Seth Harris’s mouth opened, and I ignored the look. “We need to retrieve my Seth Harris’s Lucy.”
Her head tilted to the side, which made the green stones in her ears glint. “What is a Lucy?”
“His cat.”
“What’s a cat?” Captain Talvax asked.
“She is a small black animal,” Seth Harris said, his voice rough. “Can we check on her, please?”
“It’ll be alright,” I whispered, tail brushing his arm instinctively. I immediately controlled the action, but he did not shift my way. Maybe it hadn’t bothered him? That would be nice. A small step. I asked Talvax, “Can we view his old dwelling?”
“Commander Monqilcolnen.” She gestured to the dark green man with long silver hair behind her, who was also my sole cousin.
“Understood.”
I turned toward the long screen at the front of Command, and Seth Harris followed suit. The one-room dwelling appeared. A black animal, a cat, sat next to the door, crying. Lucy reached up, stretching, then clawed at the door as her cries grew louder and more desperate.
“How long have I been gone?” he asked.
“Two days by your world’s rotation,” I said.
“Two days?” he shouted. “Two days?”
“Yes,” I said. Seth Harris scrubbed his short hair, making it stick up. My fingers twitched. The urge to smooth the perfect brown strands was almost overwhelming.
“We have to get her. Now. Please.”
His panicked voice and pinched expression tugged at my soul. At that moment, I would’ve done anything to ease his suffering. Anything he wanted was his.
I ordered, “Send our Lucy to me and mine’s quarters, Talvax.”
She gestured to Commander Monqilcolnen.
A light wrapped around the cat, and Lucy vanished from sight. Seth Harris gasped, stumbling forward.
“She’s fine,” I said, struggling to keep my arms at my sides. “She’s in our quarters.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Seth Harris stared at me, gripping the hem of his shirt. After several moments of silence, he inclined his head, which made my brow crinkle. Why was he conceding to my position or dominance? We were mates.
“Can I get some of my stuff, or at least Lucy’s?” he asked, voice barely audible.
I hesitated. We weren’t supposed to take more than Seth Harris, but I didn’t want to deny him anything. Drakcol cared for our mates. Their needs took precedence over all else. I would do anything to make him happy.
“Anything you need,” I replied.
The slightest smile tugged on his lips, and the sight made my soul soar as if I was flying through the clouds. It did not take much, apparently, to delight me.
Seth Harris pointed to several things, most belonging to the animal who now lived in my—our quarters. When he was finished, we headed back to our quarters.
He pushed past me and rubbed his fingers together, calling in a high-pitched voice, “Lucy.”
A quiet chirp sounded moments before a furry black animal peeked around the couch. She crept forward, low to the ground. When she came within reach, he snagged her.
I approached, head tilted to the side. She was a strange thing with a flat face, but she resembled a timtak—a winged creature we sometimes kept as pets.
