Page 37 of Alien Healer’s Mate

“Your paper proves the target is reachable,” Rivaan went on, his gaze sliding past Kellat’s shoulder toward the east wall and the buffet. “The pathway exists, which is why I’d like access to the full set of scans. Not just what you published.”

The full set? That was far more than any proof of concept needed. But before he could reply, Rivaan was already heading toward the buffet and Delilah. Kellat went after him, because the alternative was letting him reach her first.

Delilah looked up as they closed in, pastry halfway to her mouth. Her gaze flicked from Kellat to Rivaan and back, and narrowed. Pride filled Kellat. His female read a room faster than half the warriors he’d served with.

“Delilah Sawyer,” he said, before Rivaan could open his mouth. “Of Earth. My companion.”

“Of Earth.” Rivaan looked her over the way a healer looked at a scan result. “I’ve never met a human. My research station is on the far side of the empire… we don’t see your kind out there. You’re smaller than I expected. More…” He tilted his head. “Delicate.”

Delilah’s chin snapped up, her eyes flashing.

“Yeah… Delicate enough to survive a flyer crash and a coma,” she said. “But sure. Let’s go with delicate.”

Rivaan blinked. Then he barked a laugh. “How charming. You’ve found yourself a spirited one, Lead Healer.”

Found yourself. Like she was a specimen he’d found and netted first. Kellat’s hand found the small of Delilah’s back and stayed there before he could punch Rivaan in the face.

“The scans,” he said. “I’ll consider it.”

Something flickered behind Rivaan’s eyes, and then the polished smile slid back into place.

“Perhaps I could join you both for dinner,” Rivaan said. “I would be interested to hear more about Earth. And your recovery, Delilah. There are so few records from an actual survivor of neural remapping.”

Delilah’s smile went stiff.

Kellat’s jaw tightened. “That will not be possible.”

Rivaan blinked. “No?”

“No,” Kellat repeated, realizing that Rivaan wasn’t used to hearing the word ‘no’. Which was tough; he’d just have to deal with hearing it now. “We have plans.”

“Another time, then.”

“There will not be another time.”

For a moment, Rivaan simply looked at him. Then his lips stretched into that polished smile again.

“Of course. Lead Healer. Delilah Sawyer of Earth.”

He made his farewells to a point somewhere between the two of them, then turned and let the crowd swallow him.

Delilah let out a breath. “I don’t like him.”

“He’s a researcher. His entire career⁠—“

“He gives me the creeps.” She was still watching the spot where Rivaan had disappeared. “He looked at me like I was a lab rat he couldn’t wait to get on a table.”

“He was born into a world without females, Delilah. His interest is clinical, not personal.”

It was reasonable, probably even true. She stepped out of reach, looking up at him with a smile that got nowhere near her eyes.

“Sure,” she said. “You’d know.”

Two words. She said them lightly, already turning toward the dessert end of the table, chattering something about alien custard he didn’t hear a word of, but by the lady, they hit their mark.

“Delilah.”

“Go do your doctor thing.” She waved the pastry without turning around. “You’ve got people to talk to. I’m fine here.”