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She nodded, and walked forward slowly, her hand held out, until she touched the back of the grimlin.

“Sloane! Be careful.”

“It’s okay. Get in here and close the door. The noise outside is worrying him.”

“You’re worried about this thing’s feelings?” Dallin eased the door closed, muffling the yells from the remaining waystation passengers.

“The grimlin was in here when I arrived. He was hurt, and I helped him. He had a piece of wood stuck in his foot. It was infected, so I pulled it out.”

Dallin hissed out air. “You’re lucky to be alive.”

“You know I have a way with animals. And this cute little guy knew I wouldn’t hurt him.” Sloane let the grimlin snuffle her fingers with his broad snub nose. “I think he’s trying to look after me. And grimlins are social animals. He probably thinks of me as part of his troop.”

Dallin scowled at the grimlin, who bared his huge fangs in a threat display.

“As if I don’t have enough overbearing alphas trying to control my life.” She gently patted the grimlin.

“That’s still a wild creature. It could bite off your head.”

The grimlin snarled at him again as if it understood his words.

“He has an ID marker inside one of his ear flaps. He could be someone’s pet. You hear about people raising wild animals, and he’s definitely domesticated. He also understands me, so he could have a chip in his head that translates language into something that makes sense to him.”

“That thing could never be properly domesticated.” Dallin held out his hand. “Move away from it and let’s get out of here.”

The grimlin dodged in front of Sloane, not letting her past.

Sloane shrugged. “He wants to protect me. Either I stay here, or he comes with us.” She scratched her fingers behind the grimlin’s ears, and he rumbled an appreciative noise deep in his barrel chest.

Dallin took a moment to catch his breath, not taking his eyes off the animal next to Sloane. Damn, he was running on empty. He couldn’t keep up this punishing pace for much longer. “You can’t take that thing back to the Apocalypse.”

“He might need a little training, but if he’s spent his life around aliens, he won’t think it’s weird being on a ship. Besides, most of the crew have pets. Georgia’s banty can be vicious. And Rexx’s cat always slashes first and asks questions later. This grimlin isn’t so different.”

“He’s ten times the size of Rexx’s cat. And those fangs could disembowel an alien. Cleo won’t let you keep him.”

“She’ll have no choice. Where Brutus goes, I go.”

He groaned. “You named it?”

“I named him. He responds to that name, too. He also responds to sit commands and lie down commands. He’s trained. And he’s a cutie. I vote to keep him.”

“He’s also a lethal killing machine.” Dallin sighed and shook his head. “Come on, we need to get out of here. The analysis on the poison will be done, and the Siblet creatures are dead so it should be safe to move.”

“Does that mean you’re not sending me back to the Apocalypse?”

“You’d be better off there.”

Sloane cocked a hip and rested a hand on it. “I disagree. And so does Brutus. We all stay here as one big messed up family.”

“Fine. You stay. But you’re to rest, nothing more. And the second you need more of my energy, or more pain relief, you let me know.”

She smiled. “Of course. You’d better go on ahead of us. Brutus looks like he doesn’t want to let you near me.”

Dallin’s eyes narrowed. “Keep a close watch on him. If that thing so much as looks at you funny, he’s out of here.”

“We’ll see.” Sloane grinned. “You’re part of the team now, Brutus.”

He butted her with his huge head, and she hit the floor.