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  Damn, the wind was back.

  The sounds of squeaking filled her ears, followed by the most vicious growling she’d ever heard from C’hase, infused with a sense of anger, determination and fighting for his own.

  Trying to blink out the black dots that obscured her sight, Dani caught glimpses of a giant fur-covered winged beast, flapping leathery wingspan creating the wind, a tiny wiggling tan furball caught between extended claws. Hedge—

  Grabbing her blaster from her belt, she fired at the beast as it flew away over the landscape, Hedge squeaking frantically.

  C’hase let out a howl that cleaved her heart in half, stifling sorrow taking her breath away. He bounded down the ramp, disappearing into the orange flower stalks just as two more of the beasts appeared over the ocean, heading straight for them.

  “C’hase,” she called, heart pounding her chest as she ran after the mogha.

  Chapter 4

  Darkness filled the sky as Dani ran through the flowers, roiling clouds of grey and black.

  “C’hase,” she called. “Come back!”

  Unable to think of anything else, a bone deep frantic drive to protect the pup overwhelmed her.

  Foot catching on something, she fell face-first into the soil. As she rolled to her side, one of the furry winged beasts swooped low.

  The sight of long fangs and open clawed talons raised the hair on her arms, spots in her eyes no longer having to do with the sun.

  Survive. Raising her blaster, she fired—

  A piercing screech released from the beast’s mouth, revealing more pointy teeth, but the only effect the blaster fire had was to piss the creature off.

  C’hase was suddenly at her side, menacing growl filled with a hatred he didn’t have before, fur standing on end along his neck and back. He leapt at the winged creature, jaws chomping one of its clawed talons.

  Another piercing screech filled the air and the monstrosity spread his wings wide, lifting C’hase into the air.

  “Let go,” Dani yelled and C’hase let go, dropping gracefully to the ground, rejoining her side, antennae straight back, tail held high.

  She dragged herself to her feet as more giant bats from stars-forsaken Hell arrived, the one C’hase bit regrouping with the new arrivals.

  “Get back to the ship,” she said, grabbing the scruff of a growling C’hase’s neck, dragging him towards the ship with one hand while firing the blaster with the other.

  Four hellbats were upon them before they reached the ramp. She fired round after round, C’hase’s jaws snapping, talons clicking wildly as they opened and closed, the sound of flapping wings beating along with her veins.

  The sound of a squeak caught her attention. That sounded like—

  Hedge?

  The tiny creature appeared from between the stalks, eyes set in determination, oversized claws from his paws extending out as he allowed one of the bat beasts to pluck him up from the ground.

  Jaw dropping, Dani watched in amazement as the little packrat sliced off one of the talons of the hellbat and scurried up its leg, grabbing onto the fur of its belly. The flying creature reared with a resounding screech. The motion propelled Hedge along and he ended up on the beast’s back, racing to the nape of its neck, where he spread his claws wide and plunged them deep into the base of the hellbat’s skull.

  The hellbat rose high in the air, thrashing from side to side, Hedge hanging on by his teeth as his feather-tipped tail whipped around with the motion.

  Suddenly seizing, stiff as a board, the winged beast fell to the ground with a sickening, crunching thud.

  Hedge jumped off the hellbat and ran to C’hase, climbing to his perch atop the mogha’s head.

  Alpha, C’hase’s tail and antennae twirled wildly. Hedge is back!

  K’VYN FELT THE HEART of his mogha spike, a whirlwind of emotion slamming into him; worry, consternation, fear—

  “Hurry,” K’vyn said to the otherwise empty room, knowing L’iza would hear him. “C’hase is in danger.”

  Several holographic images floated before him, each showing a different portion of the planet below. Menacing dark clouds roiled over the location where the bond felt strongest.

  “There,” he said, pointing at the hologram in the middle. “Over those mountains, next to the ocean.”

  As the ship sped over the mountains, his heartbeat quickened.

  C’hase, he said. I’m coming for you.

  You’re not coming for anything, the voice in the companion bond responded. I already told you, C’hase is mine.

  What?

  L’iza punched through the clouds, switching the holographic visuals to infrared in the darkness beneath, adopting the feed for optimal Korthan visibility. K’vyn scooted to the edge of his seat, jaw dropping at the sight below.

  The human freighter lay sprawled on the ground, front section buried in dark soil, surrounded by orange popsies. A ramp lay open on the port side of the ship, near the middle.

  Just outside of the ramp, two hellbats were swooping at a grouping of something, great wings flapping wide, rising and falling with each attack.

  Stars, he hated hellbats.

  Flashes of light erupted from beneath the bats and they rose at the same time, avoiding the shots.

  His breath caught when he saw her, tingling sensation rippling beneath his skin, going straight to his groin, a fire igniting in his very soul. She was magnificent, blaster in hand, fierce determination set in a beautiful round face, black clothing snug against her curvy body.

  In that moment, he knew what she was. Overpowering desire to shoot at the hellbats alongside her, he wanted to possess her, wanted her to possess him. He hadn’t found his mogha companion, he had found—

  “It’s my bond mate.”

  L’iza’s head swung around, eyes wide.

  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 most loyal 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—

  “You know Standard,” she said.

  “Yes,” his voice was deep, gravelly, winding into her being. “I know the common language of your people. Now, hand over the captive or I will take him from you.”

  Captive? Did he mean C’hase?

  “This is my mogha,” Dani said, leveling her blaster with both hands. “You will not take him without a fight.”

  The Korthan took a step forward and she sucked in a sharp intake of air, raising the blaster higher—

  HOW DARE THIS HUMAN claim ownership of a sentient being. Rescuing the mogha and returning C’hase to his home world was K’vyn’s only thought as he rushed forward, bending down to grab the pup.

  I will protect him at all costs. The words flashed through his mind as pain exploded across his back, something heavy striking between his shoulder blades.

  Rearing back, the human’s arms were raised high in the air, the butt of her blaster coming down for a second blow. Grabbing her hands in one hand, he ignored the tingling sensation that traveled through his forearms with the contact, holding her in place.

  Her eyes were wide as she stared at the hand immobilizing her.

  A menacing growl was the only warning before sharp cutting pain replaced the tingling sensation, pointy teeth puncturing his forearm as strong jaws latched on.

  Flinching yelp escaping him, K’vyn released the woman as he focused on the new threat, attempting to free his arm. Was the mogha defending her?

  Don’t hurt him, the voice in his mind said, frantic.

  “C’hase, release him,” the same voice said out loud.

  So, it was true. This was the source of what he thought was his mogha.

  As C’hase’s teeth pulled from his arm, blood trickled to the ground. Hugging the arm to his chest, K’vyn noticed a tuft of orange peeking out from the mogha’s gray fur.

  His brow furrowed. The pup’s coloration wouldn’t be coming out if he was still a captive.

  “Do you understand him?” he said directly to the woman, eyes locking with hers.

  And suddenly he was lost in a depth of brown fire, engulfed in a blanket of warmth. He quickly looked away.

  “Yes. I am his Alpha,” the human said. “Now back off.”

  K’vyn’s eyes grew wide as his jaw fell. There was no way a human would know that term in relation to a mogha.

  Unless she was C’hase’s master companion. And the ability to understand what the mogha was saying was a surefire sign.

  Stars.

  “Back up,” the woman said again, blaster swaying. Though she did have the business end pointed at him this time, he was under the impression she’d never actually killed anyone before. She was not a combatant.

  Holding out his hands, palms facing her, he did as she asked. An almost imperceptible breath of relief escaped her, and his heart swelled.

  Having a mogha bond wa
s a right of passage. How was this human bestowed with such an honor?

  A screech over the ocean had her head whipping around and he lowered his hands, blood dripping from his forearm. That would attract predators—

  “Build a fire and the hellbats won’t come,” he said as much for himself as for her.

  She turned a piercing brown gaze on him, and his heart skipped. Stars, get it under control.

  But there was emotion warring behind that gaze and, concentrating, he found he could sense her feelings. Disbelief, helplessness, confusion—

  Only one of those emotions made sense to him. “You don’t know how to build a fire, do you?”

  Humans were helpless. They were all so useless and clueless. He would never understand how his people allowed themselves to come into conflict with these beings.

  The reddish-brown feathered bird the mogha had been holding walked between them, scratching at the dark soil.

  “We can roast that plump avian,” he said, stomach growling at the thought of a tasty meal.

  The human’s emotions focused into one, alarm. She swooped down and plucked the yard bird off the ground. It sounded an alarming squawk, but fell silent once tucked under her arm.

  “This is Molly,” she said. “If you touch her or any of the chickens, I will shoot you right between the eyes.”

  Now, that was not helplessness. A thrill zapped him.

  “You said you were leaving, so leave,” she said next, stomping off towards the junk heap she called a ship, molk still sitting on her shoulder, staring at him with its beady eyes.

  The mogha also watched him from the corner of his eye, following his apparent alpha, then fully turned his attention elsewhere, trotting alongside her, tail held high.

  The bird emitted a clucking noise and he blinked. She named a yard bird, Molly?

  There wasn’t anywhere he needed to be in the immediate future. Perhaps he’d hang around on Paradise for a little while.

  Chapter 5