Free Krac's Firebrand by S. E. Smith

Violet up in her arms.
    “Froget! I’ve told you my name is… oh, forget it,” he snapped out. “Where did you get this?”
    Skeeter looked at his puzzled face in confusion before her eyes dropped to the part in his hand. It was similar to the one she had taken but it wasn’t burnt. She sighed when she realized she had just given him another reason to be mad at her.
    “Oh darn it! I grabbed the wrong thing. I’m so sorry, Frog!” She said glumly. “I thought it was the one I had left on the shelf.”
    “No, this is good. I can make this work as long as the star charts stored in it are still good. I’ve got most of yours backed up, but I wasn’t sure if it was complete. I can….”
    Skeeter rolled her eyes at Violet causing the little girl to giggle as they both listened to Frog mutter under his breath as he walked away from them. She followed him before turning toward the galley. She was hungry too.
    “How about a grilled cheese sandwich?” Skeeter asked.
    “What is that?” Violet asked, winding her arm around Skeeter’s neck.
    “You’ve never had a grilled cheese sandwich? Tila used to make them for me whenever I was sad. If I was really, really sad she made me macaroni and cheese too. It is an Earth dish. She says it is disgusting, but it isn’t,” Skeeter promised. “It is the best food in the whole star system.”
    Violet frowned for a moment before she grinned. “I think I’m feeling really, really sad,” she giggled.
    “Two macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches coming up,” Skeeter replied. “I think I’m feeling really, really sad too.”
    “Why are you sad?” Violet asked in a serious voice.
    Skeeter winked at Violet making her giggle again. “Because Frog didn’t turn into a handsome prince when I kissed him,” she whispered in a dramatic whisper. “It totally broke my heart.”
    Violet’s giggles turned to laughter before she wound both arms around Skeeter’s neck and hugged her. “I really, really like you, Skeeter.”
    Skeeter felt the tug on her heart at the heartfelt words. “I love you too, Violet. We’ll find your mommy and daddy. Until then, I’ll take care of you just like my Tila took care of me.”
    “Thank you, Skeeter,” the muffled voice said.
    “My pleasure, sweetheart,” Skeeter said, protectively hugging the small body to hers. “My daddy is going to be so excited to meet you.’
    “Is he like you?” Violet asked curiously, looking into Skeeter’s dancing blue eyes.
    “Have you ever wanted to have your own dragon?” Skeeter asked Violet, waiting until the little girl nodded. “Well, he looks just like the dragons in the picture books only he is a good dragon that will always be there to protect you.”
    “Oh….” Violet breathed out, her eyes growing huge as she thought of having her own dragon. “Do you think he can be my dragon too?”
    “Of course!” Skeeter promised, setting Violet down on the chair in the narrow galley and tickling her. “He’s big enough to protect the both of us.”
    “Just like my daddy and Uncle Krac!” Violet crowed. “They can kick anyone’s butt! Mommy said so.”

Chapter 10
    Krac pressed the eject button on the disposal tube ignoring the hoarse screams coming from it. Within seconds, only the hum of the starship could be heard. The tracking device and the male who had given him the information he wanted now floated in space.
    “Connect,” he ordered as a communication summons came in.
    “Krac, this is Kordon,” a dark voice came over the comlink he was wearing. “Where are you?”
    Krac was about to respond when he heard Gracie’s voice chiding her mate in the background. The warmth filled him again when he heard the hint of steel he was used to hearing in her voice. She would make sure Kordon stayed put until he was healed. He had been in touch with her at least once a day to post updates and find out how her mate was doing.
    Kordon had been brought out of the medically induced coma two