Page 95 of Fated to the Dragon Warlord

“I’m not their leader,” I reply. “It has to be up to them to make whatever decision they like. I presume if they decide to stay here, you will accept them?”

“My sweet mate.” Darax brushes his lips over mine. “What belongs to me belongs to you. You rule my sector as much as I do. If your friends wish to live here, then the choice is yours.”

“Oh my!” I clutch at my breastbone. “So muchpower! I feel like I’m becoming a Sarkarnii warlord…it has to be the venom.”

It’s Darax’s turn to chuckle. The deep and rich tones fill his quarters.

“Little mate, you are going to make the best warlord this galaxy has ever seen.”

DARAX

“The females stay with me,” I growl at the warlords who are variously pacing or, in Dante’s case, eating in the clan hall. “It is what they wish.”

“You’re merely keeping them to yourself,” Dexx snarls. “You want more than just your mate.”

Dalox raises his hand. Dexx doesn’t back off, but he doesn’t come any closer to me.

“Darax is respecting the wishes of the females, and we should too,” Dalox rasps.

I nod in agreement.

“But,” he says, “they should have the option to visit our sectors, to see if they would prefer to live elsewhere, to mix with other Sarkarnii, given they are our guests.”

Dalox treats me to one of his long stares. It’s one he’s legendary for. I could challenge him, but I have a warm female waiting for me in my den, one who requires many more mating sessions because I have to ensure she is properly bred.

And if it means I don’t have warlords sniffing around my sector every nova-day, it’s an easy enough agreement.

“I will need to check they want to do this, but I can’t see any of them having an objection,” I respond. “I will also be dancingfor my mate in the next few nova-days. It will be a celebration you are welcome to attend, providing you abide by my rules. No weapons and no shifting.”

Dexx rumbles menacingly, but Dalox fixes him with a stare.

“A celebration?” Dante says, taking a swig from a goblet of ale wine. “Sounds good.”

I immediately regret my life choices.

But these warlords were once my compatriots, my fellow warriors, our fleet. So much has changed since we came through the wormhole, but as my Kerra has taught me, not everything is as it seems.

So many things we’ve taken for granted are not even the truth.

“Have you located your brother yet?” Driok says. “He’s a liability.”

“He is not,” I growl. “Deus saved my mate, and he can take care of himself.”

Driok and Dexx huff out plenty of smoke, indicating they are not convinced. I am, however, resolute. I will not go looking for Deus, and I know he will not come looking for me.

If our paths cross again, then I will deal with him as I see fit.

“Then it is decided,” Dalox rumbles. “We will attend your claiming dance and respect your sector. Even Dante,” he intones.

Dante manages to look entirely innocent and like a ball of feral danger at the same time. I make a mental note to ensure he’s kept well away from anything flammable. Chances are he won’t like it, but I’d prefer to keep my ship and crew scorched to a minimum.

“Then, until the dance.” I slam my fist on my shoulder and give Dalox a brief bow, even if the nevver doesn’t deserve it much.

Dexx glowers at me as I leave the clan hall. He clearly dislikes the decision Dalox made, but he will not go up against him.

I make my way back through the neutral zone. It has returned to a near normality, filled mostly with Dante’s crew who are making the most of having it to themselves. The air is thick with accelerant.

My airlock opens at my approach, and I step into the more rarified atmosphere of theSilver Star. Dalat is waiting for me, holding out a vid-pad.

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