Page 51 of Fated to the Dragon Warlord

“Since you decided to keep the compatible females a secret, Darax,”Dexx snarls.

“We have prisoners from our recent supply runs. That is the DNA you have detected,” I lie with a snarl. “The female here belongs to me. If you make any attempt to get to her, you will feel my wrath.”

“So be it,”Dexx says, looking away from the comm before turning back and licking his lips.“If that is how you choose to play.”

He terminates the comm. I fling the vid screen across the control room where it buries itself into a console.

“Get that fixed,” I rasp at my missions director.

“Yes, Lord Darax,” he responds without a flicker.

My crew are the best trained of any Sarkarnii warlord. They are rewarded well for their efforts, and we live well.

They even get time in the zone, on occasion, even if it means injuries like the ones my warrior sustained during the meeting. Fortunately, Sarkarnii heal well and fast.

Most of the time.

I know where I need to go, and it’s the one place I nearly always avoid. The warriors I charge to look after my brother keep themselves to themselves. An elite team I trust with my life.

And his.

Every atom of my body wants to be with Kerra. From my mating gland to the tip of my tail, the tip which chose to invade her sweet, tight little ring and make her gasp my name in pleasure.

Nev it! No wonder Sarkarnii go mad from the rut! All I want to do is be buried in her. Anything else seems like a half life.

“How is he this nova-day?” I ask as I reach the quiet, secluded section of the ship, the one which is out of bounds for most. Drex and Dkeen get to their feet from the table they’ve been sharing.

Drex slams his fist over his chest.

“Lord Darax,” he says. “Not so good these past few nova-days, but he has calmed.”

“You didn’t need to use the paraxio?” I ask, my chest tightening.

“Not this time,” Dkeen replies, tapping the box next to him. “He doesn’t give away much, but he knows how much he can get away with.”

I try not to smile. This is Deus all over.

“Can I go in?”

“Keep back from the forcefield, Lord,” Drex says, placing his palm over the entrance controls. “Like I said, he’s calmed down, but he has been unpredictable of late.”

The door slides open, and the stench of both cleansing fluid and something fouler hits me.

“We haven’t been able to get him to bathe recently,” Dkeen says apologetically. “And we had to drain his aquium because he was doing the unspeakable in it.”

It’s all part of the madness, I know, but it still chills me.

“Fine. Leave us,” I say, stepping across the threshold to a low, dangerous growl, unlike any a Sarkarnii makes.

The cell, such as it is, a set of hastily repurposed quarters, all the bulkheads removed to make it as safe as possible, is in disarray.

“Brother mine,” Deus rasps, unfolding himself in his half Sarkarnii form. “You have taken a mate.”

“I have.”

“Then I must kill her.”

KERRA

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