Twice abducted. That’s me—always unlucky until I met him. Kara I never thought I'd end up homeless inside a terrifying alien spaceport. Everyone seems out to get me, with danger lurking around every corner—until I meet him. Rex is huge, four-armed, and always silent, thanks to a knot of scars on his throat. He doesn’t need words to draw me out from my hiding spot; his gestures say it all. With him, I’m safe. His touch sets my blood on fire, and his protectiveness may be the only thing standing between me and more enemies than I care to count. Rex I never thought I’d find my mate hiding in the alley behind my kitchen. But when I meet her, my world tilts on its axis. This is the reward a former prime gladiator like me has always dreamed of. I will entice her from the dark, into my arms, and once she’s there, I’ll never let her go. When my boss, her kidnappers, and one deranged alien all come after her, I will fight to the death to protect her. For Kara, I would do anything. This story was previously published in the anthology Beyond Earth.