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It was Solan on his hands and knees. His hand shifted up her calf, his eyes tight with pain as blood pumped out of the stab wounds on his legs and chest.

“You’re alive!” Vegas struggled to sit up, but her arm screamed in pain.

“Stay where you are. You’ve been hurt.”

Vegas’s fingers came away sticky with blood as she touched his chest and the burned chest guard he wore. “The same goes for you. You’re messed up.”

“It is nothing.” The tightness around Solan’s eyes suggested otherwise.

“It is. It is everything.” She forced herself up and wrapped her uninjured arm around Solan. “You fought Boros to keep me safe.”

“I failed you. His troop overpowered me. I lost control.”

“They cheated. They had lasers.”

“Boros only cares about winning. He would do anything to take what he wants.” Solan’s lips brushed her forehead, easing the panic in her chest. “You have saved me, Vegas Munro.”

She clung to him, smelling his blood and sweat but not caring. He was her alien. No one was ever going to hurt him again.

Chapter 18

Solan’s muscles tightened as he drifted awake. The previous night’s fight swam through his head. He shifted on the bed. Everything felt unfamiliar and strange. Where in the star system was he?

He winced as a stab of pain hit him. A groan filtered from his lips. Boros’s blade had pierced him, and his scheming guards had shot him with lasers.

Boros. That deceitful, cheating Galaxar. Solan felt his fingers curl, and traces of battle anger spread through him.

“There’s nothing to worry about. You’re fine, big guy. I’m right here.” A soft, cream light was switched on. Vegas sat on the edge of the bed, concern in her eyes.

“Where is Boros?” Solan noticed Vegas was clean and her arm injury dressed. He could smell no fresh blood on her.

“He’s gone. After Diadora kicked him in the butt, he decided he no longer wanted the services of My Single Alien. He’s left Prodigy.”

Solan gave a satisfied grunt. “What about his demand to have you?”

“He decided I was not of interest anymore.” Vegas smiled. “I’m not certain of the arrangement he made, but I’m guessing Diadora had to give him his money back. It’s a shame. If what she said was true, we would get some improvements to the station with that money.”

“That is not worth you being sold.” Solan’s fingers drifted down Vegas’s arm. She had been watching over him while he slept. She’d wanted to know he was safe. No one had done that for him since he was a squib.

She nodded. “I agree.”

“Padam? I saw him attack Boros’s guards.”

“You have a good commanding officer,” Vegas said. “He has a few wounds but nothing serious. He is fine. He protected Heather.”

“Your friend survived the fight?”

“She did. And she’s got a great story to tell everybody. Did you see her knight in shining armor come to her rescue?”

“I saw no one in armor.”

Vegas laughed. “Not actual armor. A Picar walked by just before security arrived. By the way she’s talking, you’d think he single-handedly speared each guard with his horns and then ate them. All he did was help her off the floor and wait by her side until the medical team arrived.”

“Picars do not eat Galaxars.” Solan scrubbed his chin. “I must have been unaware of the fighting for several seconds. Picars are hard to miss.”

Vegas laughed again. “Their horns do make them stand out.”

“I’m glad your friend is safe. I am also glad to see you here.”