Page 75 of Fated to the Dragon Warlord

“I’m not sure your attempts to help us have improved our circumstances,” Maggie says. “The Sarkarnii seemed unprepared for the cockroaches.”

“That’s because it’s an old enemy they thought they had conquered.” I sigh, my ribs aching.

I continue to feel nauseous, not necessarily from whatever the Veseli gave me, but from the knowledge I was unconscious until I got here.

I don’t know what they did to me in the interim. And worse, I’ve been handled by massive cockroaches. It’s enough to turn anyone’s stomach.

“It seems to me the Sarkarnii are too full of themselves,” Scarlett says darkly. “They think they have everything under control.”

“Everything except themselves.” Maggie answers for me. “You can’t possibly be that feral and not have enemies.”

“Why did they think they had conquered them?” Rosalie asks.

“Because they thought they’d killed them all.”

“Proves my point,” Maggie says.

“I’d knew you’d be defending them given you’re doing the nasty with one.” Scarlett turns to me.

“I prefer dragon men over cockroaches any day,” I reply, glaring at her.

There’s a chorus of agreement around the room. “Especially as they’re considerably easier on the eye,” Maggie says.

“And an aversion to clothing.” Rosalie nods sagely. “Such a shame for them.”

Scarlett looks around us all, her lips pursed. Lydia bursts out with a laugh which is on the edge.

“Have you been here the whole time?” I ask, looking around the weird buff colored room.

It’s circular and there’s no sign of any furniture. Or a door. In the center is a flat black circular stone. On the top is a clear container which has liquid in it.

“Not the whole time. We were taken out of the Sarkarnii ship and then drugged like you. When we came round, we were in a white room,” Rosalie says. “Then we were brought here when we were all mobile.”

“To say it’s shit is an understatement,” Maggie adds. “I’d rather be back in the trap.”

I shouldn’t laugh, but I do, and coughing overwhelms me again.

“Here.” Rosalie hands me the canister. “Please drink, Kerra.”

I take a gulp. The water tastes stale, but it lubricates my throat and slowly stops the coughing.

“Maybe you’re having a reaction to what they gave you?” Lydia says.

“I think spending the night with an insane Sarkarnii in a sopping wet cave did this.” I take another swig of the water and grimace as I swallow.

“Darax?” Rosalie looks concerned.

“His brother, Deus. He’s the sixth warlord.”

“Oh god,” Maggie groans. “There’s more of them?”

“As long as they’re not cockroaches, I’ll happily have another Sarkarnii to deal with,” Rosalie says.

“Yeah, thanks for your clue,” I say.

“Not sure what else to call them.” Rosalie shudders. “Other than disgusting.”

“Did you say they were Ves-ilie?” Lydia asks.

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