Page 15 of Saved By the Servali

“It is bad. Most humans on Sapien-Three are either overweight or underweight. Only the rich are the right size,” she defended herself with something that had become an unspoken truth. The people in menial jobs who struggled and scraped to support themselves were thin to underweight, and the people in steady mid-range jobs ate well—but all the food was still pre-packaged, mass-produced, and full of flavorings and chemicals to hide the poor quality. Only the rich who had access to real food could afford to eat well and be “healthy.”

Still... Don’t have to spend my extra money on chocolate, but I do.“I’ve always been bigger. My mom was, too.” Nessa tried to make some sort of explanation for her shape, something she didn’t usually mind. Right now, in the company of the other humans on board and the muscular, lean Felids, she suddenly felt out of place.

Kamau was still staring at her, his head tilted, puzzlement hardening on his features as if her explanations were only confusing him more. “You don’t like the way you look, my Queen? I mean, Nessa?”

“I don’t mind it. The men I’ve been interested in? Not so much.”

“Oh. You have admirers back in the Sapien System. Of course.” Kamau nudged the soup bowl toward her. “Eat, before it gets cold.”

Nessa looked at the bowl, which still had steam floating from it, heavenly-scented curls that made her stomach grumble impatiently. “I don’t have admirers.” She picked up the spoon and paused. “This body isn’t the type to attract them—usually.”

Kamau nodded several times—then burst out, “I’m so irritated with the human males you must have met!” His tail was back to lashing, and his ears were slicked down, almost flat against his head, a scowl on his face. “You are so incredibly beautiful! Your face alone! To say nothing of your—”

Nessa smiled as a look of complete horror washed over Kamau and his words cut off.

“Oh, no. Oh, forgive me. I... I should go.” He rose and backed away, stammering.

“You should sit,” Nessa tapped the table, smiling.

“I keep making mistakes around you,” Kamau whispered miserably.

“I don’t know about that. So far, you’re saying everything just right. Tell me about Servali women. Queens. Tell me about you.”

“I’m just a cook.”

Nessa took a bite of her soup, curling the noodles around the spoon before she brought it to her lips. “Ohhhh. Ohhh, oh, my God.” She bit into the pillow-soft yet firm noodles, and the broth washed over her tongue. “I might actually have died, and this is heaven. Guess that makes you an angel.”

HE WAS NOT AN ANGEL. Not at all. He had picked up a Queen without her consent, commented on her looks, and then had an immediate, unbidden erection when she began moaning with his food in her mouth.

That sounds like a noise of pleasure. Orgasmic, erotic pleasure. Like she’s in heat...

Kamau swallowed and tried to think of unpleasant things. Rotten eggs. Razortusk steaks that had gone off.

“What kind of meat is this? I haven’t had it before. It’s like... beef and pork?”

“Razortusk steak, marinated and cut into strips. It’s like—” Kamau searched for the words he’d learned in his study of human foods. “Wild boar!”

“I could eat this every day,” Nessa moaned, chasing a strip of the steak with her spoon.

“Then I will make it for you every day. My study of human nutrition says you should have a wide variety of foods, though.” Kamau attempted to control the words bubbling out of his mouth, but they just streamed forth, a cork popped on sparkling wine. “Down on C Deck, there is an entire second shuttle bay. I ordered all sorts of plant and herb seeds and pods. With the right interior terraforming programs and equipment, this ship could have a garden! A small farm, even. I want to keep marsh ducks and wood hens for fresh eggs, even a goat or two for fresh milk and cheese. It could be done, as I’ve read most small farms on Sapien-Three are only two or three acres, and the empty bay on C Deck measures just about that. I could keep a steady supply of food that the human Queens like—and maybe that would even be a way to help my people recover.” Kamau clasped his paws, heart racing as he spilled the secret plans he hadn’t even asked Rupex about. Everyone was too busy with family and duties just now to listen to his crazy schemes—but Nessa was looking at him with glowing eyes, nodding. Smiling.

Smiling at me.

“There are already over a dozen Felid-human couples who we know hope to have families. One day, there could be more. There are only two doctors in the entire Felix Orbus Galaxy who can help them: Dr. Marcus on our ship and Dr. Weaver on Lynx-Nineteen. If I have a supply of food for humans here, and we have space to offer them medical care, this ship could be a traveling clinic to help couples across the galaxy. We have more medical staff being trained right now, with Dax and Skyla helping Marcus. Those two women who just arrived may notwant to return to the harsh life of Sapien-Three. I know they would be welcome here, helping aboard the ship and in the little farm I could create.”

“Wow,” Nessa whispered.

Kamau stopped speaking, realizing he’d risen, and was leaning over the table, heart hammering. “I... I am sorry. I told you far too much of a silly dream.”

“It’s a wonderful dream!” Nessa patted his paw where it rested on the table. “But if there are only a dozen couples...”

“It would be worth it just to make Layla, Wendy, Elio, and Dax happy to fly with us,” Kamau said with a shrug.

“You have a big heart.”

“And you are very patient to listen to me ramble.”

“I’d be lonely without someone to talk to. Talktome, not at me,” Nessa squinted at him. “You were the one who talked to me while I was in the med bay, weren’t you?”

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