Page 74 of Shielded in the Shadows

She turned her head to look at me, eyebrows raised. “And when did you plan to tell me about your resignation?”

“First thing this morning, but we were somewhat distracted by an intruder in engineering. I then intended to tell you once we’d gotten news from Byx, and now…” I gestured at our surroundings. “It has turned into an eventful day.”

“You are forgiven.” She kissed my jaw and settled back onto my arm. “And your former crew?”

“Also a problem, but one that can be handled once our business on Saistea is settled.” I rubbed my thumb across her knuckles. “You took many punches today, Captain. I am here to listen whenever you want to talk.”

This time, her silence had an uneasy edge. “You mean N’vera,” she said eventually.

“Among other things.”

“I bought information from them. And as you’ve probably figured out, that’s the reason my credit account is so empty.” She took a deep breath and let it out. “It might not be fair of me to ask this of you, but I need you to trust that I will explain once we’ve dealt with this bounty on my head and probably yours as well, and you are free of Gitto and the GAIS. It isn’t that I don’t trust you. There are…other considerations.”

Ah. Now her refusal to speak on the matter made more sense. There was someone she was protecting who was in danger as long as she was still being hunted.

I rested my head against hers, careful not to bump her with my horns. “Of course I trust you, my mate. And I trust that if the matter becomes an immediate danger that you will tell me what I need to know to keep you safe and protect whatever other…considerations you hold close to your heart.”

My wristcomm beeped. I checked the screen and found an incoming comm from Byx. I tapped the screen and made the comm audio only.

“Apologies for disturbing your recovery, my friend,” the Wundi male said, his tone mocking but good-natured.

Keela compressed her lips to hold in a snicker.

“I have some news,” he added, growing serious. “A source has told me the Fleeting Fancy is on its way here at top speed. Their ETA is six hours.”

Keela turned her head to meet my gaze. Judging by her expression, we’d come to the same conclusion at the same moment.

“Gitto,” I said, flexing my hands. Keela captured the one draped over her middle and kissed my knuckles.

“Very likely,” Byx replied. “What better way to get her revenge than to inform your former crewmates of your location?” He made a rough grating sound. “Does she hope to flush you out from the sanctuary of the outpost? Or does she believe I would grant clearance for the Fancy to dock and let you take your chances with your former crewmates?”

“I suspect both would suit her needs,” I muttered. Louder, I said, “Let me discuss this with Captain Shaw. We’ll be returning to the docking bay presently.”

“We will monitor the Fancy in the meantime.”

Once Byx signed off, I pulled Keela back tightly against my chest. “A few more minutes and my knot will have eased enough for us to separate without too much discomfort.”

She huffed. “I already disliked your former captain for shooting us both. Now I hate him.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her outrage at having to end our intimate encounter prematurely.

We’d both surely known these stolen minutes in medbay wouldn’t last, but I hadn’t anticipated the reason would be the imminent arrival of Sjer and his crew. How many would be my former shipmates, and how many would be new acquisitions hired to replace those I’d killed on Ghira? And would Jonor still be aboard?

It was likely Sjer had kept him on for the purpose of hunting me down. I had no idea how he’d survived his wounds and what kind of danger he now posed, but he would be bent on vengeance even more so than Sjer. And even more volatile and unpredictable than ever—a truly unsettling prospect.

He never could be reasoned with before, but now Sjer would have no control over him at all. That made him excessively dangerous. I wanted him far away from Keela. And preferably dead.

My knot eased just enough for a trickle of seed to escape between us. A growl slipped out before I could contain it.

Frowning, Keela craned her neck to look up at me. “Problem?”

“No.” I nipped at her ear gently with my fang. “When we have sorted out our business with Orqiel, Gitto, my former crew, and your personal matter, you and I will find an island on some forgotten world and enjoy many glorious days like this, uninterrupted.” The vision of how I would spend those days filling my mate again and again made my tail flick.

“I would be fine with doing that,” Keela said. “Once we complete a few jobs and get some credits in my account.”

I could have pointed out that I had enough credits to keep the Nivilus operational for years, but I had sworn to be the mate Keela needed, so I simply said, “Then that is our plan.”

She urged me to lower my head for a kiss. When we drew apart, she cupped my jaw. “Speaking of plans…how the hells are we going to get off this station without Gitto knowing, and without your former crew tailing us all the way to Saistea?”