Hunted

At the far edge of the galaxy, fear has a new home . . .

Security Chief Lochan Rondel joined the Nightingale to gain a warrior’s signet and join the Thirteen Systems elite. He knew venturing into an uncharted section of the galaxy meant risking his life, but he did not expect to fight a harrowing battle with the despoiler fleet. With the despoilers defeated, the signet is almost within his grasp. A few days with a lovely engineer on an uninhabited planet is a well-earned reward for months of risk and danger.

Except that Bright Star Prime is not uninhabited, and the squatters are deadly.

Adele Cypress invented a revolutionary launch platform that will be the first in the Thirteenth System. A commoner from a modest background, it is an opportunity beyond her wildest dreams. Not only will its success secure her future, but she will also meet the heroic Commander Lochan. A man she has fantasized about since he first appeared in the media streams. When he joins her for a planetary excursion, she is as thrilled with his company as she is with the wonder of a new and untamed world. Her excitement turns into terror with a midnight attack.

Fleeing into the night, can Lochan and Adele stay ahead of their enemies long enough for the Nightingale to rescue them?

Originally published in the Pets in Space 10 Anthology.