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A strange sensation expanded in his chest—an ache that was not entirely unpleasant. He recognized it with reluctant clarity: longing.

For what, precisely, he could not articulate. Not for his lost family—that pain had dulled to a permanent, manageable hollow. This was different. More immediate. More dangerous.

He stepped away from the door, his tail sweeping in an agitated arc behind him. The environmental controls indicated the cabin had reached the optimal temperature for human comfort. At least in this small way, he had provided for their needs.

The notion should not have given him satisfaction. They were temporary passengers, nothing more. In less than a week, he would deliver them to the Patrol station and continue his solitary existence. This was the logical outcome, the only acceptable conclusion to their brief intersection.

Yet as he returned to the cockpit, he found himself calculating the time they would spend at Outpost Neldra. The repairs would require at least a full day. Perhaps longer if parts needed to be fabricated.

The realization that he found the prospect of additional time with the humans appealing was troubling. Attachment was inefficient. Dangerous. It clouded judgment and created vulnerabilities.

He settled into his chair and focused on the navigation display, forcing his thoughts back to the practical matters at hand. Course adjustments. Fuel consumption. Repair priorities.

But beneath these tactical considerations, he was conscious that for the first time in years, his ship no longer felt empty.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Kara woke up, feeling surprisingly refreshed. Her sleep had been free of nightmares for the first time since she’d been abducted, and she had slept peacefully in a cocoon of safety. The cabin was comfortably warm now, and she was wrapped in a blanket that smelled faintly of spice. The pillow beneath her head was soft, and Rory had finally relaxed in his sleep, his face peaceful and untroubled.

She smoothed his hair back from his forehead, allowing herself a moment to simply watch him.

On the asteroid, she’d rarely slept deeply enough to feel rested, always alert for approaching footsteps or voices that might signal danger. Here, despite being on an alien vessel with a being she barely knew, she’d slept more soundly than she had in months.

That realization was both comforting and unsettling.

She didn’t even jump when someone kicked softly on the door. Careful not to wake Rory, she slipped out of bed and went to answer it.

Thraxar stood in the corridor, his massive body nearly filling the doorway. His black eyes met hers briefly before shifting away.

“You require sustenance,” he said softly. “I am preparing a meal.”

She glanced back at Rory. “I should probably wait until he wakes up.”

“The internal monitoring system will alert you if he wakes.” He gestured to a small panel beside the door. “You may observe from any communication terminal.”

She hesitated, then nodded. The idea of monitoring technology was both reassuring and disturbing, but the thought of food was too tempting to resist.

“Thank you,” she said, following him down the corridor.

In the small galley, he prepared a simple meal, his tail moving gracefully as he worked.

“I am afraid there has been a change in our plans,” he said, setting a steaming bowl before her. “The repairs I mentioned have become more urgent. I plan to stop at Outpost Neldra.”

She paused with her spoon halfway to her mouth. “Is it dangerous?”

“The repair is manageable. The delay is… regrettable.”

“I meant the outpost.”

He frowned at her. “Their security protocols are not optimal, but I will not let anything happen to you or Rory.”

She believed him. She also realized that she wasn’t anxious or disappointed about the delay. Instead, she found herself oddly relieved. Three days had seemed too short a time to figure out what would happen next. What awaited them at the Patrol station? Should they go back to Earth and worry about an explanation later? How would it work if they decided to stay? A few additional days to make a decision didn’t seem like a bad thing. Additional days with Thraxar.

“How long will it take?” she asked.

“The repair itself requires approximately one standard day. The journey to Neldra adds two days to our travel time.” Histail twitched slightly. “I apologize for the delay in reaching your destination.”

“It’s fine,” she said sincerely. “We’re safer here than we’ve been in a long time.”