Page 53 of Fated to the Dragon Warlord

“I think you’re a trusting individual, Kerra, and that’s not a bad thing,” Lydia says. “But this place, this galaxy, isn’t ours, and we’re a very long way from home.”

“I know.” I sigh. “But the Sarkarnii could have killed us…or worse, and they haven’t.”

“You’ll forgive me if I add the word ‘yet’ to your sentence,” Lydia says, her eyes filled with sadness.

“You are forgiven. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in my life, and not here, it’s everyone has to learn at their own pace. I hope the Sarkarnii prove themselves to you, and to all of us.”

“I’m still notmouth matinganyone,” Lydia says, the flash of mirth flitting over her face again, making it light up with life before the veil is drawn down all over again.

“I don’t think it’s obligatory,” I respond.

I’m rewarded by a lip twitch.

“I do remember one thing, I think,” Lydia says, looking over at the other three who have finally exhausted themselves and are lying in a heap. “I thought I was unconscious until Scarlett woke me up, but I’m not sure that’s right because I remember feet.”

“Feet?”

“Yeah, not human feet.”

“It’s not a lot to go on.”

“Not Sarkarnii feet either, not after I saw Darax and the others.”

I shove the bristle of jealousy which screams silently in my ear back down inside myself.

“What were they like?”

Lydia cocks her head on one side. “Sort of elephant in texture. You know, all wrinkly and tough looking, but not grey, more of a yellowish color. And another thing. They didn’t have toes, more like a hoof.”

“I should probably let Darax know. He’s supposed to be looking into how you got here. There’s some issue with there being an anomaly, one similar to the wormhole which brought the Sarkarnii to this galaxy in the first place.”

“Do you think it has anything to do with us?” Rosalie asks.

“We’re in space, in another galaxy, and there are aliens. Who the hell knows anything anymore.”

Lydia releases my hand, and I get to my feet.

“No rest for the wicked.” Rosalie looks up at me.

“And we all know just how wicked you are.” Maggie gives me the dirtiest wink ever. “We heard.”

“We did.” Rosalie nods enthusiastically. “There’s something to be said for Sarkarnii warlords and what they do to little humans.”

DARAX

Ifeel like I won’t ever get the stench of the cell off my freshly shed scales. It clings to me like space worm slime. Which is why I don’t want to come face to face with Kerra.

And of course, I do.

She practically runs into me.

“Darax.” She seems out of breath. “I’ve been looking for you.”

I do my best to keep the growl under control. “Where have you been?”

“Not that many places. Our guards said you weren’t at the aquium, so I’ve basically been wandering around.”

I want to explode. Or if I can’t explode, I want to explode something. The mere thought of my mate on the ship without me is enough to send the mating mix soaring and my lungs smoking like crazy.

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