  “The system isn’t registering a ship for you.” He swipes and scans a few things on the computer, but then looks back up at me expectantly.

  “Let me see that.” I grab the monitor and swing it around to face me, typing in a few commands. “It says I left dock six hours ago!” I bellow.

  I knew she was gone the second I woke up this morning. Now I know where she went…to steal my fucking ship!

  Chapter 8

  Faith

  I feel like shit leaving Rylan the way I did. When I find a damn holo of his whole fucking family on the bridge it adds to my misery.

  Tucking my legs up under me in the captain’s seat I try not to wonder where he is or what he’s doing right now. Has he woken up yet? Has he discovered my betrayal?

  When I saw Rylan across the bar last night, I knew he’d be my target. That’s why I smiled and welcomed him to my table. Still, I somehow allowed myself to actually be vulnerable around him. It was a huge mistake. Now it feels like my heart has been ripped out all over again. That hollow feeling is always with me, though it’s usually dull. Now it rages like it did in the first days following my abduction.

  I hate that I stole from him. I hate that I got close enough to him to even care. Maybe I should have just left and found someone else to rob, but that would have cost me time and the additional risks involved are always impossible to calculate. It was the safe choice to take Rylan’s ship, even if I do feel like shit about it.

  I absently touch my fingers to my lips. This was the first time I let my guard down since I’ve been out here. The first time I’ve been kissed. It wasn’t my intention to take things so far, but the connection between Rylan and me was so instant, so natural.

  I look over at the holo of Rylan and his family. The masochist in me keeps it running, even though every time I look at it a fresh wave of guilt hits me. I silently pray I didn’t keep him from taking care of his sisters. No one understands more than me how important family is and I truly admired his desire to step up and take care of his family after his parents’ death. Still, my own safety comes first. I huff out a breath and try to push away my sadness. Last night was a luxury I can’t afford. Life in space isn’t about dating, it’s about survival.

  I’m so lost in my guilt and shame I don’t notice the prison barge come within range. This is why you don’t let yourself get emotionally invested in things out here, you lose your focus. When the comm beeps I nearly jump out of my seat.

  “Shit, shit, shit, shit.”

  “CPB 12-7763 requesting permission to scan vessel,” comes in a tinny voice over the comm.

  I slam my hand down on the control panel to respond. “Do you have authorization to scan?” I demand.

  “Please identify your vessel,” the robotic voice states.

  “Confirm, do you or do you not have authorization to scan?” I press. I’m met with a short moment of silence before the computer voice cuts out and is replaced by that of a harsh-sounding male.

  “We have authorization to scan if a captain’s behavior is suspicious,” the clipped voice informs me. “Please identify your vessel.”

  I pause, trying to think up a plausible name, wondering if they’re trying to catch me in a lie. “The Five Sisters,” I tell the penal barge.

  “Number of occupants?”

  Here’s another question I want to answer with a lie. Do I admit I’m alone?

  “One.”

  “State your name.”

  “Rylan Graz Bregen,” I lie.

  “Are you the captain of this vessel?”

  “Well, I’m certainly not a stowaway,” I huff, even though my hands are trembling.

  A clicking laugh issues from the comm. “It says here that Rylan Graz Bregen is a male.”

  “So you’ve already scanned The Five Sisters? I was unaware I had behaved suspiciously.”

  “I think I have already caught you in one lie, Graz Bregen. If I were to board you right now would I catch you in another? Like I said, your ID lists you as male…yet you sound distinctly female to me.”

  “You’ll have to excuse me. I’m a lone traveller and it’s prudent to be wary. I always list my sex as male, for safety reasons. I’m sure you understand. Now, can you please tell me, is there something you need or does your barge routinely harass any private transport ships it comes across?” I try to sound unfazed and confident as I frantically search the bridge for hand-held weapons.

  “I am looking for a lost criminal. A female, as a matter of fact.”

  “If you’re insinuating that I’m your lost criminal, I have to tell you, you’ve made a mistake.”

  “Allow us to dock and I will be the judge of that.”

  My search for a weapon becomes more frantic as I dig through the storage compartments on Rylan’s ship. Luckily, I find a lone weapon secured to the underside of a control panel. I do a quick inspection of it and see the charge is set to the lowest setting, so I crank the increaser on the handle before I turn my attention back to the comm.

  “Sir, you are harassing me. I have committed no crimes, nor have I given you any reason to believe that I’m acting suspiciously. This is my ship and you have no right to board it.”

  “You are wrong there, female. I see your flight logs. You are leaving Nydor Station, yes? Your ID states male, yet clearly, you are female. I happen to be looking for a criminal who is female, a criminal who was lost to me on Nydor.”

  “It’s not going to happen,” I say, powering up the hyper speed and tucking the blaster into my belt. “You aren’
t boarding this ship.”

  “A murderer will not get away on my watch.”

  I cut the comm and prepare to spin the ship in a 180, but there’s the sound of tearing metal somewhere in the recesses of the ship.

  “Fuck!” I cry out. Fucker was distracting me. They’ve already forced a dock. I draw my blaster and consider going out in a firefight, but I don’t want to die. The sound of booted feet echoes against the metal walls of the ship and prison guards spill onto the bridge. Their guns are aimed squarely at my chest.

  “Put down your weapon!” someone shouts. I let out a long and shaking sigh, but slowly place the blaster on the floor, deciding to live to fight another day.

  Chapter 9

  Rylan

  The nav system on my rented pod chimes, waking me from my slumber. I groan and shift in the small bunk. I don’t want to get up. I was having the most delicious dream about a green-eyed female with long dark hair.

  In my dreams Faith never snuck away in the night. She never stole my ship. No, in my dreams she wakes me with her kisses, or sometimes I wake her with my tongue on her cunt. I scrub my hand over my face and sit up abruptly, only to slam my still tender forehead on the low ceiling.

  “For fuck’s sake,” I lament, rubbing my head. Ducking out of the small quarters, I don’t even take two full steps before I have to sidestep to get into the nav chair.

  I miss my ship and, like a fool, I miss Faith. She did nothing but hurt me from the moment I met her, I am not too stupid to see that. Still, I have to believe there was something real between us. I don’t think she did what she did out of malice or for the sake of manipulation. No, there was something Faith wasn’t telling me. I wanted to trust her. I did trust her. It just hurts she didn’t trust me enough to let me in.

  Looking back now, it is clear she was running scared. If only she had confided in me. I would have found a way to help. If I had known her situation was serious, I would have brought her with me to The Hunt. I would have done anything to protect her. Unfortunately, it’s hard to help someone if they never ask for your aid. I can’t help but wonder if she didn’t lean on me because I am Aragrandani. If I were a male with more status, would she have thought I was more capable of protecting her?

  I mindlessly work the control station, engaging with the planet’s auto-drive so it will pull me into dock. I am late to the festivities, but I have arrived. The feast has already begun and first thing in the morning The Hunt is on. I worry my thoughts will distract me from the prize, but the other edge to that blade is the anger and frustration I carry with me. I hope it will work in my favor as I hunt.

  Before I realize it, I am already docked. I look around the small pod, but I have no possessions here to unpack. All I have are the clothes on my back. My muscles tighten and flick in irritation. The hatch to the pod opens and I step out onto the platform, only to be met by Pable, the spineless and perverted tech lord I bribed to get into The Hunt.

  Pable’s people are tall and slender with a hunched back that nearly folds them in two. He wrings his hands worriedly. “Graz Bregen, finally! What took you so long?” he hisses at me.

  “I had ship problems,” I say, indicating my pod.

  “Never mind! I don’t actually care what took you so long! Where are your clothes? You aren’t even ready for the dinner!” The spineless Pable pulls at the wiry tufts of hair around his ears. “You are going to embarrass me, I knew it,” Pable whines.

  “Calm yourself, Pable, the only one who is going to embarrass you tonight is you. Just point me towards the nearest synthesizer and I’ll be ready in no time.”

  “Synth? Synth?” Pable repeats incredulously. “Gods, he is going to wear synth to the most important event of the year?” Pable wrings his hands once more. “What have I gotten myself into?” I scrub my hand over my eyes. I should be asking myself the same question.

  “Don’t make me regret getting you in here,” Pable says, wagging an accusing finger at me.

  “I have no patience for this shit tonight, Pable.”

  “Then…uh, perhaps we should remain at, uh, opposites sides…of the, um, event?” the pallid alien mumbles.

  “Tech lord or not, I have no interest in your company this evening. Nor do I think I ever will have interest in it.”

  “Good…that’s good,” Pable says with a stiff look on his bent face. “I’m glad we’re in agreement then.”

  I grunt in response and Pable hurries off, shooting furtive glances down the halls to ensure he hasn’t been seen with me. This is the life of an Aragrandani, I lament.

  Not long after that I have donned the synth suit Pable complained about and followed the sound of music past the docking platforms and into a brightly lit dome. This massive piece of architecture juts from the forest and is the only structure on an otherwise wild planet. The exterior is heavily guarded, I presume to keep the native creatures we will be hunting from finding their way onto the grounds.

  While everything outside the dome is wild, everything inside is the picture of extravagance. Servants see me approaching and are quick to escort me in. I feel tense and awkward in the interaction as they keep their heads down, not venturing to speak with me. After a short walk from the entrance I’m deposited outside a grand ballroom and a doorman asks me to wait while I’m formally announced to the other guests.

  “That isn’t necessary,” I tell him.

  “The Host insists,” he replies with a placid smile before he turns to call out my name and race into the crowd. I cringe as I walk into the room, but it seems that alcohol has been flowing steadily long before my arrival and hardly anyone even bothers to look up.

  For a moment I almost believe I might be able to get away with secluding myself in a corner the rest of the evening and not speaking to another soul. I’m not here to make friends anyway, I’m here to win a prize. But that dream dies when I see a massive Itharene approaching me. I’m shocked when I see him. He’s nearly my size, but never have I seen an Itharene of such proportions.

  “Rylan Graz Bregen! Welcome to my home and welcome to The Hunt!” he says in a booming voice. I extend my arm to the male and we clasp shoulders briefly as he leads me deeper into the room. He doesn’t introduce himself to me, and I wonder if I should know who he is.

  “Tonight is a night of celebration, my friend. Eat and drink your fill. The females here are for the taking, barring those two warriors there”—he motions toward two purple-hued women who sit apart from the crowd—“and of course my good friend Kalmut Ruo’s wife, though that one might be open to debate.” I follow his gaze to a female shrouded in jewelry, whose features are tight and pinched despite the fact that she carries herself like she is three sheets to the wind. “Or, if you prefer males, I have had my people ensure there are plenty of options readily available.”

  Looking around now, I become aware of the beginnings of debauchery along the fringes of the room. Aliens lean close to one another with exploring hands and no concern over who might see them. I recoil a bit at the idea that these are not bots offered up for pleasure but sentient beings. This is beyond illegal and yet it is occurring regardless of the fact that there is more than one prominent politician in the room.

  I bite back a frown, hating that the Aragrandani were once a proud people, yet here I am in a place like this. These aliens have the lowest morals I have ever seen and I have bought my way in to sit at their table. The thought adds to my misery.

  “If there is anything you need, any special requests you would like to make, please see one of my attendants. It is my goal to ensure each guest enjoys their experience to the fullest. I must make an address to your fellow guests soon, but if I recall correctly, it is your group who will begin the first wave of the hunt. Along the windows here is an observation point. You will be able to get a view of your assigned target after my speech. And by the way, Graz Bregen.” He leans in close and lowers his voice. “I am aware of the circumstances surrounding your addition to my guest list and I do not want you to th
ink for one second that I resent your presence. As a matter of fact, I admire your tenacity. If you perform well in this hunt I would love to invite you back next year. Please, make yourself at home. If you’ll excuse me.” He gives me a quick pat to the shoulder before hurrying over to a small group of his attendants and it looks as if they are coordinating the impending events.

  I am happy that the strange Itharene has left my side, but without him I worry someone new will approach and try to engage in conversation. No sooner than I have the thought, the female shrouded in chains and jewels latches onto my arm.

  “Fresh meat,” she slurs, gripping me tightly with cold, sharp fingers. “You are new here, precious? Let me show you around. I know all the fun hunters, stick with Kalmut Hui and this will be the best week of your life. What’s your name, boy?” she asks, and though her aim is sultry, her tone is as cutting at her features.

  “Graz Bregen,” I tell her as I try to extract myself from her grip. A waiter walks by and she snatches a drink from his tray with her free hand and shoves it into my face.

  “Loosen up, Grazie,” she says, guffawing. “Kalmut! My dear!” the female calls to her husband. An aging and obese Makaan looks up and waddles over to us.

  “What’s this? A new toy or a new hunter?” Kalmut Ruo laughs.

  “New hunter,” she informs her husband with a giggle. “But the night is still young, perhaps it is too soon to tell?” Kalmut Hui glides her sharp fingers up my arm and the sensation makes my skin crawl.

  “Stop, Kalmut. You will embarrass the boy. We should be making Grazie feel welcome,” her husband says, before turning to signal a waiter. “More drinks for our party here,” he says, motioning toward the three of us even though I have yet to drink from the glass Kalmut Hui has forced upon me.

  “Walk with us, Grazie, we’ll give you all the best gossip.”

  “Thank you, but I should probably—”

  “Nonsense. This is our gift to you. We have been coming to The Hunt for many years now. Let us share our inside information, it will make us feel important,” she whines in my ear. “Besides, do you really want to go out there without knowing your fellow hunters first?”