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It wasn’t long before they were all done and discussing my health as if I wasn’t there. I loudly cleared my throat.

“How is it?” I asked, flexing my leg a little.

“Your healing is going as planned,” Healer Tisorum said, setting my leg back down on the bed. “Later you can try walking again.”

I really hoped I could make it because I was tired of the medical facility. All the healers were nice, and Tolly rarely left my side, but I missed my big, fluffy nest. More than that, I missed being able to touch him without having to worry about how it would be interpreted.

“Thanks,” I said, scooting further up on the bed. Tolly was quick to tuck some soft blankets around me. I plucked one up and rubbed it between my fingers. “Can I buy one of these?”

Healer Tisorum sounded an amused rumble and pointed to the travel boxes stacked high against a wall. “You don’t need to. There’s a box of four of them over there.”

I looked up at Tolly. “Did you order those?”

He sounded a negative rattle at the same time Tisorum spoke up. “They're gifts from Talins on the station.”

My jaw dropped. “But why?”

“Humans are precious among us,” Tisorum said. “All those boxes contain gifts from Talins that hope your owners will let you meet them.”

Greed pushed the next question out of my mouth. “What's in the other boxes?”

“Clothing, pillows, food packets, sweets, and toys,” Tisorum said. “At least that's what is on the labels."

“Lexarit checked them all; the labeling is correct and accurate,” Tolly said. Of course one of them checked, they wouldn't want something to slip through and accidentally cause me harm.

A wave of affection for my new crewmates went through me.

“We should send it all back,” I said. “I really don't need anything. Tolly already bought me lots of clothes, and we have plenty of blankets and pillows on the ship.”

“Only half those items are for you,” Tisorum said with an amused rumble. “You can't send back the half that is meant for Sloane.”

I looked over at the closed-off section where Sloane was hidden away. “How is she doing?”

“Her last scans showed the same steady improvement,” Tisorum said.

“I want to talk to her when I can,” I said.

“I'll tell her,” Tisorum said. “But so far her responses to us have been limited. We have better luck when Mieshorum asks or suggests something.”

I shrugged. “Then could you ask him to ask her?”

Tisorum sounded a rumble of agreement, then moved off to speak to Grifforum.

I looked up at Tolly. “I really need to get back to Bright Star Station, but I'm scared about leaving Sloane.”

“You don't need to worry about Sloane,” Tolly said. “She's being well cared for. Besides, your separation will be temporary. We’ll return for her and Mieshorum.”

“When she’s well, we need to explain everything and give her some choices,” I insisted. “We can't make her stay with us if she doesn't want to.”

“We wouldn't, but she's not going to be able to get rid of Mieshorum,” he said. “Even if she wants to leave the ship and empire, he'll go with her.”

“That was fast,” I said, but then doubted those words. Was it really fast or was it that these Talins were so starved for affection that they were ready to grab onto it the moment they saw it? “Or maybe not for you guys,” I murmured.

“I had a strong feeling the first time you touched me,” Tolly said. “When we were lined up and you put your hand on my chest. The moment your small fingers pressed against me, I felt a profound connection.”

“I liked the way you smelled,” I whispered. “That was why I picked you, because you smelled good.”

“You did? I do?” he said, sounding thrilled, then leaned in close so he could whisper because several of the healers had moved closer to us. “I've read that, back when our species scent bonded, they knew the person was meant to be their mate because they were immediately attracted to the smell.”