Page 60 of I'm Not Your Pet

But then he’d comforted me. He’d comforted me—and I’d let him. And for the first time in my life it hadn’t felt like I was dealing with those memories alone. I’d always found him fascinating. Always admired his tenacity and his bravery. But that feeling had only exploded when I had my thoughts back in order and I’d realized that not once—during that entire encounter—had Huu-goh shied from me.

There was trust there.

Affection too—that I didn’t need him to have spots to read—all over his face. And I’d vowed to myself that I would do everything in my power to make him happy. It wasn’t the first time I’d made that promise, but it did strengthen my resolve. Enough so that while I was exhausted—operating on next to no rest at all—I had never been more determined in all my life to see something through.

I was learning Huu-goh’s language as swiftly as I could, but the process was a slow one. Some rules in the language made absolutely no sense, and some words were almost impossible for me to pronounce. Ushuu ended up laughing at me more often than not, and while I appreciated his help and enjoyed his amusement, I never let it take time away from my lessons.

I wanted to know how to speak fluentlynow, not later.

At this rate, by the time I learned, we would already be back on Osheania where temporary translators were readily available, and I could contact A&R to purchase the permanent alternative. I refused to think the process was pointless, however, because—like we’d already discovered—removable translators were not afoolproof system. And for all I knew, it could take months to get implants delivered to our planet.

“Captain,” Ushuu, greeted me as I paused in the doorway. I huffed, amused as always by our little game.

“I was wondering if you could help me?” I inquired, more than a little giddy.

“Anything you need.”

After I explained Huu-goh’s cleverness to him, and the nanobots I’d seen him fiddling with using a doctored fork, Ushuu made a thoughtful sound.

“He’d be better off in here with me if you’re wanting to give him a purpose.” His eyes turned to crescents. “But you’re right. Maybe some things of his own would make him happy.” He spent the next twenty or so minutes putting together a box of items for me.

Some things I understood, and others I didn’t.

“I bet he’ll find this interesting,” Ushuu beckoned me closer. I hadn’t noticed lately—I’d been so busy learning—but the surface of his gray skin was fading with age, and his spots were paler than they’d been a few years ago. “It’s not functional, but if he’s anything like I was when I was young, he’ll enjoy picking these apart.”

Inside the box was a set of old translators. They were out of commission now, I was certain. Based on the dust alone, and the broken pieces, I figured it’d been a long time since they’d been useful. I was surprised Ushuu had them at all, considering the fact that they didn’t work out in space.

“Thank you,” I replied, excited—but still a little stuck on his fading spots.How had I never noticed before? Had I really been so distracted lately that I hadn’t paid attention?

I feared we were nearing the last of our flights together.

Ushuu stroked a hand over my shoulder, gave my bicep a squeeze, and then wandered off to grab what I’d requested. Withhis back turned, I let my smile fall as my hearts ached.Huu-goh would like it here with Ushuu. There isn’t a single thing that Ushuu cannot teach him.“Think about sending him over,” he said as he set the box down on the table in front of me. “I promise I’ll take good care of him.”

“I know,” I said—because I did know. I moved to pick up the box, but he held a hand out to stop me. It shook a little, not from nerves but from age.

“I’ll ask him if he wants to,” I responded, already knowing that Huu-goh would. “If he does, I’ll bring him by after lunch in the afternoon if that works for you.”

“I’ve always wanted an apprentice.” Ushuu’s gaze met mine.

He had always been small for a Sahrk, though his intelligence made up for whatever he lacked in size. A formidable foe. Even as old as he was.

“Your mate,” Ushuu made a thoughtful sound, tapping the box with one claw, before removing his hand so I could pick it up. It was heavier than it looked, rattling in my arms. “He is a clever one.”

“Too clever,” I puffed up with pride.

“There is nothing of harm in that box,” Ushuu reassured me. “But there are dangerous things in this room. Dangerous things, I am certain with his level of intelligence, he will be smart enough to work around.”

I nodded, appreciating how candid he was with that information. He was giving me an out. He knew me better than anyone. Knew how hard the captain’s death had hit me. Knew that even before that, I’d always spent far too much time with the worries of the future clouding my thoughts.

A lot had changed.

My worries were not gone. In fact—they were worse—the more I grew to care for Huu-goh. But my love for him was stronger. And I refused to keep him prisoner. I wanted to seehim thrive. To see the things he could create. To give him every opportunity I could. And sometimes that meant he might touch or be around dangerous objects, and I would have to be at peace with that.

And there was no better gift I could give the person I loved than time with Ushuu.

“We would be honored,” I said softly. “And I trust you.”

Ushuu’s spots were a pale, beautiful pink, shining with affection as he leaned in close to bump our snouts together.

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