Then he saw the mogha.
His body tensed, nostrils flaring. C’hase was just a pup, fur completely gray, a surefire sign that he had been in captivity his entire existence.
“That mogha is a captive,” L’iza said, an edge in her tone that he keenly felt.
The mogha were the noblest of creatures, the loyalist of companions, a bond with one the highest of honors. There was no way he could be bonded to someone that would treat one so badly its fur would become gray. No way he could be bonded to a filthy human—
How dare you, he said, blood boiling. You will pay for what you’ve done.
Dani was hit with a force of such hatred that she had to take several deep breaths to get her breath back. That strange voice was speaking to her again, the hellbats relentless in their attack. Was one of the stars-forsaken beasts in her mind?
They couldn’t have C’hase. No one could—
They would pay for what they’d done.
Out of the corner of her eye, Dani saw a reddish-brown blur race between her and the mogha pup.
Molly, C’hase extended his fingers to grab the chicken, but missed.
One of the beasts swooped low, talons extended at the blur, and Dani increased the blaster fire, shooting in rapid succession.
The blaster had little effect.
Jumping from C’hase’s head, Hedge ran to the plump avian, rearing back on hind legs, oversize claws spread wide at the winged beast.
The hellbat retreated and C’hase pulled the chicken under his body.
Dropping the blaster, Dani grabbed Hedge, cupping the little creature in her palms, and held him up in the air. The remaining hellbat rose to meet his comrade, and they hovered in place for a couple of seconds, long enough for Dani to take a step back, that much closer to the ramp of the ship.
The first hellbat dove at them, and Dani aimed the space rat at the beast, who twittered and chattered, claws clapping together. The hellbat retreated again.
Molly tucked under his right leg, C’hase took a step back this time, following her lead.
The second beast dove—
“Is that a molk?” L’iza said, alarm evident in her tone.
The ship turned to the sky, racing back through the clouds.
“What are you doing?” K’vyn said, jumping to his feet as they rapidly approached the blackness of space. “We must rescue the mogha pup. He will not be able to hold his own against the hellbats.”
“There is a molk.” If he wasn’t mistaken, L’iza sounded afraid.
“Just shoot the damn molk.”
“But the human is holding it and she is your mate.”
K’vyn worked his jaw. “Shoot the human. She is not my mate.”
L’iza hesitated, leveling a measuring stare.
Eye contact unwavering, K’vyn said, “Kill the human and the molk and then let’s get the mogha and get out of here.”
There was a sound in the darkness, familiar and foreign all at once, but unmistakable. A ship was coming— Heartrate quickening, relief settled over her like a warm blanket. Someone heard her distress call!
Flashes of light lit up the sky, the beasts screeching as each one fell to its death.
Dani whooped, smile wide across her face. Hellbats were no match for a human fighter ship’s weaponry. But the fighter kept firing.
Smile fading, Dani ran alongside the freighter, Hedge scurrying up her sleeve to hold onto her shoulder, divets of dirt spraying on either side of them as she slid under the shelter of her own ship.
What the Hell? Why were they shooting at her?
Raising her fist in the air, she turned to see the silhouette of those unmistakable four wings against the dawn of the horizon, the clouds dissipating in wispy mists.
Stars, the savage came to finish them off—
But why kill the bat beasts? They were close to doing a well enough job of ending her existence.
A menacing growl sounded just as C’hase ran from the flower stalks, hair raised high in a mohawk along his spine. Still grasping Molly under his leg, he dropped the chicken beneath his belly.
I’ll scare them away, the young hellhound said, facing the approaching ship, chicken squawking but otherwise staying in place.
“Stop firing,” K’vyn was on his feet, eyes straining at the visual holograms as if what he was seeing wasn’t real.
“What is he doing?” L’iza sounded as puzzled as K’vyn felt.
The mogha had placed himself between his ship and the human, head set low to the ground, teeth bared, antennae and tail straight back, feet spread wide. What kind of control did this human have on the pup?
“Is that some kind of avian underneath him?”
Straining his eyes, K’vyn blinked. There did appear to be some form of plump feathered beast beneath the mogha.
“Set down in the popsies,” he said. “I will deal with the human myself.”
The ship hovered in place, and he thought he was going to have to repeat his command.
“Don’t forget that molk,” L’iza said.
“Both will be eradicated,” he promised.
The ship lowered gracefully to the ground.
As the ship settled amongst the flowers, wings folded upwards, above the fuselage, Dani was reminded of a dragonfly. It was black with yellow highlights tracing the wings, a detail she didn’t notice when it was shooting at her.
A step materialized out of thin air beneath it, then another and another until a hovering staircase angled to the ground. Black booted feet were soon in view, taking each step down, revealing the black uniform of the Korthan that shot down her ship, stranding her on this planet.
The hand the space rat played in crippling the controls of the freighter was irrelevant, his intention of destroying her vessel effectively met.
As his face appeared, Dani’s heart raced. Black hair pulled back, it framed a strong jaw, the desire to touch his bluish gray skin surprising her. If she could reach his face— The savage was big, a height that towered above her, muscles evident beneath clothing.
His stunning silver eyes were even more intense in person, a thrill zipping through her as they met her own—
Shaking out of the trance, Dani raised her blaster. This savage shot down her ship, was just shooting at her again no less than five minutes ago.
The man did not seem threatened by her action.
C’hase let out a low throaty growl and the Korthan slowed his pace with a fleeting glance at the hellhound.
“You are not supposed to fire on unarmed ships,” Dani let out a snarl of her own. “And shooting at a lone person on foot is just low.”
“That rule doesn’t apply to trespassers,” the man countered. “You were invading Korthan space.”
“This is not Korthan space. It is neutral territory.”
The savage opened his arms wide, fingers spread. “This is all Korthan space. You do not belong here.”
Dani couldn’t help but notice his strong hands before he dropped his arms.
“Hand over the mogha and we’ll leave you be,” he said next. Those amazing eyes scanned the horizon. “Something will kill you on this planet soon enough.”
We? Something will kill her? Neither sounded very enticing, but what was it about his voice that sounded familiar? Wait a second—