Grace Goodwin - Hunted

“Well, it’s not like a match happens right away,” I said, heading for the door to the testing room that was part of the medical unit. “I’ll go back to the Academy and I can wait. I’ve heard from some of the warriors here that they’ve been waiting for years.”

The doctor cleared his throat and we all looked his way. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Vice Admiral, but you’ve been matched.”

My mouth fell open. My heart dropped into my stomach. “What?”

Kristen and Rachel both giggled and clapped their hands like cheerleaders at a pep rally. Why did I like them?

“You’ve been matched.”

“I heard you the first time,” I grumbled at the doctor. “What does that mean?”

“It means you’ve been matched to Everis and to an Elite Hunter.”

“Of course, you’re matched to Everis,” Kristen said. “Makes sense since you’re half Everian and you’ve got a mark.”

I flipped my hand over and stared at the mark on my palm. Growing up on Earth, I’d thought it was just a birthmark. But when I’d gone to Everis, I’d known it was so much more. To others. To me, it didn’t mean anything. I wasn’t holding out hope for a marked mate, obviously, since I’d just been tested. And matched. “I didn’t even know I was half-Everian until those Hunters found me on Earth when I was fourteen. To me, having my mark awaken would be like magic, and I don’t believe in that. No, I’m not a romantic holding out for that kind of stuff. I’m… realistic.”

Rachel cocked her head to the side and gave me a soft look. “Realistic? I’ll say. I’ve seen you in the Pit.”

I’d gone with them to watch the fighting matches, but had volunteered to participate. It wasn’t often they had Hunters fight. And a female.

“Please, I can only imagine what people in high school said. Varsity track, right?”

I hadn’t been lying when I said I hadn’t known I wasn’t all human. I’d just thought I was odd. So did everyone else where I’d grown up in Minnesota, especially after my mother died and I’d ended up in foster care. The orphan who did normally impossible things. When I was little, I could hear conversations I wasn’t supposed to, and that had gotten me in lots of trouble. I thought back to that not-so-fun time of my life when I was older, after I’d learned to hear but keep quiet, when I’d been ridiculously fast, crazy ruthless and never knew why.

All of a sudden, I felt everything I had back then. Alienation, insecurity, anger. I’d been the rebel, like the goth chick who wore tons of black eyeliner just to piss people off. I hadn’t worn any eyeliner, but I’d known how she felt. I’d been the star athlete at a huge school, because I’d broken all state track and field and cross-country records, making me a hero at school. I could have won nationals, easily, but I held myself back because I’d been barely winded. My heart rate had hardly gone up, even after a five-mile run. I hadn’t wanted the glory. I didn’t want track scholarships to college, where I would have to try to figure out just how much I could show of my abilities without drawing too much attention. I didn’t care about Ivy League schools or the Olympics. I missed my mom. I don’t remember much of her, her smile, her scent, her voice, but I missed the feel of her. God, her hugs. I was alone in the world, and the only one who accepted me was dead.

I didn’t want attention. I wanted answers. I’d wanted to know why I was a freak.

I knew now . I had Everian blood in me. I had no idea how my mother had gotten it on with an Everian in Minnesota, but she had. Had my sperm donor gone back to Everis after a quick fuck on Earth? Had he been killed? I’d never know. Hell, if those Everians hadn’t been on Earth to hunt and read about my championship running win, I’d probably still be on Earth. It wasn’t as if they’d given me a choice to remain once they saw my mark, saw me run like the wind. I’d been forced to return with them to Everis, to be Everian. Which, while in my DNA, wasn’t easy. Talk about culture shock.

“There’s no way I’m going to Everis now to live happily ever after with my mate,” I told them, and glanced at the doctor to make sure he knew I was serious. “My duty is to the Academy. I have no plans to retire.”

“You don’t have to, but you do have to go to him,” he said. “You two can work out the details after…”

I arched a brow and crossed my arms over my chest. “ I have to go to him ? I’m headed back to the Academy tomorrow. He can transport and meet me there.”

“It’s tradition. I’m sorry. The bride who is tested is always transported to the male. You would dishonor him if you refused.”

I frowned. “I’m not going to get into the reasons why that tradition should be changed.”

“Do you wish to reject your match? Dishonor him?”

Damn it all to hell. That was the last thing I wanted to do to an honorable warrior. “No. I do not.”

“Excellent.” The doctor held up his hands as if to block my verbal assault. “You will transport to him. What the two of you decide, where you will live, is completely up to you.”

“You can wear the pants in the family,” Kira told me with a wink. “Just go to him.”

I rolled my eyes. Growled even. The truth was I’d loved that testing dream. Every moment. I didn’t want to wear pants at all. I wanted to be hot, wet and naked with his tongue—or his cock buried—deep.

“You’re blushing, Vice Admiral.” Kira was grinning at me like a besotted fool, which she was. Not that I could blame her. Warlord Anghar was an impressive warrior. And the truth was, no one could have forced me into the testing chair. I allowed Kira and Rachel to cajole me, to push me. The truth was I was tired of being alone.

“Fine.” Tossing up my hands, I repeated, “Fine!”

All three of them exhaled and visibly relaxed, which only made me angrier with myself for showing weakness or doubt in the first place. “I’ll transport.”

The doctor stood and the next thing I knew, Kira and Rachel were pushing me out the door and toward the transport center, most likely before I changed my mind. I was on the transport pad and the doctor was working with the transport tech to arrange coordinates within minutes. I looked down at myself, ensuring my Coalition Fleet Vice-Admiral’s uniform was in order and that I had my weapon strapped to my thigh. If I was leaving The Colony, I was taking everything with me.

Doctor Surnen cleared his throat and I looked at him, met his gaze. “It’s tradition for females to arrive in more feminine clothing…”

I gave him an evil eye. “Don’t push your luck, Doctor. I want my potential mate to know exactly what he’s dealing with.”

The doctor actually grinned, which was a rare expression from a Prillon, especially on The Colony. “As you wish, my lady.”

“I’m not a lady.”

More grinning, but he kept his mouth shut. Definitely a smart Prillon.

“Give him hell, Niobe! Then make him beg for it.” Kira laughed, her hands on her hips. The doctor turned to scowl at what he must have considered poor advice, but I ignored him and smiled back at her.

“I intend to.” Beg. Push. Seduce. Chase me through a forest.

My pussy clenched again as the memories resurfaced. God, I couldn’t wait.

“Don’t do anything we wouldn’t!” Rachel said from her position at the bottom of the steps to the raised platform.

“I’ll give you three days, then I’m comm-ing you for details. All the details.” Kira waggled her eyebrows and I glared.

“Deal.” Hopefully, I would have some details to share. I turned my attention back to the doctor. “Where am I going, exactly? Everis?”