Page 102 of Shielded in the Shadows

Jarrix slid his arm around my waist. “Ready to get on board, Captain?”

“Definitely.” I waved at the crowded ramp. “But what’s in all those crates?”

He kissed the top of my head. “I needed a few more clothing items.”

My jaw dropped. “What?”

He chuckled. “Don’t worry—it’s not clothes. I had Byx’s people upgrade the galley while we were gone so I can cook proper meals for you and Zwee from now on. And I have a nest to build for us, remember? Plus, didn’t you want some of that coffee you liked on the Vespira?”

I glared up at him in mock outrage while my tummy fluttered at all the work he was putting into the ship. “You take too many liberties, First Mate.”

“My sincerest apologies, Captain.” He pressed his lips to my ear to murmur, “I await your firm censure once we’ve left the dock.”

A hundred ideas of how I might discipline him came to mind, but every single one of them sounded like something he’d actually enjoy.

I squeezed my thighs together and scowled while he struggled not to laugh.

Saying goodbye to Byx and Felina proved more painful than I’d expected, despite our promises to stay in frequent contact and return for a visit as soon as possible.

At the bottom of the cargo ramp, I gave Felina one last hug, thanked her again for her mysterious gift, and boarded the ship with Jarrix at my side.

I made my rounds of the cargo bay, looking at what Byx’s people had brought on board. Just how much tea and coffee had Jarrix bought?

“Welcome back, Captain,” Siber said as I frowned at a stack of crates marked with the logo of a Bacoran coffee supplier. “I am heartened to see that other artificial intelligence system did not cause your untimely end.”

I bit my cheek to keep from chuckling at Siber’s possessiveness. “We’re very glad to be back, Siber.” I slid a pointed glance at Jarrix. “We’ll be leaving the outpost as soon as all this cargo is secured.”

“Acknowledged, Captain,” the AI said.

“I’ll take care of the cargo,” Jarrix promised, giving me a quick kiss. “As the ship’s new, official Cargo Inventory Officer, it is both my duty and my pleasure.”

“You’ll think differently the first time we pick up a haul from a Ymarian shipping agent,” I warned. “But very well. I expect a full inventory on my screen before we leave the dock.”

He straightened his spine and grabbed the cargo inventory scanner off the wall with a flourish. “You’ll have it.”

Shaking my head in amusement, I took Felina’s gift to my—our—quarters. The cabin was half the size of the one on the Vespira and lacked nearly all of its amenities, but I wouldn’t have traded this space for anything. Especially since soon it would be gutted and remodeled into whatever style of nesting space Jarrix designed.

Before I changed into my flight suit, I sat on the bed to open Felina’s gift. Once the outer layer was unwrapped, I recognized the logo of the Ivarian clothing shop where I’d purchased my evening gown and shoes for my arboretum dinner with Jarrix. A little thrill ran up my spine.

And when I opened the box…oh my. No wonder she’d told me to open it once I was on the ship. This present was definitely for Jarrix’s eyes only.

I tucked the box away for now in my clothing cabinet behind my stack of sparring clothes and sent a quick message of thanks to Felina.

Her response came back almost instantly and made me laugh.

Your mate will experience entirely new levels of true and utter devastation. -Felina

I envisioned Jarrix’s expression when I appeared wearing the contents of the box and smiled as I replied, You know, he just might.

CHAPTER 25

JARRIX

The Nivilus was six hours out of Trakhan and traveling through hyperspace in shadow mode when Keela settled in my lap in the cockpit with a fresh cup of coffee and a datapad. On its screen was a rotating image of a moon with a turbulent purple atmosphere, a set of coordinates in the Alpha sector, and a name: Iosa.

“Our destination?” I asked, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

“Yes.” She switched the screen to hologram mode. We watched the purple moon rotate slowly in the air above the datapad. “It’s a moon of the resort planet Jakora, but I’d never heard of it until recently. It has a long rainy season with lots of hurricanes, the marshes and swamps are full of deadly animals, and it’s mostly ocean. Not many people live there.”