Page 6 of Fated to the Hunter (Xarc’n Warriors #13)

“No fucking way, woman! Are you crazy?”

The nomad’s words were like a punch to the gut, even though I’d approached them fully knowing that this might be their reaction.

I’d really hoped that the “Wizard Council,” our tongue-in-cheek nickname for the collection of Tech Wizards, being willing to supply all the funding, which in our case meant payment, food, and supplies for the entire mission, would mean the nomads would reconsider.

When humans with propensities for technology started being called Tech Wizards by the Xarc’n hunters, we’d taken it all as a joke at first, but it became clear that learning to meld human and Xarc’n technology would give us an advantage in fighting the space bugs. So the name had stuck.

The Tech Wizards were being extra generous too, considering I had no idea if this map was bogus or not.

But apparently they’d all read my thread on the survivor forum and had been following this development for a while.

Many of them believed it was the real deal, and they also believed there was more than just the blueprints and secrets to semiconductor manufacturing inside these hard drives, and they needed that information.

Since the big attack that destroyed one of the Xarc’n motherships, they’d been working on a project called Mothership Earth. The goal was to build a brand-new Xarc’n mothership piece by piece right here in New Franklin.

Deemed too risky to salvage, the compromised ship had been pushed far away from Earth by hundreds of ship blaster shots.

We were super lucky that those on board had managed to destroy the thrusters and disconnect the weapons during their escape.

So unless the scourge could figure out how to repair Xarc’n technology, we should be safe from an attack.

That still meant we were one mothership down. Hence, project Mothership Earth was born. But there was a big gap between our technology and theirs, and the Tech Wizards needed all the knowledge they could get their hands on.

But that didn’t matter now because, clearly, this nomad thought I was crazy for even asking.

The man closest to me, whom I’d taken as their leader, elbowed the first man who’d spoken.

“My apologies,” he said. “My men are a little rough around the edges. What Colt means to say is that it’s too dangerous and you will need to find another group to take the mission.

” He rolled the map back up and handed it to me.

“I am sure that whatever is on those hard drives is very important, but this is impossible for us. I hope you understand.”

The man’s eyes suddenly moved to something behind me, and so did everyone else’s on his team.

The loudly growled words hit my ears moments before the English translation came from one of those portable external translators.

“I will take you, Kiera of the fiery hair. I will take you on this noble quest to find lost technology.”

I whipped around, knowing exactly who I’d find. Bael’k stood there, chest puffed out and completely bare of any armor, in nothing more than his loincloth and a look of determination.

Did he just say he’d take me on this noble quest? Me? Information-hoarding, romance-book-reading, can’t-run-a-mile-without-dying, freezes-at-the-first-sight-of-danger, me? On a quest? An outside the settlement walls, in a freaking Dead Zone quest? Was he nuts?

It was so ludicrous that I had no words.

Bael’k’s eyes locked on mine like he was waiting for me to accept the offer. Then, to my utter horror, he dropped down to his knees like some knight in shining armor and placed a massive fist over his chest.

“It is a worthy pursuit. It will be an honor to serve as your guide and protector on this quest.”

The butterflies in my belly decided to start a little rave.

Why did he have to be so valiant?

That was when the purring started. Loud, insistent, and completely unmistakable.

I glanced around. Every pair of eyes in the cafeteria was on me.

I froze as heat rose to my cheeks. Did I mention I hated being the center of attention?

That was the thing about the post-bug world.

New Franklin might be one of the largest settlements in the area, but rumors and gossip still flow through it like a small village.

If I told him yes and accepted his offer, the entire settlement would know about it. It would be all anyone talked about for days. But if I rejected him, they’d be talking about that too.

I weighed the two options.

On one hand, I really wanted to get my hands on those hard drives, and I was willing to do almost anything to get to them, even partner up with a Xarc’n warrior.

Also, my only other option just rejected me.

And a Xarc’n hunter really was my next best option.

Their shuttles were quick and efficient, and they knew how to fight the scourge like nothing else.

And plus, Bael’k was easy on the eyes. Like really easy on the eyes.

But on the other hand, the first leg of the mission was inside a Dead Zone! That was suicidal. And I wasn’t brave, or strong, or anything like that.

I was just standing there in shock, mouth hanging open, catching flies, when someone over at the Tech Wizard table clapped their hands together, exclaiming, “Yes, that’s perfect!”

And then everyone was talking excitedly all at once.

“It’s still going to be a dangerous mission, but if anyone could handle it, it would be Bael’k.”

“Yes! He’ll keep you safe!”

“Wow! Kiera, you’re so brave!”

“A quest? How exciting!”

“A quest? How romantic!”

Several of the Tech Wizards were already starting to plan out our mission, making an impromptu list of all things we’d need.

The nomad leader chuckled. “It’s settled then.” He sized Bael’k up before slapping the much larger hunter on the shoulder. “Good man! You hunters are brave. A little reckless, but brave.” Then he turned to me. “Good luck!”

***

“Ugh! What am I supposed to do, Dottie?” I wailed. “I’m supposed to be the nerdy girl who stays back and does the research, not the fearless one who heads out into danger! A quest! They’re calling it a fucking quest. I don’t go on quests!”

Dottie and I were hidden away in the stacks, the library having shut its doors for the day.

Dottie was New Franklin’s head librarian and technically my boss, though she deferred to me for anything electronic, which was a lot.

With her thick plastic cat eye glasses and love of outrageous accessories—yes, she wore statement earrings on the daily, even during the bugpocalypse—she fit the role of the eccentric librarian so well it was almost comical.

“It’s not so bad. At least you’ll have one of those hunky alien warriors by your side. Isn’t that like your dream come true?”

Of all the people here, she most understood my obsession with monster and alien romance books.

Hell, we’d built that romance novel collection together!

She was more of a dark romance reader herself, but there isn’t much to do during the dead of winter when we’re hiding out from the bugs, so we’d learned to read anything and everything we could get our hands on.

That meant she got into horns and tentacles, and I got into her secret-baby mafia stash.

“Yeah, but if you haven’t noticed, those books always have a happily ever after, guaranteed. There’s no guarantee I’m going to make it back in one piece. And I’m not looking for a real-life relationship, remember? That’s why I hide in romance books.”

“Okay, so don’t go,” she said, like that was even an option.

“And disappoint everyone? I can’t do that now. Did you see how excited the Tech Wizards got? They’re already putting together a care package for us. A care package!”

“Oh, just admit it, hon. A part of you really wants to get a hold of those hard drives, and the other half really wants to go on a quest with that purple hunk. I know you, Kiera. You’re stubborn and always get your way. You can’t hide the truth from me.”

Ugh! I hated that she was right. Kind of. I did want those hard drives. But I also wanted to live.

“But what if I die?” I wailed again. “It’s a Dead Zone.

The word dead is literally in the name! I was trying to convince one of the nomad groups to go without me, because if you haven’t noticed, I have no experience out there at all.

” I pointed to the closest window, which, despite being in the safety of New Franklin, had been thoroughly barred and covered with unbreakable acrylic sheets.

“I wasn’t planning to actually go in myself! ”

“And that’s why that sexy hunk of a hunter is going with you. I don’t think he would’ve volunteered if it were a suicide mission. And didn’t they already contact the hunters at the Dead Zone?”

They had. Right after dinner, right here, in the library. That was how Dottie had found out about my surprise quest. The hunters’ reaction had been similar to the nomad’s at first. I’d sat through all of it, tongue-tied and in shock.

But Dottie was right. The Tech Wizards were going to be in contact with us every step of the way, and the hunters at the Dead Zone had already agreed to create a distraction for us to get in and out safely.

Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad after all.

“Let’s get some sleep,” Dottie said with a yawn. “It’s almost midnight, and the market starts up again bright and early tomorrow.”

“Go, get some rest.” Our roles were flipped tomorrow, and I was manning the library. “You’re the one who has to deal with people at the info booth,” I said.

“Right. Goodnight, hon.”

And then I was finally alone with my thoughts for the first time since the big, life-changing fiasco at dinner.