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“I maintain a semi-regular route through this sector. I specialize in small, high-value items rather than bulk cargo. Medicinals, technology components, cultural artifacts.”

“And that brings you to places like the mining colony?” She couldn’t keep the edge from her voice.

“Not typically, although I have been there once or twice before.” He met her eyes across the table. “I do not enjoy stopping there, but I had some minor repairs that needed doing.”

“Did you get them done?” she asked uneasily, thinking of their hasty departure.

“No, but it was nothing urgent. The primary compression coil was showing signs of wear.”

“That’s not urgent?”

“I will replace it before it fails,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact.

“What if it fails, while you’re in space? Alone?”

She shuddered at the thought.

“Then it would have been a good run,” he said calmly.

A good run? The words echoed in her mind. Was that truly all he expected from life?

“You don’t have anyone to help you?” She hesitated, then added. “A friend? A… wife?”

His face stiffened. “That is not possible. All Cire females were lost in the Red Death—the plague that swept through our systems twenty years ago.”

She gave him a horrified look, unable to imagine the scope of such a tragedy.

“That’s terrible.”

“Many races were affected by the plague, although the Cire were amongst the worst. That is one of the reasons why the Vedeckians have found a market, even though their activities are illegal.”

“You don’t mean you?—”

“Absolutely not,” he said immediately. “But it would be a useless endeavor even if I were to fall so low. A Cire male can only mate with a Cire female.”

“You mean you’re not physically compatible with anyone else?” she asked, then blushed when she realized what she’d said. “Um, you know what I mean.”

His mouth curved in that odd almost smile. “I do, and I am afraid that is the case. I will live and die alone.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He shrugged. “It has been many years since the plague. I am used to my solitary existence.”

Despite the casual gesture, she didn’t think he was as nonchalant about his fate as he seemed.

“Don’t you ever wish that you had someone?”

His gaze went to Rory, still happily consuming his food. “Sometimes. A male would like to leave a legacy behind him.”

“And you’re sure it’s impossible?”

“Of course. I cannot mate with anyone but a Cire female,” he said again, and she swore his tail twitched.

“But you can’t know that for certain, can you?”

“It has always been that way.”

“But what if you just believe it’s impossible? What if you try and find out it’s not impossible?”