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“God.” She hissed, biting her tongue.

“Hold on, Jess.” I glanced up to make sure Jameson and Kai had us covered, then I tore my backpack open. I yanked out a pressure injector, dialed up the dosage and pressed it to her neck. It was a dose of painkiller and antibiotics.

“That’ll help,” I told her. “Hold still.” I yanked out a tube of med gel and started spreading it generously over her burns. The enhanced gel accelerated healing.

Her tense body relaxed. I carefully treated the burns, trying not to notice her tanned skin. I half listened to the squad taking out the last of the monsters.

“Have you seen a monster like that before?” I asked her to distract her.

She ran a hand over her mouth. “No. Poisonous ones, yes. But not quite like these. None that exploded.”

I dressed the burn, pressing adhesive bandages over it. I was careful not to hurt her. “Can’t say I’ve seen them before, either.”

She was quiet for a beat. “I think that’s the most you’ve ever said to me.” Her brow creased. “You’re trying to distract me.”

I met her dark gaze. “Is it working?”

“Yeah.” She heaved out a breath.

“You’ll need a dose of nano-meds when we get back to base. You’ll be as good as new. Not even a scar.”

She shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t care about scars.”

“It would be a shame to mar your pretty skin.”

Her gaze flicked to mine.Hell, why had I said that?

My gaze dropped from her liquid brown eyes to the freckles sprinkled over her nose and cheeks.

Jessica Ramos messed with my brain. I ground my teeth together. That was the only explanation for why I was excruciatingly aware of her, why being near her made my damn skin itch. I didn’t like it. I was steady, dependable. My job depended on that. Hell, people’s lives depended on it. I didn’t like when I felt out of control.

I hadn’t been keen when I’d heard she was joining the squad. We hadn’t had much luck with our last few recruits, and Jess was an outsider. She wasn’t from around here. I was worried she’d upset the rhythm of the squad. I glanced over and saw Jameson slapping Kai on the shoulder. Several dead monsters lay at their feet.

The members of Hunter Squad were like family. We’d grown up together, and I’d do anything to keep them safe.

“Those things lured us into the dunes where more were waiting,” Jess said quietly.

“Yeah.” Lately the monsters were displaying disturbing behaviors. Communicating with each other, working together. It was more than a little worrying.

“I’ve seen packs of similar monsters have a loose hierarchy.” She stared at the dead creature. “And show some signs of cooperation, but not like this.”

I finished pressing an adhesive bandage on her wound.

“Thanks, North.” She touched the bandage.

I nodded.

Then Jess pulled out her comm unit, increased the screen size, and started taking notes.

“What are you doing?”

She didn’t look up. “I want to note down everything on these monsters.” Her fingers flew over the screen. “Description, behaviors.” Her focus was on her device.

I watched her and realized she’d forgotten I was there.

Good. I straightened and packed up my backpack. Over the last few weeks, I’d seen that Jess was a good soldier. It looked like she was going to make it as a member of Hunter Squad.

She was my squad mate. That was it. Soon, I’d think of her just like the others.