“How did you get the job?” Tammy glanced around the cafeteria as they walked into it.
Jessie laughed. “My father, actually. He’s a senator who was appointed to represent the New Species issues in Washington. He volunteered me when they realized it might be smart to have a woman present who was nonthreatening to the females they found. The first woman they hired was a shrink. That didn’t go over well. After that, my father got his way and I ended up with the job. I was a little pissed at first since he didn’t ask me but I love what I do. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of down time. I wish more of them could be found. I wouldn’t mind working eighty hours a week if it meant we were rescuing more of them.”
“Do you find them often?”
Tammy grabbed a plate and started to fill it with food from the buffet. She grabbed some donuts and a muffin. Not much was out in the early-morning hours. The cook hadn’t started preparing breakfast and wouldn’t until six, according to the wall schedule. The other two women filled their plates as well.
“They are hard to find. In all, we’ve recovered twenty-three. We were able to track some of the Gift Species who were unaccounted for, but most hadn’t survived.”
Tammy cringed. “That’s so sad.”
“They are not like us,” Breeze stated softly. She met Tammy’s curious gaze. “They are small and unable to defend themselves. They were severely abused, comparable to kicked puppies.”
“Oh.”
Jessie sighed. “It’s hard for the New Species to accept some of them because they are so traumatized that they can’t be around men at first. Several churches with secluded women’s retreats were nice enough to take some of them in. We send them there when we find an especially fragile female.”
“They cry and shriek around men. They jump and shake.” Breeze’s voice sounded upset. “And it makes us very angry to see that.”
Jessie clenched her teeth. “It’s not their fault they are that way.”
Breeze frowned. “We are not angry at them. We get angry that this happened to them and that they were made weaker and taken from our men who treated our females well. We feel rage that they were completely alone. It was rare that we saw other Species unless they were breeding us but we could scent them on the humans who came into our cells. It was comforting. They didn’t have that. It angers all of us.” Breeze stared at Jessie. “Our anger is never directed at them. Never.”
“I’m sorry.” Jessie sighed. “I have seen the reactions of your kind when I take the women in. I just assumed the rage was directed at the Gift females because they are crying and very frightened when they see others of their kind. I know you really respect strength and courage.”
“We do but we want to protect the weaker. We understand they need our compassion most.”
Tammy finished her breakfast. “Wow. The sun is out.” Her gaze drifted away from the window at the back of the cafeteria.
“You should get some rest before Valiant returns.” Breeze chuckled. “He will want to take you to bed but he will not allow you sleep. You need all the sleep you are able to get while you can.”
Tammy nodded. “We’re getting married today.”
Jessie choked on her coffee. “What?”
Tammy grinned. “We’re getting married. He asked and I accepted. He wants it all legal-like and I’m happy about that.”
“Another one.” Jessie smiled. “So you’re going to be the second married, mixed couple. That’s great. I didn’t mean to blow coffee. It just surprised me.”
Breeze chuckled. “Wait until you see them together. That will surprise you even more. Where she is short, he is tall. He’s a big male—six-foot-six and weighs well over two-hundred-fifty pounds.”
Jessie winked at Tammy, grinning. “Brave woman.”
“He’s a sweetheart.”
Breeze laughed. “To her, he is a sweetheart. We shake in fear when he is angry. She laughs at him. Just do not be afraid when you hear really loud noises today, Jessie. I will have to put you on the third floor by their suite. You will need a room for a few days while you stay to help with the woman. Valiant is lion mixed. Just remember that.”
Jessie appeared confused. “What am I missing?”
Tammy knew her cheeks warmed with embarrassment. “He roars after sex. On that note, I’m leaving.” She waved. “I hope to see both of you at the wedding. Come if you can.”
“She was kidding, right?” Jessie sounded stunned.
Breeze laughed. “No. She was not. She is what your kind call a ‘screamer’ too. We all know when they breed. We look forward to when they will go to Valiant’s home just so we can get some undisturbed sleep.”