Page 28 of Saved By the Servali

You’re not even what she wants. You saw the man on the screen.

Human.

And what else would there be in her galaxy, with our citizens in quarantine worlds away?

“You are muttering and hissing to yourself. I can’t even come near you without getting a tail whipped across my eyes!” Talossuddenly snarled, inching into the kitchen and hugging the wall to avoid the agitated appendage Kamau was swinging.

“I am busy. I do not have time to dance attendance on one member of the crew or one guest. I spent far too much time with her last night and neglected to prep for tonight’s dinner,” he said tersely.

Talos said nothing, but Kamau could hear him sniffing the air.

I bathed. Reluctantly. I wanted to smell her heat marking me all day...

Talos’ voice was puzzled. “I’ll have Jaxson take her the tray.”

NESSA WAS LYING ONher bed in a soft cream-colored sleeping gown, hoping she looked seductive and beautiful for Kamau. It was the first time she’d ever had something so pretty to wear, and the first time her heart whispered that she was beautiful enough to truly deserve it.

Kamau thinks I’m beautiful. Desirable.

Her body heated and ached in more than exhaustion. She wanted to be in his strong, soft arms, forgetting all the long, painful conversations of the day.

Soon, Nessa. Soon.

Talos had said he’d speak to the chef about bringing her something to keep her strength up.

“Hey, Ness. Can I call you Ness?”

Nessa looked up and swallowed a yelp, pulling the gaping neckline of her dress up to her throat.

That was not Kamau.

“Hi!” Nessa squeaked the word and bolted upright, struggling to stand. Her head swam, and the tall, muscular Canid easily caught her as she began to pitch forward.

“Most species are lightheaded after a hyperjump—even with a hypersleep chamber. It’s a miracle that you can even sit up,” Jaxson smiled as he hastily sat her covered tray down on the edge of the bed.

“Thanks for not making me feel like such a weakling.” Nessa groaned and rubbed her lower back.

“You survived for days without food or water. You’re tough, Nessa. I’d want you on my team any day.”

“Your team? You work on engines?”

“That’s right. I’m the ship’s mechanic, a certified ESM with two junior ESMs, but Lycen, Skyla, and I all used to be in the same Sirius Federation System Military Corps unit. The SFSM Corps of Aviation Engineers,” Jaxson said proudly. “That’s how I met Alana—not the baby, my late wife, who she’s named after. On a tour of duty on Leonid-One...”

Nessa watched the Canid sigh, a huge, faraway smile on his face. “I’m sorry,” she finally said.

“Thanks. I’m happy to be on theComet Stalker, back with a pack—I mean, a Pride. People who you can really trust, people who have your back. You have something like that back home?” He settled her back against the pillows as easily as she would settle a doll. “I can get a personal computer set up in here for you if you want to call home?”

“Apparently not,” Nessa let out a bitter laugh and frowned as she realized that no one from work had stood up for her and said, “Nessa wouldn’t just leave, something must be wrong.” Or followed up on drone footage that would have shown her narrow escape.

But... I went missing in the middle of a shift. There were more inspections to do, shuttles bumping up into berths all day and night.

Someone had to have covered my shift. Someone had to have realized I was gone—almost immediately. Someone whocould quickly alter the schedules to make it look like I was off so coverage would be provided—and then alter them back to make it look like I just didn’t show up.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a sore spot,” Jaxson apologized. “Maybe this will make it better? Kamau’s finest! Silverfin soup—the most delicate, buttery fish stew you’ve ever tasted.”

Nessa grinned and nodded. “It smells amazing. And uh... I think I do have a pack—they’re up here, floating in another galaxy, but they definitely look out for me. Could you give my compliments to the chef?” Nessa said.

“Absolutely.”

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