My thoughts flew to Andreu. Instinctively, I sent a silent prayer to the gods asking them to lend him their protection. I doubted it would make any difference. I’d prayed fervently while I watched my father and my lover murdered. Prayed for a miracle that never happened. I hadn’t had any faith in prayers or in the gods ever since, but for Andreu I was willing to set aside my disbelief.
The alien slipped back into the jungle. I kept watch, my heart in my throat.
It seemed hours passed, though I’m sure it was only minutes. Suddenly, the bushes parted and the mercenary headed toward the cave. There was no sign of Andreu.
My heart sank. If he was keeping watch, my loyal friend would never have let the tracker get so close to me. My mentor had years of experience behind him in hand to hand combat, but the alien was younger and stronger. I had to face the fact. Andreu was gone.
This time Jaden wasn’t around to stop me. I jumped out from behind the rocks where I’d taken cover, reaching for the photon blazer I always wore on my belt, then remembered every weapon I had lay in pieces on the floor of the cave. With a wild cry, I snatched a hunk of rock from the ground and dashed toward him, planning to smash the alien’s head in with it.
“I’m through hiding! I’m through running. Come and get me, you son of a bitch!”
Shrieking curses, I jumped out from behind the rocks and raced toward him.
The alien whirled around to face me, a bloodstained knife clutched in his fist.
Chapter Two
Ree
His eyes were cool as he sized me up. Dismissive. Though dressed as a man, I was much smaller in stature than Andreu. Armed only with a hunk of stone, I posed no threat.
I decided to use that to my advantage. Dropped the rock and shrank back, feigning terror.
In truth, it didn’t take much acting skill. I’d faced opponents before in hand to hand combat, but never one so big. And never one who was armed while I had no weapons.
He took two steps toward me—and I charged. Using his own momentum against him, I grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the knife and yanked him off balance. In one continuous motion I swept his legs out from under him and tossed him on the ground, then jumped on top of him with an elbow solidly planted in his throat and my other arm pinning down his knife-wielding hand.
I knew he couldn’t breathe but instead of panicking, the creature smiled at me. A chilling smile, devoid of any humor or warmth. I increased the pressure, bearing down on him, intent on crushing his windpipe.
He backhanded me. A solid blow from his other hand, harder than any I’d ever taken in a practice match. His knuckles connected with my cheekbone right below the eye socket. I heard the crack, then everything went dark.
* * *
Icouldn’t have beenout for more than a few seconds, but it was time enough for him to gain the upper hand. I came to with him straddling me, the knife poised against my throat. I started struggling, but he was easily twice my weight. It was like being pinned under a solo transporter.
I writhed underneath him, bucking up against his bare chest, and saw his eyes widen in surprise. He ran a hand over my shirt, found the curve of a breast hidden under the shapeless garment, and squeezed.
“A female dressed as a warrior!”
His voice was low and guttural, but I understood the words. It sounded like a dialect of Rydalian, a language I’d run into during my travels with my father. Perhaps he was a primitive species from one of the lesser planets in that star system.
Surprised by a female warrior. I could use that to my advantage too. I batted my eyes at him, trying to look both timid and alluring at the same time, then jerked my knee up between his legs, doing my best to ram his balls into his belly.
He grunted but instead of crumbling into a fetal position, he flashed me a grin and squeezed my breast harder. Hard enough to make me grit my teeth. I’d be damned if I’d make a sound.