The Healer (The Order of Intergalactic Peace #1) - Kelly Lucille Page 0,43

was wearing what amounted to dirt brown pants and a matching oversized tunic. “They tried to be friendly.”

Serenity raised a brow and took a sip of her soup. Keeping her eyes on his with clear dismissal. It took him a moment to see the look in her eyes because he was too busy staring at her lips wrapped around her spoon. When she realized her dismissal wasn’t having any effect she dropped her spoon with a clatter and glared at him again.

He shrugged, continuing to smile. “You know you could try to get to know us, we’re not the villains.”

“No?” she asked sitting back and giving him an incredulous look. “You set off bombs that hurt people and are keeping me against my expressed wishes.” She shook her head and stood up. “At least Mal Ryn doesn’t pretend to be anything but what he is.”

She turned to leave, and he came around the table in time to grab her arm just as she reached the doors to the outside.

“And what is he?” he asked, staring into her eyes as if he was searching for something.

“Let go,” she said.

“Answer the question.”

“Ruthless,” she said when it was clear he wasn’t letting her leave until she did. “Implacable. He throws temper tantrums like a child but there is nothing childlike about the damage he leaves in his wake.” She huffed out a breath and tried to pull away again. “I answered your question, now let me go.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone address him by his name before, and you said it with such familiarity.” he mused. “You sound like you know him well.” The heat in his eyes leaned toward anger for the first time since she had known him. Then something flashed there, and he looked at her like it was the first time he had really seen her. “Is that why he is throwing his ‘tantrums’, as you call them, across the galaxy looking for you?”

She stopped struggling and wondered if he could feel her heart speed up when she turned her head to look him in the eyes. “What do you mean?” She forced her body into a semblance of calm so that her heartbeat and breathing wouldn’t give her away, but something did, because Ryker narrowed his eyes, and then without another word dragged her from the building.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked through gritted teeth as he pulled her away from the main street of buildings.

“To see Rand,” he gritted out with no give in the hand wrapped around her arm. And when they reached the building where the resistance made their war plans he pushed her through without warning, coming in at her back. Rand, the twin Morphs and two others she had never seen, both highly gifted though she didn’t look long enough to try and figure out in what.

Nolan Rand drew her eyes away when he spoke. “How did you know I wanted to talk to the healer?” he asked mildly enough. “I just sent Nox to bring her.”

At least she had missed that, Serenity thought. Nox, she had learned was even harder to shake than Ryker. But then he was a hunter, the more she eluded him the more invested in the chase he became. Lucky for her, he was Rand’s main bodyguard along with the deadly twins who had finally been introduced to her as Fox and Sol.

Fox smirked at her at the mention of the hunter. For some reason she got a lot of enjoyment from watching Nox circle around Serenity like a hunting cat circles his dinner.

Serenity grimaced and shook her head at the woman, who promptly snorted in amusement. Serenity turned to give her attention to Noland Rand. “You don’t have to send a hunter after me when you want my attention.” She raised her arm. “A simple buzz of pain will get me here.” She yanked her arm hard and finally managed to dislodge Ryker.

“Why did you want to see her?” Ryker asked, letting her go finally.

“Wow,” Serenity said glaring at the side of his head. “That sounds like my business.” She turned back to Nolan Rand. “Why did you send your wolf for me this time? Another check in?” She asked facetiously.

A warm spark of feral energy flickered behind her, and Serenity didn’t need to look to know that Nox had joined them. Or that the hunter stood too close behind her in his usual silent skulking manner. She ignored him and raised a questioning