Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Colbie
To say I was relieved was an understatement.
Marc sat down near the cave entrance, still holding me. Even with his armor on, I felt the heat of him. Now that I was safe, I realized how afraid I’d been.
“Marc, my Talon—”
“I know, wren. I’m sorry.”
I sucked back a sniffle.
“They’ll give you a new one.” He ran a gloved hand down my hair. “You’re the best pilot we have.”
I felt a flush of pleasure at his praise.
A moment later, Jameson and the others appeared. The squad leader had a smile on his rugged face. “Damn glad to see you, Colbie.”
“Me too. Thanks for coming.”
“Of course we came,” Marc growled, his arms tightening around me.
A thought hit me. “My parents. They must be so worried.”
“I already had Sasha relay that we found you,” Jameson said.
I relaxed. “Thank you.”
“Her leg’s hurt,” Marc said.
North crouched in front of me. “Hi there, Colbie. “
“Hi.”
The squad’s medic slid a backpack off his broad shoulders, then reached for my leg.
“This looks nasty.” He probed my cut, and I hissed.
“She needs painkillers,” Marc snapped.
North raised a brow. “Am I the medic, or you?”
I pressed my hand to Marc’s sturdy forearm. “It’s okay. It’s nothing compared to when I broke my arm when I was ten.”
“I remember that,” Jameson said. “A bunch of us were at the creek swimming. You did a wild jump off the rope swing—”
“And misjudged and hit the bank. Man, that hurt.” The bone had broken the skin. “Uncle Marcus carried me back to town.” I looked at Marc. “Your mom fixed me up.”
“She’s good at that.”
“Well, you’ll have to make do with me.” The handsome lines of North’s face shifted and he frowned. “Shit, it looks like you’ve got an infection already. The monster claws must have had something nasty on them. I need to give you a dose of nano-meds.”
I grimaced. “Nano-meds make me a bit loopy.”
“Some people have that reaction, but as long as it’s not an adverse one, we have to do it.”
My nose wrinkled. “No, I just lose my filter.”
Marc tugged on my hair. “I didn’t know you had one.”
North grinned.
“Ha ha,” I said.
North held the injector to my neck. “This should be fun.”
I felt a quick sting.
“Just relax.” Marc’s deep voice rumbled in my ear.
North monitored the screen on his tablet, and I knew the tiny medical machines were zipping through my veins. They’d rush to kill the bad stuff and repair any injuries.
I watched Jameson, Jess, Kai, and Zeke circling the area. Keeping us safe.
I really couldn’t wait to get out of there.
“Colbie?”
I glanced up at Marc and did a slow blink. God, I loved his face. “Oh, I’m fine.” Liquid heat moved through my veins. “More than fine.” I tipped my head back. “You’re fine, too.”
His lips quirked. “Ah, I see you do have a reaction.”
“Told you.” I closed my eyes and started humming.
North rose. “Her vitals are steady. She should be okay to move shortly, but she needs to stay off that leg for a bit longer.”
Marc nodded. “I’ll carry her.”
Jameson jerked his chin up, scanning the trees. “Gavin isn’t far away. He said he’s found a clearing a few klicks from here that will make a good landing spot.”
“Gavin’s here,” I said. “He’s a good pilot. Not as good as me, of course, but good.”
Marc snorted.
Jameson was fighting a smile. “Only downside of the pick-up point is that it’s up the hill.”
North groaned. “Of course it’s uphill.”
“There’ll be more monsters,” Jess added.
“Can’t be avoided,” Jameson said. “Ready?”
Marc rose easily with me in his arms. I knew the exo-suit in his armor helped, but he was strong without it. It made a girl think of him lifting her in other ways, touching her—
“Wren? You ready?”
I blinked and slid my arm along his wide shoulders. “I just have to hold on. You guys have to trek up the hill.”
“Don’t worry.” He flashed me one of his smiles. “I won’t drop you.”
The squad set off.
Howls and other strange noises echoed in the distance. My fingers clenched on Marc’s armor.
Hunter Squad moved fast. Like a well-oiled machine. They were all alert and ready for anything.
I blinked my eyes a few times. I felt dizzy, and more than a little spaced out.
“I’m glad you came for me,” I murmured.
“Of course I came. We all came. We weren’t leaving you out here.” He was quiet for a second. “I was worried like crazy about you.”
I grinned. “Yes, if I got eaten by a monster, who’d argue with you?”
He met my gaze. “Exactly.”
I felt a funny flip in my stomach. He was strong and handsome in a rugged way. He had a strong jaw, brown skin that was so lickable.
“You have a little mole right here.” I touched high on his cheekbone.
He grinned. “I like you a little loopy, wren.”
“I don’t like that name.”
“Raven?” he suggested.
“No!”
“Birdie?”
“Hell, no.” I laid my head against his shoulder. “Thanks for coming to rescue me.”
“You said that already.”
“Well, I really mean it. It deserves to be said twice.”
“I’ll always come for you, birdie. You need me, I’m there.”
Warmth swelled inside me. I really wished he was the kind of guy that would fall in love with me.
But I knew Marc liked having a good time more than he liked responsibility.
Finally, we reached the top of the hill, and Jameson paused.
I glanced out, looking at moonlight, shimmering across the Blue Mountains.
It would be pretty, if I didn’t know there were monsters everywhere. The glint of something not far down the hillside caught my eye. Probably the ruins of a town or farm.
“Let’s keep moving,” Jameson waved us on. “We need to get to the landing site.”
Marc
Carrying Colbie reinforced how small she was. I kept a hold on her as I negotiated the rocky ground.
She rested her head on my shoulder, snuggling in. Her red hair spilled over my arm.
My gut tightened.
“I love that you’re so strong,” she mumbled.
The nano-meds were definitely affecting her. Another time, I’d find it funny. But not now. Not in the middle of monster-ridden territory when she had bloodstains on her clothes.
I was well aware this could have turned out differently. She could’ve died in the crash, or been killed by monsters on the ground.
Suddenly, my chest felt like it was filled with bricks.
If I’d lost her…
Yeah, it would hurt like hell.
She shifted in my arms, and a strand of her red hair caught on my cheek. Too many fucking feelings were bubbling up inside me.
Far too many things involving her.
I needed to nip them in the bud. Caring too much was a big fucking risk. It led to getting your heart ripped out when you lost that person.
I had a vivid memory of being a kid and sneaking out of bed one night. I’d heard the low rumble of my dad’s voice and spotted him sitting in the dark, drinking whiskey and talking about Uncle Zeke. I remember the way his body shook as my mom held him.
That had been years after he’d lost his twin, but it had still hurt him like it had just happened the day before.
“Hey?”
I blinked and looked at Colbie.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I forced a smile. “Before you know it, we’ll be back home.”
She let out a little moan. “I need a hot shower and a cheeseburger.”
Those sounded good. “Add a beer, and I’d be in heaven.”
“Sorry I ruined your barbecue.”
“There’ll be other barbecues. It’s always a good time for a party.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Stop.” Kai paused, holding a hand up.
Hunter Squad all paused, looking around.
“What is it?” Jameson murmured.
“I’m not sure. I sensed…” With a shake of his head, Kai focused on the trees in front of the group. “Stay here, I’ll scout up ahead.”
Jameson nodded. “I’ll come with you.”
The men were swallowed by the darkness.
I sat down with Colbie on my lap. Jess, North, and Zeke were in a huddle, talking quietly and keeping watch.
“I’ll be really glad to be out of the Blue Mountains.” Colbie shuddered.
“I think we’re not too far from Blue Mountain Base.”
“Really? I’ve heard so many stories about Blue Mountain Base.
It must just be a ruin, now. I used to have a map my dad gave me, and I loved memorizing all the parts of the base.
I still love listening to my parents telling me about the brave evacuation from the base when the aliens attacked.
And about when Hell Squad and the berserkers detonated the weapon that destroyed the Gizzida. ”
I’d grown up with all those stories. Mom and Dad had shared them. Uncle Hemi always told them the best.
“One day, I hope we can get rid of the monsters,” Colbie murmured. “That the mountains and forests can be clear and safe again.”
“One day.” I smoothed her hair back from her face.
Her gaze locked on mine, then dropped to my lips. She licked her own.
“You know, I promised myself a reward if I survived out here.”
I cocked my head. “Oh yeah? More than just a cheeseburger?”
“Yep.”
“What?”
She hesitated, then cupped my cheeks, and shocked the shit out of me by kissing me.
I froze. Colbie Erickson’s soft lips were pressed against mine.
My hands dug into her hips and desire flared like a damn explosion inside me.
What the hell was this?
But a darker part of me reared inside. Push her away. Don’t let her any closer.
I stayed frozen, not moving.
Her lips moved against mine for a few seconds, then she pulled back.
“Crap.” Embarrassment washed over her face. “Sorry. I should’ve asked you—”
“Don’t fucking do that again.” My voice was harsher than I intended.
She flinched and went as stiff as a board. “I said I was sorry. I…wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Clearly.” I set her down on the ground and stood. Edgy energy rushed through me, not to mention licks of desire that I couldn’t control.
I glanced over and noted the others weren’t paying us any attention. They hadn’t seen.
“What about that fucking guy?” I snapped.
She blinked. “What guy?”
“The guy you brought to my barbecue.” A guy who’s head I wanted to rip off. Had she been kissing him?
“Spencer? We’ve had coffee twice. We aren’t…it isn’t serious.”
I sliced a hand through the air. “It doesn’t matter. This isn’t happening again.”
Colbie’s chin came up. “Right, sorry, but it’s not like I haven’t seen you kiss women at the bar. Most of them strangers. You’ve never had any problem with that. I’m sorry my kiss was so abhorrent.” She crossed her arms over her chest and turned to look at the trees.
I sighed. I didn’t want her thinking that I thought kissing her was horrible. “Colbie—”
She shot me an icy glance and shook her head. “Just forget it, okay?”
I dropped down on one knee. “We’re friends.”
Her smile was strained. “Friends. I know.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “It’s been a hell of a night, and I’m on drugs. Let’s just forget this.”
I nodded and reached out to touch her face, but she turned away, then pushed to her feet.
“You need to stay off that leg—”
She ignored me. “Jess?”
The woman turned.
“I need the ladies. I assume I’ll need a guard and I don’t want Jackson, here.” She looked anxiously at the trees. “Can you help me out?”
Smiling, Jess walked over. “Sure thing. Come on.” She took Colbie’s arm.
I frowned at them.
Colbie gave me a careless smile, then they disappeared behind a large tree.
And I suddenly realized that I hated having her out of my sight.
Shit. I gripped the back of my neck. I’d dealt with that badly. I lifted a hand and touched my lips, then dropped my arm. My fingers clenched into a fist.
We needed to get out of here. I needed Colbie safe.
I needed to get home and clear my head.
Then everything would be back to normal.