Page 14 of Stripped to the Scales

“What would start a war?” I furrowed my brows.

“We don’t know. That’s why we’re sticking together. Wars have started over some stupid shit.”

“We’ve never had a war here.”

“That’s because you’re all the same group. Usually, not always, but usually it takes two groups.”

“But we’re the same. We’re dragons. If we did primal DNA tests I bet we trace back to some of the same lines of wild dragons in the Other World.”

“Didn’t matter back on Earthside,” Casimir shrugged.

“Are you all looking for a fight?” I asked.

“No, we’re here because Elio invited Fred. We’re still here because the crew voted to help you all get your Other World gateways.”

“So you need to stick together,” I nodded.

I got it in a way. If I were on Earthside I’d probably want whoever was there from my flight close by.

“Tell Castor I’ll be back,” I pushed myself upright, leaving the mug of coffee behind.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“I’ll be back. Just tell him that.”

“You’re as shut off as Cas can be. You know that?”

“So are you,” I said, bringing out my wings and taking to the sky.

Chapter Seven

Castor

I woke alone in the bedroom and stretched my limbs. They ached as if I worked out all day yesterday. Only the memories of the ‘workout’ brought a grin to my face. The bed was still warm where Axlin had spooned in behind me. I hadn’t thought he’d be an early riser, but alphas did need less sleep than omegas. Sitting up, I ran my hands over my face and checked in with Casimir and the others over the flight link. Casimir felt confused but that was pretty normal since we arrived to Starscale 1. It was a whole new world, after all. The others just felt wet from the pool. Except for Fred. He was giggling away with his baby and mate.

“That’s going to be us soon,”my dragon chimed into my thoughts.

Maybe it was unprofessional to have a baby on a mission, but this wasn’t any ordinary mission and Axlin was no ordinary dragon. He was my true-mate. My birth control may have held up. It had a snowball’s chance in Frost Pit of holding up against the magic of the true-mate response, but the thought of building a nest and settling down with Axlin wasn’t so bad. Wasn’t bad at all actually.

Metal shut above my head and I pulled on my pajama pants, opened the bedroom door, and sat back down on the bed. It wasn’t Axlin. He was flying right now. Clear purple skies stretched out as far as his eyes could see. It was Casimir. Secretly, I looked forward to hearing about whatever left my cousin confused. On Earthside, he seemed so sure of everything. Here, he was a fish out of water just like the rest of us.

“He’ll be back,” Casimir said, leaning in the door holding two coffee mugs.

“I know,” I nodded and reached out for a mug.

“He made these. Brought me one,” he said. “I don’t think he’s heard of sugar.”

I took a sip and nodded. It wasn’t bad coffee. Closer to black than I’d usually drink in the morning when my inner beast craved a sugar kick while I had my caffeine, but it wasn’t bad.

“Look at you. All enamored with him. Enamored enough to drink bad coffee. Either have it black or make it a sugar baby. In between is where good coffee goes to die.”

“Why are you confused?” I asked, tired of hearing him complain about the coffee. If he didn’t like it there was plenty more to be made in the kitchen.

“Your guy,” he said, leaning against the doorway. “Thought he came up to lecture me. He seems like the type. Instead, he invited me to live with him.”

“They’re umm…. very ---”

“Friendly?” Casimir offered up.

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