Page 10 of Saved By the Servali

“You’re very practical,” a deep voice chuckled.

Nessa’s breath caught against her aching chest.Holy non-human.

In her career, she saw more non-humans than most people on Sapien-Three, but they were passing through, often seated in shuttles or ships already.

This was a Leonid, up close and personal, coming up to her bedside and dwarfing her completely. And she was a tall, solidly built woman—a real St. Albany girl, her dad used to say.

Next to this Felid in medical garb, she looked like a scrawny little shrimp. He smiled and put his gigantic paw out for her to shake, reaching down to scoop up her hand in case she was too weak to lift it (which she was). Nessa noticed that his head, haloed by a magnificent, soft-looking gray-gold mane, was the size of three or four human heads.

Big.

We’re back to little kid levels, huh? You’re a grown ass woman who outran two thugs with lasers and lived through a hyperjump and God knows what else. Act like it! This is far from the first time you’ve had to give a report—and this guy is just a big, furry Leonid doctor. He’s not scarier than the union reps.

“You must be the doctor. I’m Nessa Kinney, a shuttle tech and inspector from the Milky Way Intergalactic Port. In the routine completion of my duties, I was inspecting shuttles in berths thirty through forty. Earlier in the day, two men tried to bribe me with three hundred credits, which I instead put into the MWIP Safe and Sound charity collection. I—”

“Whoa, whoa, my dear. You are safe and not on trial. And, as your practical self mentioned, we all want to hear your story. How about if I help you up, Skyla helps you change into something more glamorous than our med bay special, and we let you have guests in the dining area?”

“How long have I been knocked out? Why haven’t I been in quarantine?”

“You’ve been in isolation in the med bay for three days because you were hovering on the brink of life and death for a bit,” the Leonid said gravely. “You’ve had every blood panel and test we can administer, and you’re not only disease-free, you have superior strength and an enviable recovery speed. Your companions on the shuttle? Not so much, but they’ll be out of quarantine soon. Ah, here’s Skyla.”

Nessa managed to slide her head slightly, looking for another human. Or Felid. “What are you?” she blurted, instantly wishing she hadn’t.

At least the laughter that greeted her was friendly—and that was a good thing because the stacked alien lady in a painted-on gray flight suit had a long muzzle full of sharp teeth that gleamed when she tossed her head back to laugh.

“I’m a Canid! Dholian, to be exact. I’ve been your unofficial nurse since you arrived, and it’s a pleasure to finally hear your voice!”

“Oh! Thank you.” Nessa watched the long plume of a tail—reddish brown like a fox’s, sway and sashay on long legs.

Her tired brain stored new information.Canid. Okay. Pretty. Friendly. Nurse.

Huge teeth, though.

“Um. And... humans and Felids and Canids are all pretty peaceful together?” Nessa asked softly.

More laughter, and some sideways glances. Wendy stepped forward, hand on her middle. As she stood closer to the bed, Nessa could see the bulge of a pregnant belly. “Very friendly in some cases. My husband is a Tigerite.”

“I’m married to a Leonid. We have two cubs. Kids.” The blonde in a black uniform waved with a smile.

“My boss—Jaxson, you’ll meet him, is a Canid, and he was married to a Felid. You’re in the Felix Orbus Galaxy now, and everyone here is pretty peaceful,” Skyla held up a deep blue dress and surveyed it with a critical eye. “As long as you don’t come between a Felid and his Queen, that is.”

Dimly, she remembered hearing a voice, a soft, smooth purring voice, something like speech caught in a melody.

Who called me his Queen? Who had that beautiful, rich, deep voice? And what exactly does “Queen” mean in this galaxy?

“MY QUEEN IS HEADINGto the dining room? I mean—the Queen I’ve helped look after? I have broth ready!” Kamau hoped the pitiful excitement in his voice wasn’t too obvious as he skidded around the kitchen, throwing together something that would work for an impromptu reception for their new guest. “Who is coming? Why are we in the dining area? Should we not be gathered at her bedside? Is this going to overtax her?” Questions popped from his lips as his tail grabbed a bowl of citrines. He dumped goat’s milk and marsh duck eggs into a bowl with sugar and began to whisk for all he was worth. “She can only have soft things and liquids, yes? What about a warm glass of citrine custard?”

“You’re going to sprain something,” Ardol shook his head. “Be calm and collected.”

“Oh? Like you were?” Kamau glared at the Leopardine for a minute. He could throw a lot of unpleasant truths back at the bigger male, but he was too busy. “Go and check to see if the service droids have wiped down all the tables and mopped the floor.”

“Isn’t that—”

“If you disobey the chef, I will not make my grandmother’s Red Love curry for you and Jade. My grandmother was a midwife, and she never failed to help a Queen bring forth cubs. Red Love curry has ancient Servali herbs and spices known to create insatiable heats that last several extra days.”

Ardol’s eyes glowed with momentary lust, and then he streaked away. “Checking, chef!”

“That’s better,” Kamau muttered, his own insides twisting with a hunger he knew he wouldn’t be able to satisfy anytime soon.

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