“You’re kidding!” Gwen laughed, but quickly subdued herself, not wanting to hurt Cyan’s feelings. “That actually sounds really cool to me.”

  “Before coming to Earth, we had no concept of allergies,” Cyan said. “It was actually quite distressing.”

  “I can imagine,” Gwen said. “Well, I’m glad you have this little guy to keep you company now. Although, I have to say, I may want to keep him before this is done.”

  Cyan chuckled. “He has already decided he wishes to keep you.”

  “Really?” Gwen’s heart swelled at the thought and she snuggled Bandit even closer. “I mean, he’s a space cat. I would love to have him, but… Do you think I really could?”

  She looked up at Xan. His brow was furrowed again. Had something upset him?

  “Oh, is he your cat?” Gwen asked. “I’m sorry. I won’t ask to keep him if he’s yours.”

  “It’s okay,” Xan said. He reached over and scratched behind Bandit’s ears. “He’s his own cat. He can decide where to go.”

  Just how smart do they think this little guy is?

  “He’s a cat,” Gwen said.

  Xan smirked. “A space cat.”

  “He is not a space cat!” Cyan snapped.

  Xan looked down at Gwen, his lips pressed together as he contained a laugh. She had to bite her own lips to keep from laughing.

  Cyan let out an exasperated sigh. “We are here.”

  Gwen’s heart started to race. She was about to see a spaceship.

  Xan took a few strides forward. It made her extra aware of how close he’d been staying up to now, and again, she thought about what they’d said about pair-bonding.

  Was it possible she had some sort of instinctive connection to an alien? That was beyond her wildest dreams. Then again, she was standing in a park in the middle of the night with a sweet, sizzling-hot alien and his lizard-lady friend and holding a not-a-space-cat while waiting to see her very first ever spaceship.

  Gwen’s wildest dreams were all coming true.

  Xan turned around to face her, a huge smile on his face. Her heart started to pound again, her breath caught in her chest. She realized it had nothing to do with the spaceship or the adventure she was setting out on and everything to do with him.

  He was stunning and warm and smart and seemed to appreciate her and feel something toward her as well. And he was kind and thoughtful and protective of his friends. He was everything she’d been waiting for and had convinced herself she’d never find. Plus, he was an alien.

  She had to be honest with herself. That helped.

  “If you are done staring at each other, perhaps we could return to the ship?” Cyan said.

  “Sorry,” Xan said. “I just had to see the look on her face when this happens.”

  “When what happens?” Gwen asked.

  His smile grew, and he took a step back.

  Behind him, lights shimmered into existence, illuminating the gunmetal gray exterior of a small ship. Its rectangular shape was eerily similar to many of the shuttles she’d seen in sci-fi shows and movies.

  The ship rested on two long runners shaped a bit like the bottom of helicopters, only thicker. As she watched, a hatch opened in the back of the vessel, slowly descending to act as a ramp.

  Her heart pounded and she clutched the kitten closer to her chest. Maybe a little too hard. Bandit let out a squeaking meow, then started squirming. He twisted till she couldn’t hold on, then leapt to the ground.

  “Bandit, no!” Gwen prepared to chase him, but the kitten stopped, then turned and stared at her expectantly, his head cocked at an angle.

  “Oh,” she said. “I was afraid you were going to run off.”

  “Why would he do that?” Cyan rippled into view. She gestured to the ship. “He knows this will take him to his home.”

  Gwen felt a little tug at that. She wanted his home to be with her.

  Or maybe for her home to be with him.

  She looked back over at Xan, her cheeks burning and her arms tingling with goosebumps. Bandit hurried over to her and wove in and out among her ankles, purring loudly. Then he ran to Xan and did the same.

  Xan bent down to pick him up, but the kitten shot for the shuttle before Xan could reach him, running onboard. Bandit paused at the top of the ramp, and turned toward her and meowed.

  Despite Cyan’s insistence that he was just a regular Earth cat, Gwen remained skeptical. This was the smartest cat she’d ever seen. He really did seem to be communicating with her, and clearly at that.

  “I’m coming,” Gwen said.

  Bandit let out a happy meow, then turned and ran deeper into the shuttle.

  Yeah, that was one smart cat.

  Cyan followed the cat onto the shuttle, but Xan waited for Gwen to reach him, falling into step beside her.

  “It’s not as flashy as most of our other ships,” Xan said. He almost sounded apologetic. “This is kind of… I guess you’d call it the minivan of our fleet.”

  Gwen laughed. “I like minivans. Besides, if this will get me to space, I don’t care what it looks like.”

  That seemed to put him at ease. The fact that he cared what she thought about his spaceship sent flutters through her stomach. He was trying to impress her with his vehicle. Somehow, that was just adorable.

  “Wait till you see the ships in the hangar on the Reckoning,” he said. “I think you’ll really like the interceptors.”

  “I will love them all,” Gwen said. “They’re spaceships.”

  Xan laughed, then gestured for her to proceed. She took a deep breath and headed up the ramp. Her heart beat faster with every step.

  Inside, the vessel was again what she kind of expected. Bench seats were built into the walls, with harnesses to secure the person sitting in them. Bandit was curled up on one, his front paws tucked underneath his chest and his eyes closed. Cyan sat next to him, quietly speaking into the metal band around her wrist.

  Gwen ventured farther into the ship to give Xan room to join them. He had to duck to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling. It made Gwen appreciate her height—or lack of it. The shuttle was perfect for her.

  “You can join me at the front,” Xan said. “The best view is up there.”

  He pressed a button, and the ramp started to rise. Gwen watched it, her breath caught in her chest. When the view of the park outside was gone and the hatch sealed, she finally exhaled.

  “Are you okay?” Xan rested a hand on her shoulder. The innocent touch sent heat shooting through Gwen’s body.

  She cleared her throat and nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, just a little nervous. It’s not every day a space cadet takes their first mission into the beyond.”

  “Space cadet?” Xan laughed.

  Gwen half-shrugged. “It’s what my mom always calls me.”

  “Well, after this, she’ll have to call you ‘Space Traveler’,” Xan said.

  Except not, because I can’t tell her about anything I see.

  The thought dimmed the joy of the experience, so Gwen pushed it aside. Nothing was going to tarnish this.

  She followed Xan to the front of the shuttle, then sat in what she guessed was the copilot’s seat. He helped her fasten her harness before sitting next to her and doing the same for himself.

  Control panels covered the bottom half of the space, conveniently placed where she could easily reach them—if she had any idea what they did. They seemed to be a mixture of buttons, flashing lights, and etchings that illuminated as Xan ran his fingertips over them in various patterns.

  What really had her interest, though, were the huge windows that made up half of the wall in front of her, wrapping around the sides of the ship. Xan wasn’t kidding about this having the best view.

  He turned to her and smiled. “You ready for this?”

  I was born ready for this.

  Her throat was too tight to make a sound. She nodded instead.

  Xan reached over and took her hand in his and squeezed it. He pulled it up to his lips for a gentle kiss.

  The heat she’d felt from his touch before turned into a searing pleasure that lit in her core and swept out over her entire body. She gasped in a breath from the intensity of it.

  His eyes widened, and he glanced at her hand as if he was only just realizing what he’d done. He shifted a bit in his seat and his cheeks reddened.

  Gwen doubted she was the only one that chaste kiss had affected.

  He lowered their hands, but Gwen held on. They shared a silent smile before he turned back to the window.

  “Here we go.” He tapped a button, and a humming sound built in the ship as it rose from the ground.

  Chapter Eight

  Earth clothes were very helpful. If Xan had been wearing a standard Coalition uniform, he would be having a lot of trouble hiding his reaction to Gwen at the moment.

  No one had ever affected him as she did. The simplest touch sent fire blazing through his body. And the softest smile warmed him in ways he didn’t understand.

  Pair-bonding. He’d seen others experience it, but had never thought he’d be so lucky himself. Especially to find one of the incredibly strong bonds his people were forming with Earthlings.

  Could this be what that was like? It was the only explanation that made any sense.

  Gwen’s eyes were wide, fixed on the viewport. As they rose through the atmosphere, her gaze never left the stars.

  He had felt that kind of wonder before. He still felt it every time he launched out into the dazzling star fields before them.

  As the stars became brighter and more distinct, she let out a little “Oh…” that was more breath than sound. Her grip on his hand tightened.

  Xan tore his own gaze from her for long enough to make sure the course he’d entered was being followed within acceptable parameters. He couldn’t wait to get her in a skimmer and show her the rest of her solar system. The shuttle was a good enough vessel for transports, but was a bit clunky for anything more than ship to planet transfer.

  With everything going as it should, he let himself enjoy the view—and Gwen’s reaction to it.

  She was leaning forward in her seat. Her eyes kept getting wider as the ship neared the moon. She bit her lip, and a tear spilled down her cheek.

  Xan understood that, too. At least, he thought he did.

  The freedom of being out in space. The limitless potential of what they could do and where they could go…

  She wiped away the tear and sniffed, then glanced over at him briefly.

  “Sorry,” she said.

  “Don’t be.”

  She smiled, but looked down instead of back to the viewport, pulling her hand away. Was she feeling self-conscious? He wanted her to be at ease with him.

  “Gwen,” he said, unsure what he wanted to say, but knowing he wanted to offer comfort. He shook his head and opened his arms. “Come here.”

  She only hesitated for a moment, then unstrapped herself and rose. He grasped her waist and urged her to sit on his lap. His heart sped as she leaned into his chest and he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her.

  “It’s just so… So much,” she said. “So beautiful.”

  He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “It’s only going to get better.”

  She laughed while wiping another tear away. He could feel her relax further into his embrace.

  For a moment, he closed his eyes and let himself breathe her in. Her scent, her warmth. He tightened his grasp, and she leaned her head against his.

  “Gwen.” He hadn’t meant to say her name, but it was just…instinct. All of his reactions to her felt more natural than anything he’d experienced before.

  He opened his eyes as she turned to him, her gaze locked on his lips now. They leaned closer, their breath mingling.

  Something small and orange darted up next to them and leapt onto the top of the controls. Gwen startled, then laughed as Bandit turned around to face them.

  Xan swore the cat made a face, sticking his tongue out and narrowing his eyes. His ears pressed back flat on his head, and he quickly turned back to the viewport.

  “I think we made him uncomfortable,” she said.

  Xan laughed, then shifted a bit in his seat. He was more than a little uncomfortable himself, his body once again reacting to her proximity and the near-kiss they’d shared. Having her close was worth it.

  The ship rounded the far side of the moon and Gwen gasped, lurching forward. Xan held on to her hips to make sure she didn’t fall off his lap. She leaned on the top of the control panel, where Bandit was sitting.

  “Oh my God,” she said. “Oh my God!”

  The mining base had come into view, its two black towers spearing out from the depths of the two adjoining craters where it had been built. Domes made of transparent material set in triangular frames covered both craters together, looking a bit like the number ‘8’ from above.

  Causeways linked both towers at various levels, letting people move materials and themselves between the structures. Little lights slid over them as the transports traveled back and forth. A few small shuttles rose or dropped in the shafts surrounding the towers.

  Gwen half-rose as they flew over the structure, trying to keep it in view as long as she could. She sat back and stared at him, her eyes still wide.

  “How long have you guys been here?” she asked. “And what are you doing in the moon?”

  “We’re mining ores that we’re using to build more dome worlds in the Sol system and to improve our bases and habitations on Earth. There’s a town in particular that’s going to serve as a place for aliens to mingle with Earthlings and learn your ways.”

  “Will they all look like you? I mean, like us?”

  “Not all of them. But the Earthlings in Harbor know about us and the town agreed to be a testing ground, in exchange for the lifestyle improvements we could offer them.”

  She was quiet for a moment, then said, “Maybe we should visit there as well. I’d like to meet these fellow Earthlings and pick their brains about that choice.”

  “Absolutely. But first…” He pointed to the viewport.

  Gwen turned around and gasped again.

  The Kindred colony had come into view. This single dome was built in the same fashion as a true dome world, except it was like none he’d ever seen before.

  Far from being sparse and utilitarian, Kindred was instead filled with parks and trees and buildings that flowed perfectly into the natural landscape. The buildings were white or brown, with plants growing next to the windows and on the rooftops.

  One of the Earthlings in Harbor had been teaching them about vertical farming, and the Vegans had put her lessons to good use. Many of the colony’s buildings had Antarean tunnels made of packed earth wrapped around them, which also had plants growing from them that provided food and oxygen.

  Xan wondered what Gwen would think of the “giant ant people” when she met her first Antarean. So far, all the Earthlings who had met them had been frightened. Somehow, he doubted she’d be the same.

  They were quiet as they passed over the colony. Gwen again rose, gazing down at the lake and small waterfall in the main park. He felt a tremor sweep through her as she sat back down.

  “That place is beautiful,” she said, her voice raspy with emotion.

  “It is. Vegans, Sadirians, Earthlings, and Antareans live there in harmony. We worked together to build it. I always think of how it proves that we’re capable of so much more when we work together.”

  She nodded, then leaned back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, enjoying holding her again.

  Bandit looked back at them over his shoulder, then let out a little chuff and shook his head.

  “Okay, I swear, that cat just gave us a look,” Gwen said.

  “What kind of look?”

  “A judgey look. Normal Earth cats… Okay, I guess they do that, too, from what I’ve seen on Internet videos. But he still seems not-quite-normal.”

  Gwen jumped as Cyan suddenly said, “He is a completely normal Earth cat.”

  Honestly, Cyan had surprised Xan as well. She was standing right next to them. The Vegan sat in the empty seat and folded her hands in her lap.

  “Cripes, Cyan,” Gwen said. “Next time wear a bell or something.”

  Cyan cocked her head. “Why would I wear a bell?”

  “So we can hear you coming,” Gwen said. “It’s just a joke, really. On Earth, we sometimes put bells on cat collars so that we can keep track of where they are.”

  “An interesting concept,” Cyan said.

  “You should fit them with trackers so that we can tell where they are on the ship,” Xan said. “Technically, Bandit and his sisters belong to Marq, our commander. His cat, Meredith, had them unexpectedly. He’s always losing track of them and they sometimes get into systems they aren’t supposed to.”

  Gwen reached out and picked up Bandit, then settled into Xan’s lap once more. She kissed the kitten’s head, and said, “Are you a naughty kitten?”

  Bandit chuffed, then meowed a few times. Cyan giggled.

  “What did he say?” Xan asked.

  “He said that Queenie is the naughty one,” Cyan said.

  “Really?” Xan shook his head. “I figured it would be Patches, since she’s the one that was sabotaging the ship for attention.”

  “Sabotaging the ship?” Gwen leaned to the side so she could look at him. “But it’s safe now, right?”

  “Of course,” Cyan said. “Nika, the ship’s chief engineer, has repaired all the damage. I have instructed Patches not to do anything like that in the future.”

  “And you think she’ll listen to you?” Gwen turned her attention back to Bandit, scratching his cheeks. “Then these really aren’t like Earth cats.”

  “What do you mean?” Xan asked.

  “Well, cats do what they want,” Gwen said. “It’s kind of their defining trait. They see a glass on a counter, they knock it off. They want to get into something they aren’t supposed to, they do it anyway.”

  “Okay, that sounds just like Queenie,” Xan said.

  Bandit turned to him and gave a sad-sounding meow. It rose at the end like a question.

  “Don’t worry, Bandit,” Xan said. “It doesn’t sound like you at all.”

 

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