Dovis Read online

  “K’pa let it be known he valued me as his hardest worker. The other slaves knew they’d be killed or harshly punished if they injured me. I struggled and broke free when a few of the males tried to touch me. They immediately backed off.”

  “I’m thankful for that.”

  “Me too.” She hesitated. “May I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  She worked up her courage and sat straighter in the chair. “You’re mated to a human. I could ask Nara, but…it’s about what happened with Dovis.”

  “I can’t answer questions about Dovis.”

  “It’s not how he did what he did to save me. It’s about how I felt.”

  His eyes widened and he sat back down on the desk. “Ask.”

  “My body did weird things. Is that normal or is that only because of Dovis?”

  “The feeling of being strongly drawn to him without warning…that was Dovis.”

  She lowered her chin, not able to look at him anymore. “My nipples got hard, and I felt wet and it throbbed between my legs. Was that also Dovis? Or normal?”

  He cleared his throat slightly. “The Teki never had any talks with you about sex at all, did they?”

  “No.”

  The captain sighed. “I’m not exactly qualified for this.” He cleared his throat again. “Everything you described sounds perfectly natural for a human to experience when sexually aroused. Maybe you could mention to Nara that you’ve never had sex and don’t know anything about it. She’s suitable to have that talk with you. Just leave all mention of Dovis out of it.”

  “Thank you.”

  Captain Vellar stood once more, walking around his desk. “You can go now. The new U coupling should be delivered by York or Raff to you in the engine room soon. Let either of them know if you need assistance. Just don’t call Dovis.”

  “I won’t.” She got up and fled, happy that he hadn’t fired her.

  The other emotion she felt was gratitude, to be a part of The Vorge crew.

  It reminded her that she owed Dovis her life. She might not be able to go near him, but she could think of ways to repay him for saving her.

  * * * * *

  Dovis reached his cabin after leaving the bridge and saw a package sitting on the floor in front of his door. He frowned, sniffing the air. The faint scent of Mari filled his senses.

  He bent, picking it up. Another scent came to him—and his stomach rumbled immediately. He tore open the top of the box and stared at the meat pie rounds inside. There were a dozen of them.

  He accessed his lock, went inside his cabin, and used communications to contact Midgel, since she was the only one who made the pies and knew how much he loved the treat. She answered.

  “What is this?”

  The shy woman giggled. “Mari is building me a drawer to keep food warm and installing it later today. In return, she asked me to make your favorite cake. I made the pies instead. Are they good?”

  He reached inside the box and shoved one into his mouth, closing his eyes in delight as he chewed. “Perfect.”

  “Enjoy.” Midgel ended the call.

  He swallowed and contacted her again. “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why did Mari want you to make these for me?”

  “I didn’t ask. All that matters is I’m getting a warming drawer. It will make my life easier.” She swiftly cut comms again.

  He growled, eating another small pie. They were his favorite. Midgel only made them for him when she needed a favor, which was rare.

  His door chime rang, and he put the box down and strode over, opening it.

  Raff stood there, looking annoyed. He held out one of his precious Jorki fur blankets.

  Dovis stared at it before frowning. “What?”

  Raff sighed and threw it at him. He caught it. Raff pointed and said, “Yours.” Then he turned to walk away.

  “Wait! Why are you giving me one of your blankets? You search for them every time we’re anywhere near Gluttren Four because you swear they’re the softest thing in existence.”

  Raff swung around and stomped back. “Two words—blue lights.”

  Dovis frowned deeper. “I don’t understand.”

  “I like the blue lights in the observation lounge. Mari is putting them in my cabin. Get it?”

  Dovis ran his fingers over the luxurious blanket. “So…why give me one of your blankets?”

  Now Raff looked annoyed. “Ask her. I get lights, you get the blanket.” Then he sighed. “She likes you, Dovis. Don’t be a dumbass. Keep her. You’re as flawed as I am. It might be your only chance to have a mate.”

  “Her feelings aren’t real. They’re just because I had to bite her.”

  Raff stepped closer. “I didn’t want to fuck your ugly ass, and you bit me. Ditch the fur and seduce her while you have her attention, moron. I hope you’re a great fuck to make up for your shit personality.”

  Shock jolted through him and he reached out fast, grabbing Raff by the arm when he tried to walk away.

  Raff stilled, glancing down at his hand before arching one eyebrow.

  “Ditch the fur?” Dovis was alarmed. Raff shouldn’t know he could shift. Cathian wouldn’t betray his trust.

  Raff smiled. It was a scary sight. “I survived growing up by learning everything about the people around me and finding their weaknesses and secrets.” He withdrew his arm from Dovis’s hold. “I put a vid device inside your vent when I first came aboard because I wasn’t sure I could trust you. I’ve since learned I could. I haven’t watched the feed since about two weeks after that, but it’s got a motion sensor. I recently got a bunch of alerts. Mari has been crawling through the vents all over The Vorge to clean them out. She’s not lazy like Harver was, only doing the outside of the grates. I watched the footage—she saw, Dovis. She knows you can ditch the fur. Bet she hasn’t said shit about it, has she?”

  He was too stunned to speak but he turned, staring at the two grates in his room that led to the vents running through the ship.

  “Mari’s a tiny thing compared to us. She crawls right through the vents on every level, using her clothes to catch the dust inside the ducts, and then she sprays the grates down a few times if they’re bad. Hard worker. She’s been doing it at night while the crew sleeps. Ex-slaves are always extreme people pleasers, her life depended on not pissing anyone off and making her owners happy. They also know how to keep their lips sealed.”

  Dovis faced him and tried not to show his panic. Raff and Mari had both seen too much. They knew he was a shapeshifter. “This is the most I’ve ever heard you say. And I’m tearing out the fucking vid device. You shouldn’t be spying on anyone.”

  Raff shrugged. “Old habit. It kept me alive. Do you know how many times I overheard someone plotting to murder me? Too many. Lose the fur and seduce the human, Dovis. Your bite did something to her. Use it. I would. Didn’t you notice how I stormed off after Cathian said something about Mari being attracted to me if your DNA was still in my bloodstream? I was tempted to have you bite me again just for that purpose. Unfortunately, it would only be temporary.”

  Dovis gawked at him.

  “What? I’m fucking lonely and flawed. I wasn’t born with a second heart to give to a female, like Cathian. It means I can’t life-lock to one. Take advantage of what your body can do, dumbass. Shift and track her down. Mari sure as hell isn’t going to want to kiss that muzzle and the pointy teeth you usually wear. Cathian and the crew would also be pissed if you scratched her with your claws. Ditch those, too, when you fuck her.” He turned and walked a few steps but then glanced back, grinning. “You might be less of a shaft-head if you had a mate.” Then the male walked out of sight.

  Dovis backed away until the sensor triggered his door to close. He rubbed his fingers over the soft material of the blanket and sighed. How many of the crew had figured out his secret, that he could switch forms?

  He snarled and walked to his couch, throwing his body down. Then he remembered