CHAPTER FOUR
T hraxar monitored the ship’s systems as they cleared the mining settlement’s orbit.
The vessel hummed with familiar vibrations beneath his feet—a reassuring sensation after the unexpected chaos of the past hour.
He had not planned on acquiring passengers today, yet here he was, harboring fugitives.
His fingers moved deftly across the control panel, setting their course for the nearest Patrol station before engaging the autopilot.
The thought of leaving them there bothered him more than he cared to admit.
The nagging voice of caution in his mind—the one that had kept him alive and alone for years—questioned his impulsive decision to help the female and her offspring.
Getting involved was dangerous. Attachment was worse.
Taking them to the Patrol station was for the best.
“Do you think we’re safe now?” Kara asked.
“They have no way to follow us. I did not detect any tracking devices implanted in either of you.”
Her eyes widened. “Did you really think that was a possibility?”
“Who knows how far some people will go? But such devices are expensive and Grentz?—”
“Doesn’t like spending his credits. For once I’m grateful he’s so cheap.”
Rory climbed down from the other chair, then moved to the control panel, carefully studying the display, before going to the viewport, his small hands pressing against the transparent material.
“He’s never seen space before,” Kara said quietly as she came to stand next to him. “Not like this, anyway. We were kept in a cell with no windows after we were taken.”
His jaw tightened at the reminder. He knew what it was like for one’s life to be ripped away.
“How were you taken?”
She sighed. Her gaze followed her son’s through the view screen but he didn’t think she was seeing the stars.
“I’d been working the night shift that week—I’m a nurse—and I arrived home to find Rory already awake. I’d promised to take him to the park and I decided I might as well go ahead and do it, even though it was just after dawn. It was a mistake.”
His tail went around her waist again, but she made no attempt to push it away.
“We’d been there hundreds of times, but it felt… different. But before I could tell Rory we would come back later, a man came out of the mist. At least I thought it was a man.”
There were a number of physical similarities between the Vedeckians and her race, especially from a distance. Perhaps that was why they had targeted her planet.
“I was so busy watching the one coming towards us, I didn’t even notice the one coming up behind me.
The next thing I knew we were in that cell, and two males were arguing about our worth.
They had given me some kind of translator because I had no trouble understanding that one of them thought that we weren’t valuable enough. ”
“I do not understand.”
She shrugged, but the careless movement couldn’t disguise her anger.
“Apparently I was too old. And Rory was not only male, he was too… different.”
“They were wrong about your value,” he said firmly.
She gave him a quick smile, then patted his tail where it was still wrapped around her waist. An unexpected spike of arousal shot through him and he had the sudden urge to pull her into his arms.
What is wrong with me?
She was most certainly not Cire. He should not feel this way about her. But the urge to touch her didn’t lessen. For the first time, he understood the appeal of having a mate and why some warriors would risk their lives for their mates. If she were his, he would not let her be harmed.
“I am glad I found you.” The words escaped before he could stop them.
“Me too,” she said, smiling up at him and making his chest tighten. “I never thought we’d make it away from there. I’d stopped hoping.”
“Hope is a luxury in such places,” he agreed, understanding all too well the grim reality of survival.
“Thank you for taking us away.”
She patted his tail again and he forced it to drop away from her, although he immediately regretted the loss of contact.
“Were there others on the Vedeckian ship?” he asked, trying to distract himself.
“I think so, even though I never saw anyone else.”
“We should inform the Patrol. Perhaps they can trace them.”
“After six months?”
They had been trapped on Jellix V for that long? No wonder she had learned to be wary.
“Perhaps not,” he admitted. “It is difficult to monitor an entire system.”
She nodded and looked over at her son. He followed her gaze and realized that the child was tracing his fingers across the view screen, mapping the position of the stars over and over. He went to join the boy.
“The stars look different from every system,” he said. “But many believe the different patterns hold meaning.”
Rory turned at the sound of his voice, his gaze dropping to Thraxar’s tail. He reached for it, his small fingers hovering questioningly.
“Rory,” Kara warned softly, “we don’t touch people without asking.”
But he found himself uncurling his tail and moving it within the boy’s reach.
“It is acceptable,” he said. “He may examine it if he wishes.”
Once again the boy lightly traced the patterns on his skin.
The sensation was not unpleasant—quite the opposite.
There was something soothing about the methodical way the child traced each line, his focus absolute.
Kara came to join them and they stood in companionable silence, watching the stars drift past while Rory continued his careful examination of his tail.
The moment stretched, unexpectedly peaceful, and he found himself relaxing.
There was something oddly comforting about their company—the quiet appreciation of the female, the innocent curiosity of the child. It had been… a very long time since he’d shared his space with anyone.
A soft rumbling sound interrupted his thoughts. He glanced down to see the child pressing a hand against his stomach, his lips pursed. A wave of dismay washed over him.
“You require sustenance.” How could he have been so negligent? “I failed to consider your needs.”
“It’s fine,” she assured him quickly. “We’re used to going without.”
Her words only intensified his discomfort. They were under his protection and he had let them go hungry.
“Unacceptable,” he stated firmly. “Follow me.”
He led them down to the small living area.
The galley was tucked at one end behind a built-in dining table and a long couch and massive armchair occupied the other end.
The space was utilitarian, designed for efficiency rather than luxury, but he’d added several items from his travels over the years.
“Do you have specific nutritional restrictions?”
She shook her head. “We’ll eat anything that’s not poisonous. At least I will. Rory’s a bit particular about textures, but we’ll manage.”
He nodded and set about preparing a simple meal. Most of his meals were functional rather than enjoyable—but there was something enjoyable about cooking for others.
As he worked, he became increasingly conscious of Rory watching him intently from a seat at the small table. The boy’s focus seemed fixed on Thraxar’s hands as they manipulated the food.
“Your son pays unusual attention to detail,” he said and she smiled.
“He notices everything. Patterns, routines, how things work—he absorbs it all.” Pride colored her voice. “He’s brilliant, just… different in how he experiences the world.”
He shrugged. “Different is not deficient. Many species value varied perception.”
“Not everyone sees it that way,” she said quietly.
“Then they lack vision.” He placed the food into serving bowls and carried it to the table, along with plates and utensils. “The meal is ready.”