And thank the heavens they went right on by it.
Two more weeks—
“Approaching Sanctuary,” L’iza said, voice amplified throughout the ship.
And then the entire hull became transparent.
All occupants stilled, the space around them breathtaking. Drifting through blue, red, and green nebula, Dani had to remember to inhale and exhale as her mouth hung open, K’vyn’s awe mirroring hers through the bond.
Nearby stars dotted the tall celestial clouds—
Those aren’t stars, K’vyn said in her mind.
Dani squinted her eyes, then they opened wide. The dots were ships. Hundreds of organic ships.
And then she saw it, a green and blue planet hanging between two colorful nebula.
“Welcome home,” L’iza said.
Pulling her close, K’vyn kissed the top of her head.
Dani looked over the mogha, the chickens, Hedge, C’hase and L’iza, her eyes meeting her handsome Korthan’s. A smile spread across her features, heart swelling, threatening an overflow from her eyes. Never eligible for the HCA Colony Program, having only set foot on two planets in her entire lifetime, she was part of a colony anyway.
They were about to start a colony of their own.
Author Notes & Dedication
“Finding Mogha” is set in the same universe as my stories from Pets in Space® 3 & 4, “After The Fall” and “Interrupting Starlight,” respectively. The events of “Interrupting Starlight” and “Finding Mogha” occur before the evens of “After The Fall,” but they all can be read as standalone stories. All have mischievous moghas, cyborg Korthans and living ships, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.
I want to thank the organizers of Pets in Space® for bringing me onboard for yet another anthology. Being a part of Pets in Space® continues to be the best author experience of my life. It is a true joy being a part of the team. None of my stories in ‘The Fall’ universe would exist if it weren’t for these wonderful anthologies. Creating this universe has been so much fun. And contributing to Hero-Dogs.org is near and dear to my heart. Pets in Space® is an inspiration on so many levels. Thank you!
I want to thank my husband, who suggested I go to the ‘river house’ to get this story finished. I was having a hard time concentrating during the time of COVID and uncertainty and literally had to unplug from everything. I wasn’t sure where I could do that, and going to my childhood home was the perfect solution.
I thank my parents, who were more than happy to let me unplug from the distractions of life at their place on the river. We had a wonderful time during those several weeks.
I dedicate this book to the Reagans, fabulous friends, fantastic neighbors, and whose son, Chase, was a big inspiration.
And I thank all you readers. Without you, pursuing my dreams wouldn’t be possible.
About Kyndra Hatch
Kyndra Hatch grew up with a fascination for science fiction and a deep interest in ancient civilizations, a combination which fuels her active imagination. After twelve exciting years as an archaeologist, Kyndra pursues a passion for writing and has discovered her works have a decidedly science fiction romantic flair. She is a USA Today bestselling author and an active member of the SFR Brigade.
Kyndra also writes science fiction, horror, and dark humor short stories as L.K. Hatchett. You can find our more about her on her website.
Also by Kyndra Hatch
Interrupting Starlight
After The Fall
Aliens in the Barn
Rate of Return
The Department of Homeworld Security
When Kimmy dreamed of meeting a werewolf, she never imagined he’d be from space!
As co-owner of the only pet parlor in the county, Kimmy is serious about taking care of animals. When she hears a pair of dogs fighting in her yard in the middle of the night, she runs out to break them up. The only problem is they aren’t dogs—they’re wolves. And one of them has tentacles. And the other one is glowing.
It's just like one of the paranormal romance novels she loves to read when she chases off the tentacle monster and then the glowing wolf turns into the hottest guy she’s ever seen. Only he and his adorable, six-legged pet aren’t mythical beings. They’re aliens, and they aren't alone.
Serac is intrigued by the courageous Earthling that ran to his aid wielding only a primitive weapon called a ‘broom.’ His zyln, the elemental spirit that lives within him, is fascinated by her—a fascination that Serac quickly shares. He needs to stay focused, but that’s nearly impossible with Kimmy accidentally imprinting with the Lyrian pet he was supposed to deliver and his ex-partner determined to capture her for his own ends.
Serac’s mission has to come first. Billions of sentients throughout the galaxy are counting on him. But when their attraction deepens into a mate bond, he is once more forced to choose between his heart and his conscience.
And this time, he may not be strong enough to walk away.
1
This was not a reunion he was looking forward to.
The last time Serac had encountered—what was he calling himself now? Dean—Serac had vowed it would be the last. Yet here he was, standing in an open field near a small dwelling on a primitive planet in the middle of the night. Waiting.
His zyln, the elemental spirit living within him, was preoccupied with the dwelling. Something about it unsettled them both.
Serac eyed the entrance, which was situated a few feet above the ground on a wooden porch. On the second level of the building, there was a row of dark windows, one of which kept drawing his attention.
He could easily leap onto the porch’s roof and pry open the window to get inside. But why did he want to?
Footsteps crunched in the snow behind him. Serac turned to see a tall, thin humanoid. At least, that was the form Dean was borrowing. Serac was one of the few people who had actually seen a Scorpiian in his natural form and lived to tell about it.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come.” Dean’s voice was lighter in this form. Smoother.
For the moment, Dean’s light brown hair stuck up in unruly waves. He was dressed in some sort of uniform with matching dark pants and a jacket over a deep blue shirt that was unbuttoned at the throat.
If that was the garb that people in this small settlement wore, Serac would stand out. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, as well as a thicker jacket that was almost unbearably warm.
The air was crisp and cool around him. In other circumstances, he’d strip naked, shift his form, and run through the woods to enjoy the coolness of the ecosystem. His zyln rumbled approval deep within.
This place reminded him of Centaurus-10.
It reminded him of home.
“Go ahead,” Dean said, nodding toward a particularly tall drift of snow. “Weather patterns in this area are highly variable. You might not have another chance to enjoy this sort of environment. Unless, of course, you’ve decided to join me.”
Serac wasn’t ready to confront or commit, so he said, “That’s an interesting form you’re borrowing. It almost looks Sadirian.”