The Thunder Egg

No ordinary rock...When history professor Drew Torson buys a thunder egg at a market, he expects a pretty rock for his collection—not for it to hatch. What emerges is no ordinary creature, and Drew isn't the only one who wants it. After a violent attack leaves him bleeding in an alley, his mysterious new friend Neyru flees—and finds help in the unlikeliest place.Freighter captain Afra Abrussen doesn't do heroics. She's got cargo to haul, debts to pay, and no time for trouble. But when a shimmering, sentient being begs for her help, she's drawn into a chase across the stars.With ruthless hunters closing in, Drew and Afra must uncover what Neyru truly is and how to get her home—before their enemies catch up. There's just one complication neither of them planned for: falling in love.This story first appeared in Pets in Space 6 in 2021. It is a novella-length space opera.