Page 193 of Pets in Space 10

“She only comes out when I’m not here,” Kari said as she opened the door to her room.

Luka entered and looked around. The bland space held no personal effects and the drab interior was exactly how he imagined rooms assigned to military personnel.

“As you can see, she’s been busy.” Kari pointed toward a pile in the corner.

He held in his amusement at the sight of the destroyed shoes and boots. His gaze searched the room for his pet, taking in other signs of Zsusa’s temper. It was definitely temper and not boredom that caused this damage.

There were gouges and claw marks along the bottom of the walls and sections of the floor had been dug up too. Food littered the area as if deliberately kicked around and an upturned dish leaked water in a puddle.

Most noticeable were the slashes on the comforter thrown on the bed and Zsusa’s probable hiding spot since he didn’t see her anywhere. Shaking his head, he called, “Zsusa, come out.”

Nothing.

Kari blew out a breath and dropped onto the corner of the bed. “She’s under here. I’ve called her, tried to bribe her and left food. Nothing has gotten her to come from under there. At least she stopped crying. The sound broke my heart.”

As a recipient of Zsusa’s mournful wails when she was a kit, he understood what she meant. He crouched lower and spoke to the gathos. “I’m sorry I broke the bond. I did it to save you.”

Silence.

“The one time I attempted to reach and grab her, she growled at me,” Kari added.

Yep. If she’d growled at one of her new favorite people, she was more than likely mad at Luka. He braced one hand on the floor. “If you come out, I’ll share treats with you.”

A rumbling hiss followed a muted thump. Kari jumped from her seat on the bed and moved to stand next to him. He waved her back and she took up space near the door.

“Zsusa, come out so we can go home.” His firm tone was sure to get a rise out of her.

As predicted, slow, steady growls rolled from under the bed. The edge of the comforter at the bottom of the right corner shifted. He tensed. A small snout peeked out, then a golden face and bright lavender eyes.

“No go home!” Zsusa loudly telepathed.

Kari winced and he knew Zsusa meant to include both of them in her declaration. He pushed up his left sleeve and held out his forearm. “Bond with me and I promise not to sever the link again.”

Unless her life was in jeopardy. There would never be a time where he put Zsusa’s safety at risk.

Crawling all the way out, she tipped her head to the side and licked a paw. “No.”

How could he forget how adorable and recalcitrant she could be? He bit his inner cheek to keep back the grin threatening to break free. If she thought for a moment he found her amusing it would take all night to appease her. “Please. I’m sorry and I’ve missed you.”

She paused her grooming, lowered her paw and looked at him from the corner of her eyes. “You bad master.”

“The worst,” he promptly agreed, shifting on his legs to sit crossed legged on the floor.

Her upper lip curled, flashing sharp canines capable of shredding bone deep if she attacked. “I best gathos.”

“The best.”

She trotted closer. Kari’s gaze widened, but she didn’t move. He kept his eyes on Zsusa until she sat in front of him. “You have treats?”

Not on him, but he’d bet Kari had something from her efforts to help. “I can get some or we can get more when we return home with Harlo.”

Harlo snuck her treats despite Luka’s admonishment. Zsusa’s tail swished from side to side then she leaped into his lap. She bumped her head against the underside of his chin. “I so sad. You gone long time.”

He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her head. “I’m so sorry, Zsusa.”

No matter how he explained it, her animal brain and emotions wouldn’t comprehend the reasoning behind his actions. In her head, he’d abandoned her while she wanted to defend and protect him.

“I want lots of treats.” On that statement, pain burst at the front of his temple. He gasped and dizziness swirled around him.

“Luka!” Kari rushed to his side.

Zsusa swiped a paw, no claw, in her direction then leaned against his chest. The burning in his left forearm was familiar. The bond. Within moments, Zsusa’s form faded into mist and the black shaded tattoo reformed on his arm.

Kari dropped to her knees, her expression filled with concern. “Is she back?”

“Go home, master. Zsusa tired.”

The telepathic speech wasn’t just in his head now, he sensed Zsusa as part of him once more. Curling his forearm as if to protect the gathos, he leaned over and kissed Kari. “She’s back where she belongs.”

***

The next morning, amidst the bustle of the crowd in the dining center onboard the Aranea, Luka checked his comm. According to his messages from Harlo, a transport would arrive shortly to take him and his men back home. He sighed and glanced around the filled tables, hoping to catch sight of Kari.

He hadn’t had a chance to speak with her yesterday as he’d intended because she’d been called away right after Zsusa reformed the bond with him. They planned to meet for breakfast but she was late. If she didn’t arrive soon, he’d have to leave to catch his shuttle.

The swish of the door drew his gaze. Walking in with a familiar confident stride was the woman he wanted.

He stood as she made her way in his direction.

Her green uniform clung to her figure and her blonde hair was pulled back in a tight bun.

She looked every inch the soldier he’d met on that eventful night.

As soon as she neared his table, she spoke. “Sorry I’m late. A meeting ran over.”

“Not a problem.” He waved at the extra seat at the table and waited until she sat before dropping back into his chair. Reaching over, he caught her hands in his and entwined their fingers. “What now?”

She glanced down then back up. A light flush gave her cheeks a rosy glow. “I don’t know.”

Not what he wanted to hear but it was honest. He released her hands and stroked the back of his fingers across her cheek. “What do you want?”

She pursed her lips and met his stare with boldness. “My career is with the USF.”

Blunt and to the point. He had hoped for some sign she had feelings for him beyond the passion they’d shared. The corners of his lips curled down. His work with the Atoro couldn’t be set aside even if he wanted to.

Clasping her hands again, he massaged the palms and stared into her eyes as he repeated his earlier question. “What do you want, Kari?”

Her eyelids flickered as she licked her lips. His heart pounded in his chest, a part of him begging her to say she desired to see him again.

“I want to be with you. I want us to find a way to make it work. I…I just don’t know if that’s possible when I’m in the military and you work for an organization that isn’t exactly known for its honest work.”

Relief exploded in his chest and he tugged her from her seat to pull her into his lap. Murmurs rose around them. He didn’t care. This was his last shot to get something he wanted more than anything he could remember wanting in his life.

“The Atoro have legitimate business stakes in the world of shipping,” he said.

She arched a brow because he knew as well as she did, the syndicate had their hands in multiple non-legal ventures.

Another chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Your hesitation is wise. I want to be with you, Kari. My feelings for you have only grown despite our short time together.”

“What are you saying, Luka?”

He tipped his head down and met her gaze. His hand stroked down her hair. “I have to leave shortly. Thanks to my second, there will be no charges against me or my men. Harlo has arranged transport to take us home.”

She stilled. “What does that mean for us?”

Time to take a risk. He pressed his lips to her forehead and whispered, “Be with me. Whatever or however that looks. Be with me, Kari.”

His world suspended for a moment, the noise in the background faded. All of his attention locked on the woman he held on his lap.

“We’re both crazy,” she muttered.

It wasn’t the yes he needed. But it wasn’t a no.

His heartbeat sped up and he clenched his hands on her waist. He rained kisses from her temple to her ear and nipped the lobe.

No one could hear his next words but her.

“I’m falling in love with you, lieutenant.

I promise to do my best to fully shutter any illegal operations that remain.

It will take time. Months, maybe a few years, but I’ll do the work because I don’t want to let you go. ”

She almost tipped them both from the chair when she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. He groaned and adjusted his hold, bracing his booted feet firmly on the floor. She pulled back on a gasp. “I’m more than in like with you and halfway to love.”

His breath shuddered from his chest. There could be no mistake. “Say it. Tell me what I want to hear.”

“Yes. Yes, I want to be with you however that looks.”

He buried his face at the apex of her shoulders and neck, unsure if he did it to hide the tears in his eyes or because he couldn’t believe it. “You won’t regret it.”