Poppy glanced at the man beside her.
“Your transformation has not been normal,” Brodin said. “The healers believe it’s because of your different genetic structure. You’ve changed, but you’re not full shapeshifter. There’s Damari virus in your blood, but you don’t change into a wolf.”
She bit her lip. “In the forest, I had…claws.”
Brodin cocked his head, something working through his eyes. “You appear to have some elements of the Damari. A semi shift with claws, enhanced senses.”
She nodded, twisting her hands together. Of course, she’d be different. Story of her life.
“My healers are unsure where you’ll end up. We need to monitor you.”
She looked at Mal. “You’re safe on Zhalto?”
“Um, yes.” Mal lifted her chin. “So, while I was working with Rhain to find you…we sort of fell in love.” A smile broke out on Mal’s face.
Poppy blinked. “What?” Mal never kept a man around very long.
“I know, right? Mallory West in love. He’s really great, Poppy.” Mal’s face lit up. “Ah, speak of the devil.”
A man appeared behind Mal and rested his hand on her shoulder.
Wow. He was handsome with an edge. His dark hair was a little long, giving him a masculine, sexy appeal.
He ran his fingers down the pilot’s neck. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Poppy.”
“You, too. Thank you for rescuing us, and helping me.”
Rhain nodded.
“So…you guys are together?”
Mal nodded and glanced up at Rhain.
The look on the alien king’s face made Poppy’s chest hitch. It was clear he adored Poppy’s best friend.
Envy twisted inside her. No one had ever looked at her like that. Sure, she had no desire to date, but there wasn’t a woman alive who didn’t want a gorgeous man to look at her with pure love and adoration. Her chest tightened, feeling like she’d swallowed a rock. Her last boyfriend, Andrew, had unceremoniously dumped her via email. He’d said he was looking for more “excitement.”
Poppy sniffed. She was way better off without asshole Andrew.
“I’m happy for you, Mal.” And she was. Her friend was a truly good person.
“We’re going to get married,” Rhain said. “But I know Mal will want you there, so we’ll do it when you’re ready to travel.”
“Married?” Poppy breathed, then shook her head. “Wait, if Rhain is the Overlord of Zhalto, does that mean you’ll be…?”
“We’re not talking about the Q word right now,” Mal said quickly.
Rhain let out a low chuckle.
Poppy could hardly believe it.
“Is Poppy safe, Brodin?” Mal asked. “I know Zavir’s warlord Candela is causing you trouble.”
Candela? Poppy glanced up at Brodin.
“Poppy is under my protection, and we’re hunting Candela down.” His voice vibrated with a growl.
“So, how far are we from Earth?” Poppy asked. “Can we contact Nynatech?”
Mal’s smile disappeared. “Poppy…”
Poppy tensed. She sensed Brodin shift closer. “Tell me.”
“We’re near Carthago. I met some of the human survivors from Fortuna Station.”
Carthago? Shock rocketed through Poppy.
Fortuna Station, a space station orbiting Jupiter, had been attacked by alien slavers over a year ago. Humans had been abducted, and the slavers used a transient wormhole to take them back to the other side of the galaxy.
Her chest constricted. The survivors had made a home on the desert world of Carthago. It was those survivors who’d sent advanced information back that Poppy and her team had used to create the wormhole drive.
Carthago was too far from Earth to travel back in a single lifetime.
Her stomach cramped. “We’re on the other side of the galaxy?”
Mal nodded.
“With no way home?”
“No, Poppy. I’m sorry. Look, I asked Sam on Carthago to get word back to Earth that we’re alive. Your parents would have been informed.”
There was a rush of sound in Poppy’s ears. Mal was talking, saying something about making a home on Zhalto.
“I think Poppy needs some rest, and time to adjust,” Brodin said. “We’ll call again soon.”
Mal looked upset. “Okay. Poppy, I love you.”
Poppy swallowed. “I love you, too.”
The projection blinked off.
She felt hot, then cold.
Brodin crouched in front of her, and she wanted to curl into that broad chest and let him shelter her.
Instead, she gripped the arms of her chair.
He just stared at her for a moment, then rose. He held out a huge, strong hand. “Come with me.”
Where else did she have to go?
But she realized in that moment that she also didn’t want to be alone. She put her hand in his.
Brodin led Poppy outside.
She looked pale, shell-shocked. He couldn’t imagine being told he could never return to Damar.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She pulled in a deep, shaky breath. “No. No, I’m not. I’m on an unknown planet. I can’t return home—” her voice hitched “—and I’m infected with an alien virus that’s transforming me partly into a wolf shifter.” A semi-hysterical laugh broke from her.
“Hey.” He pulled her to a stop under a tree with broad leaves and long branches.
Night was falling, and parts of the aconis tree were lighting up. The trees stored the sun’s energy during the day and radiated light at night. Damar’s moon of Kobold hung overhead.
“You need time. It’s going to be okay.”
She stared at him, then looked away. “My entire life is in upheaval, Brodin. I have no way back to Earth.”
A sudden thought hit him, and he didn’t like it. “You have family, or a mate, back on Earth?”
“My parents.” She frowned. “Mate? You mean like a husband? Oh, no. I’m married to my work.” A forlorn look crossed her face. “Or I was. My work. I can never return to it.”
He took her hand again. “Come. You need food. Let me show you some of Accalia.”
He led her down the path. The market was lit up with a golden glow and nestled in some rocky cliffs. Buildings were built into the rocks and lights were strung up. The scent of cooking meat floated deliciously on the air.
As she took it all in, he slowly saw some of the tension leak out of her shoulders. She looked around, absorbing everything.
Then she started peppering him with questions. What was the local stone? How many Damari called the city home? What was that piece of electronic equipment on the wall?
Fighting a smile, he answered. He’d never met someone so curious.
People stopped to greet him with bowed heads and smiles. Not many could maintain eye contact with him.
He realized that Poppy had no trouble meeting his gaze.
A few people stopped to ask about Candela, their worry obvious. He tried to reassure everyone that everything would be all right.
“That thing in the forest, it belongs to this Candela?” Poppy asked quietly.
A muscle in his jaw flexed. “Yes. She’s been abducting our lone hunters. A young hunter went missing today.” He glanced at her. “And it would probably have taken the teenagers today if you hadn’t intervened.”