War-damaged veteran Darius Fletcher boards a luxury cruise looking for peace and anonymity. He finds neither when he crosses paths with Cilla Beckstein, her formidable jungle cat, Maahes—and a kidnapping that changes everything.

When a fellow passenger is snatched during a planetary stop, Cilla refuses to stand by while local authorities turn a blind eye. Reckless but determined, she drags Darius into a dangerous rescue mission he wants no part of. Forced into an uneasy alliance, they must navigate treacherous terrain, outwit ruthless kidnappers, and survive a world where everything wants them dead.

But they're not alone. Maahes is much more than a pet and when all else fails, he's their last, best chance at survival.

With time running out and enemies closing in, Darius and Cilla's reluctant partnership is tested at every turn. Can they pull off an impossible rescue before their enemies catch up with them? And will the attraction growing between them survive the danger—or be consumed by it?

This story was first published in Pets in Space 9. If you're after steamy romance, you won't find it here.