Pirate's Gold - S.J. Sanders Page 0,83

to thank you again and wish you safe journeys.”

“What of Garswal?”

A fond look came over the pirate. “Ah, him. There is hope for that small male, and I find I cannot bear to part with him, so he will remain at my side. I will care for him and teach him to be a better male than his sire and most of the males on this ship. Do not worry for him.”

“I am relieved to hear it. Safe journeys to you as well,” Terri returned. “Try not to get into too much trouble.”

“Only if the price is right and the moment opportune,” Azan returned with a chuckle. “But only after the ship has had some overhauls. Which reminds me, thank you for your contribution to the efforts.”

“Contribution…?” Terri asked, a frown of confusion wrinkling her brow. Veral chuffed with laughter, but she didn’t get it.

Azan tossed a large, brilliant red gemstone in her hand. “I am afraid I could not let you leave with it—not when the ship requires considerable work.”

Terri’s mouth dropped open. She hadn’t even seen the pirate take it. “Wait one damn minute…”

“Sorry, sweet little human. I do like you, but I am still a pirate, after all. Farewell!” Azan gave her a small salute as the screen blipped off.

In the viewscreen, she watched as the pirate ship’s engines flared to life, the ship retreating as Kaylar’s ship moved in a different direction, on his own way to Earth.

Terri shook her head, her shock fading into amusement. Sitting back in her chair, she locked the chest and shrugged. “I guess I should have expected that. Maybe I am still a naïve, weak human.”

“Indeed, you should have expected nothing less,” her mate replied, his eyes shining at her with warmth. Slowly, he got up from his chair and walked over, stopping in front of her. Leaning down, he plucked the box from her lap and set it aside as he drew her to her feet in front of him. “But you are anything but weak. You have shown great strength and an ability to protect yourself, especially now armed with a symbiont that will ensure your protection. Even without it, I should have known that you would be able to face anything that the cosmos sets before you. I admire and adore you. I was wrongly overprotective.”

“You see that, finally, do you?” she asked with a small smile, her body leaning into his. “For the record, I actually like that you’re protective and territorial. Just do it with me at your side rather than hidden away like I’m too fragile to trust to be with you.”

“I shall. We are united in this together, for the rest of our span of life.”

“Nothing sounds better to me. And what of your people? We got rid of Kaylar easily enough. What if they send someone we can’t handle?”

Veral’s expression hardened. “The council would be unwise to send anyone else, but if they do, then we will take the fight to them. Until that happens, however, we will continue to just live.”

“That doesn’t sound highly logical,” she teased.

“Perhaps not, but I have discovered that life with a human is not always logical… and yet it is surprisingly full and rewarding. This is a life I never could have imagined, but one I will never let go.” His breath feathered against her skin, and as the final words left him, he lifted her into his arms and carried her from the bridge.

Life wasn’t like one of the storybooks, but as he carried her to their room, Terri decided she was looking forward to her own sort of happily ever after.

Other Works by S.J. Sanders

The Mate Index

First Contact

The VaDorok

Hearts of Indesh (Valentine Novella)

The Edoka’s Destiny

The Vori’s Mate

Eliza’s Miracle (Novella)

A Kiss on Kaidava

The Vori’s Secret

A Mate for Oigr (Halloween Novella)

Heart of the Agraak

A Gift for Medif

The Arobi’s Queen

Teril’s Fire (coming soon)

Monsterly Yours

The Orc Wife

The Troll Bride

The Accidental Werewolf’s Mate

Love Blooms for the Pixie Queen (coming soon)

The Unicorn’s Mare (coming Dec 2020)

Sci-Fi Fairytales

Red: A Dystopian World Alien Romance

The Sirein: (coming soon)

Ragoru Beginnings Romance

White: Emala’s Story

Huntress

Dark Spirits

Havoc of Souls

The Mirror (also part of Mischief Matchmakers)

Forest of Spirits

Desert of the Vanished (coming soon)

Shadowed Dreams Erotica

The Lantern

Serpent of the Abyss

The Mintars

Librarian and the Beast

The Atlavans

The Darvel Exploratory Systems

Classified Planet: Turongal

Argurma Salvager

Broken Earth

Pirate’s Gold

About the Author

S.J. Sanders is a writer of Science Fiction and Fantasy Romance. With a love of all things alien and monster she is fascinated with concepts of far off worlds, as well as the lore and legends of various cultures. When not writing, she loves reading, sculpting, painting and travel (especially to exotic destinations). Although born and raised in Alaska, she currently as a resident of Florida with her family, her maine coon, Bella, and pet bearded dragon, Lex.

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