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“They’re pretty,” she murmured, settling his arm across her waist.

Her plans had been straightforward. Her own place. Lots of cats. No men, because cats were considerably less likely to steal everything she owned and leave her life in ruins.

But now she had an enormous alien mercenary with entirely too many weapons, a questionable employment history, and some frankly terrifying friends.

Twisting to look up at him, she said, “We’re getting cats.”

Rann glanced down. “Cats?”

“Yup. Lots. It’s non-negotiable.”

He studied her, then nodded. “Okay, cats it is.”

She settled closer with a pleased sigh. There would be room for him, somewhere between the cats and whatever furniture survived them.

She hadn’t given up the future she wanted. She’d just expanded it to include him.

The man she loved. Her perfect alien man.

Her mate.

EPILOGUE

The deckchair creaked under Rann as he shifted, and Blythe reached over without looking to pat his arm.

“Stop fidgeting. It’ll hold.”

He glanced at the frame. There wasn’t much of it to support his weight. Still, his female knew what she was talking about. He settled back carefully, keeping hold of her hand.

Across the clearing, Maxim leaned against a stack of supplies and smiled at Stevie.

Now there was a male who had absolutely no concerns about his welcome. Or about the ax coming down on a length of wood a short distance behind him. The wood split cleanly, the two pieces falling away as Ryke straightened and looked over and glared at the back of Ryke’s head.

Rann’s lips twitched. Beside him, Blythe made a small sound into the cup she held in her free hand.

“You noticed?” he murmured.

“Hard not to. Brave man that.”

“Isn’t he just?”

They sat outside the temporary shelters they’d set up in. The site had a good view of most of the valley below, which meant that he was not at all inclined to move.

A goat wandered between Maxim and Stevie. Maxim paused what he was about to say as it nosed at his leg.

Stevie smiled down at the animal.

Maxim smiled at Stevie.

Behind them, the ax slammed down and Ryke threw another piece of wood on pile.

“Are we going to say anything?” Rann asked.

“Absolutely not. Maxim’s good people, especially after what he did for us.” Blythe lowered her cup, eyes bright with amusement. “And I’m comfortable.”

So was he. More comfortable than the chair had any right to allow, particularly with her fingers resting between his. He stroked his thumb across her knuckles as Maxim said something that made Stevie laugh.

Ryke buried the ax in the block.