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LANTA STOOD NEXT TO Payton and Themba in the docking bay and waited for the ship to ease into to the parking slot. Payton bounced on her toes and craned her neck, trying to get a glimpse into the dark port windows.
“Where is she? Where is she?” Payton repeated under her breath.
“Relax, my treasure,” Themba said while rubbing a hand across Payton’s back. “Esme is finally here. Let them dock and secure the vessel. Two more minutes and you’ll see her again.”
Lanta wrung her hands and chewed her bottom lip. “Are you sure I should be here? You haven’t seen your friend in a while. I should wait until after you two catch up to meet her.” Lanta knew she was rambling but she couldn’t stop herself.
When Payton had asked her if she was free, Lanta had told her she wasn’t. The ball had been delayed for two days, and both she and Elkah had decided to provide Una with double coverage, even while in the suite. Staying on duty until her replacement arrived was humiliating. Una wouldn’t let her forget she was a lowly guard and Melis still had plans to pick someone else as his queen.
The worst part?
When Una talked down on humans, Elkah didn’t say a word to dissuade Una or take up for Lanta. With the job and Aunt Varlah’s reputation on the line, Lanta didn’t blame Elkah. But although she understood why Elkah kept her mouth shut, it still hurt. Lanta didn’t try to take up for herself either. Most of the insults Una hurled at her had been right anyway.
She stood unwavering whenever Una unleashed one insult after the other. If she left her station before her replacement, Aunt Varlah wouldn’t pay her for the job. So, Lanta endured. She needed the credits to pay rent and to help her through until she found another job.
Lanta hadn’t planned to tell Payton she’d been fired. It was too embarrassing. She would tell her before she left and hope Payton still wanted to keep in touch and be her friend.
Although she’d meant to stay in the suite and endure the insults, Payton hadn’t taken no for answer. Payton had sent two palace guards to watch over Una with a cryptic message that Payton needed Lanta.
Lanta hadn’t known why Payton urgently wanted to meet in the docking bay. It was only after she’d arrived Payton told her. Esme, Payton’s long-lost friend was arriving. Esme had just recently left The Hunt and, after settling on her new homeworld with her new mate, wanted to reunite with Payton.
Lanta’s initial excitement about meeting another human had quickly faded to doubt and nervousness. What if Esme didn’t like her? What if Esme thought Lanta had too many alien qualities and wasn’t human enough? What if Esme told Payton not to talk to her anymore? Payton seemed to genuinely like Lanta, but what if Esme was different?
Payton chuckled. “You don’t have to be so nervous. It’s okay, really. I already told Esme all about you and she’s dying to meet you.”
Lanta couldn’t calm her nerves. She continued to clutch her hands together. “But you haven’t seen her since The Hunt. You two have so much to catch up on, and I’m sure you’ll want to reminisce about Earth without me listening in.”
Payton stopped her own fidgeting to glance at Lanta. “What’s really going on with you?”
Lanta wrapped her arms around herself. “What if Esme doesn’t like me and tells you not to like me either?”
Payton pulled Lanta into a hug. “Is that why you’re acting so strange?”
“I’m not acting strange,” Lanta balked.
“I’m used to the stone faced ‘I can kick anyone’s ass’ guard and right now you keep looking at the door like you want to make a break for it.”
“I only have one human friend, Payton. I don’t want to make a bad impression on a new one.” And with the way Elkah was treating her, Payton really was her only friend now.
The ship’s hatch opened and the stairs engaged, unfolding to rest on the deck.
Payton released Lanta and watched the shuttle with wide eyes. “Don’t worry. I have to do something that will probably upset Esme. So you’ll be the friend that she actually likes.”
“Payton,” Themba elongated her name. “You’re not really going through with this are you?”
“I told you what I would do if I ever met the person who ran The Hunt.”
“But Pay—”
“Payton!” A human female, about the same height as Lanta, screamed as she ran from the shuttle and bounded down the stairs. She was darker than Payton, but lighter than Lanta. She had her brown hair styled in a bun that sat atop her head.
“Esme!” Payton ran, meeting her at the bottom of the stairs. The pair slammed into each other in a twist of arms. They hopped as they laughed and screamed.
“Your hair!” Esme said in a fit of giggles.
Payton’s hair was styled in six braids, parted down the middle and three on each side.
Payton wiped tears from her eyes. “It’s crazy, I know, but I can’t keep Themba’s fingers out of it.”
“I want to point out that hairstyle is favored by many females,” Themba grumbled.
Esme and Payton looked at each other, then laughed and hugged again.
“Why did she think her friend would be upset with her?” Lanta asked Themba. “They seem very happy to see each other.”
A giant stepped from the ship and onto the stairs. Lanta swore she heard the stairs creak under his massive weight.
The Dar’E were a species that lived on Pi Vesna. Lanta had never visited their planet and didn’t have plans to. Their planet was cold and riddled with glaciers and ice caps. The Dar’E were well suited there. They were covered, head to toe, in coarse hair.
The hair on his head was cut to the scalp on both sides, revealing tan-colored skin underneath, and it was left longer down the middle, where it fell to one side in heavy spikes. His pointy ears were clearly visible. His eyes were black and they scanned the room, seeming to take in every little detail before settling on Esme. When they did his entire demeanor changed from ridged to relaxed.
He wore a shirt with gold threaded designs woven into the fabric, and loose pants. Lanta recognized it as a traditional dress called an ulno’i. Esme had on one that matched the Dar’E’s.
Although Lanta had never visited Pi Vesna, she had some Dar’E acquaintances. They were big, lethal and feared, which made them perfect as personal security guards.
“Give it a minute,” Themba whispered to Lanta as the Dar’E made his way down the stairs.
As he walked, his outfit stretched across his defined muscles. There was an abundance of them. Muscles on top of muscle.
“Excuse me while I keep the Dar’E from killing my mate,” Themba told her.
Themba started toward Payton just as Payton locked her gaze on the Dar’E. The smile dropped from her face and she wiggled from Esme’s grasp. Themba sped up and called out Payton’s name. If Payton heard, she ignored him. She pulled back her arm and punched the Dar’E on his chin. The Dar’E’s head tilted back some—not by much—then he lowered his gaze to Payton.
Themba pulled Payton away by the back of her shirt and angled to stand in front of her. “My mate doesn’t appreciate that she was abducted and sold into The Hunt as prey.”
“I wouldn’t appreciate it either, if I were in her footwear,” the Dar’E said, surprisingly calm.
Esme rolled her eyes. “It’s shoes, baby. Shoes.” Esme spotted Lanta and ignored the standoff between Payton and the Dar’E to rush over to her. “Lanta?”
Lanta nodded.
“Oh, my God! You’re so gorgeous. Payton said you were pretty, but I wasn’t expecting you to be model beautiful!” Esme leaned closer, inspecting Lanta’s face. Lanta took a step back. Esme stepped with her. Her eyes focused on the facial jewels. “Sooo pretty.”
Lanta instinctively touched her cheek. “Thank you.”
“Payton said they’re removable?”
Lanta nodded.
“That’s awesome!” Esme turned to look at the standoff between Payton, the Dar’E and Themba. “Xrez, come meet Lanta.”
“I’m sorry you were taken from Earth and I’m sorry for my part in making you participate in the Hunt,” Xrez said to Payton. “If you would like to punch me again, I’ll allow it.” He stood with his hands at his sides.
Themba seemed to hold his breath, as Payton balled her fingers into fists.
After a few tense moments Payton released her hands and sighed. “I know it’s not entirely your fault. Esme told me you inherited The Hunt from your father after we were already on the planet. She also told me that you guys are changing the set up so no one else will be kidnapped and forced to endure what we went through.”
“Survival enthusiasts pay a lot for the opportunity to be hunted.” He lifted a massive shoulder. “Hunters don’t keep their prey anymore, but we’ve also become a legal business.”
“So, no more prey?” Payton asked.
“There are still prey. But it is voluntary.”
Payton scoffed. “Who would willingly become prey?”
“Those who wish to prove themselves as worthy mates and security detail. We have a waitlist for volunteers.”
Payton rolled her eyes. “Thrill seekers.”
Xrez lifted a bushy eyebrow at Payton. “Rich thrill seekers.”
Themba stepped forward and balled his fist then hit the center of his chest with it. “Nice to finally officially meet you. I’m Prince Themba bu Kumkani.”
Xrez returned the universal greeting. “Thank you for welcoming us to your planet. My mate is very excited to visit her friend. But I have to admit I was looking forward to the trip as well. I read that you’re experimenting with subliminal learning? I’ve always wondered how successful something like that would be. Especially on Turolois.”
“My brother, Mxolisi, is the one who leads the research group on that. The access to most of his research is restricted, but I’m sure he would love to talk with you about it.”
Xrez glanced at Esme. “Do you mind if I leave you?”
Esme looped her arm with Lanta’s. “You go on. I’ll catch up with you later.”
As Xrez followed Themba, he stopped briefly in front of Lanta and gave her the traditional greeting. “Xrez Ym’ihla, very nice to meet you. Please don’t hold my mate’s enthusiasm against her. She’s excited to meet another human.”
Esme blinked and released Lanta’s arm. “What? Am I coming on too strong?”
Payton chuckled. “Just a little.”
“But I don’t mind,” Lanta interjected. “I’m happy to meet other humans. Before Payton the only other human I’ve ever been around was my mom.”
“You still look like you’re about to bolt,” Payton said playfully to Lanta.
“The Oncuns aren’t affectionate, so all the touching and grabbing is new to me. But it doesn’t bother me. Really.”
Payton looped her arm through Lanta’s other arm. “Good.”
“Um, so we’ll leave you all to it then,” Themba said, easing past them.
When Themba and Xrez left, Payton turned to Esme. “I’m sorry I punched your husband.”
Esme flicked her free hand. “I expected you to attack him. Honestly, I expected to have to pull your nails from his skin. That’s why I asked him to give me a minute before he came out. I didn’t want our reunion ruined by your feelings toward him. It’s also why I had the guards wait to bring out Piper too. I didn’t want her seeing you go all whoop ass on Xrez and try to kill you.”
“Uh, thank you. Do I get to meet her now?”
Esme glanced toward the shuttle. “She’s a little cranky from the long ride here. I’ll have the assistant take her outside to stretch her legs then bring her to us later.”
“Maybe that’s best. I fought one just like her on Turolois. It was horrifying. I was psyching myself up to meet her, but I would rather do it when she’s in a better mood.”
Lanta frowned. “What did you bring with you? I don’t know if I should be scared or intrigued. Is it another dog like Jack?”
“I have an arrancar,” Esme stated.
Lanta’s mouth dropped. Arrancars were predatory creatures. They were found in cold weather climates and were solitary and territorial hunters. Arrancars were also known for stalking and killing their prey. What they weren’t, was pets. “You brought an arrancar with you?”
“Don’t worry. She’s tame. I raised her since she was a pup. She’s a good girl. But she does take a little bit to warm up to new people. She’s more apt to be nicer once she stretches her legs, uses the bathroom and gets real meat in her belly.”
“Um, I second Payton. I would like to me your arrancar after she’s not cranky.”
Esme chuckled. “By the time Payton shows me to my room and we eat and catch up, I’m sure Piper will be ready to meet everyone.”
Payton led them all, arm in arm, from the docking bay. “Have you found any of the others yet?”
“I was waiting until I got here so I could surprise you. I found everyone besides Kaylin, and have a possible home planet location for Miranda.”
“Really?” Payton shouted.
There were a few surprised glances from the workers they passed on the way out. Payton smiled and laughed, then quickly straightened her face.
“Wait,” Payton continued. “You told me before that Danny was taken from The Hunt by force, and Ben was being used as a breeder for a warrior race. How were the other’s taken?”
Esme nodded. “It was hard to get any real information about them. Since there was only one real rule in place for hunters who captured prey—don’t take prey to the slave market—there’s no real tracking of the prey once they leave Turolois. As long as they didn’t show up on the auction block, the gamers didn’t keep track of who went where. I thought since I had unfettered access to the system, I would be able to find everyone. After they left Turolois the paper trail basically ended. But Bradliix, Xrez’s assistant worked hard to find them. Yesenia left willingly in Level Two and Min made it to Level Three.”
“Can Bradliix find Kaylin and Miranda?” Payton’s face fell. “Oh, my God, Esme. What about Miranda’s kids?”
Esme pulled her bottom lip into her mouth, hesitating.
Payton paused in the hallway and dropped Lanta’s arm. “Tell me. Don’t hold anything back. If things are really bad for them, I’ll ask Themba if we can get them. They can stay here with us.”
Esme shook her head. “Miranda and the kids were taken by a contract hunter. He’d intended to sell her as a mate to another, but Bradliix said that he kept her for himself. That’s all I know. I don’t know much else besides what planet her hunter is on. He isn’t returning Bradliix’s calls. After our visit here, we’re planning to go there. Legally there’s nothing we can do, but if we can find them, I want to see how they’re living and see what we can do about it.” Esme dropped Lanta’s arm and grabbed Payton’s hands. “We have no clue where Kaylin is. We’ll eventually find everyone, Payton. We can do it.”
Payton nodded and sniffled. “I know we will. I was trying so hard, but by myself and with limited resources I couldn’t. You don’t know how glad I am that we have each other now.”
“I have some contact numbers for Danny, Ben and Yesenia. I was hoping to actually hear their voices again. I was waiting until I got here so we could contact them together.”
Payton sniffled again then lifted her chin. “Thank you.”
“I can help try to find your missing friends, Kaylin and Miranda. I have a network of personal guards. I can put the word out. Humans stand out. I can let them know to contact me if they come across any and I can try to help follow up on leads.”
Both Esme and Payton grabbed her in a hug. “Thank you so much!” Esme said.
“See?” Payton said. “I told you I found us a new friend.”