Page 81 of Fated to the Dragon Warlord

“I mated Lord Darax. And the other humans the Veseli hold? They’re mated to the other warlords.” A little lie isn’t going to go amiss here. “You’re going to have the whole of Vorostor Central come down on you because of what they’ve done.”

“Humans are interesting.” He peers closer at the screen. “They seem to think the universe revolves around them.”

“I can assure you, I do not, no matter what other humans might say. Frankly, I’d rather the universe left me alone. But I can’t help being mated to a Sarkarnii, and I don’t think keeping me here is going to end well.”

“You are not mated to the Sarkarnii the Veseli have in their cage.” He pulls back from the mirror-screen, his eyes blinking hard.

I don’t say anything. This thing, whatever it is, doesn’t have any emotion. If it did, the threat about the Sarkarnii would have made an impact.

Instead it’s more concerned with who I’ve been mating with, and that is not a good thing.

Given I can’t move out of the egg/chair/bonds, I push myself back into it. The grip on me loosens as I hear a long, low roar. I can’t say for certain it’s Darax, but it’s enough to capture the attention of the evil professor, and I use it to my advantage, kicking hard out of the chair. Grabbing hold of the nearest item I can use as a weapon, I slam myself against the wall where the door was, and to everyone’s surprise, especially mine, I go straight through, crashing out on top of a Veseli who screeches slightly before bucking me off.

As I’m not coughing to the point of unconsciousness, I take full advantage of the surprise and dart away from the creature, down the side of the egg I burst out of, and increasing my pace.

I might have left the clutches of the evil professor, but this place is chock full of Veseli, and my chances are most likely slim to none in staying away from him.

Most probably, I’ve just made everything ten times worse.

DARAX

Iuse my Sarkarnii form to return, alongside Dante, the pulsar grenade belt dangling from his jaws, to Vorostor Central. There we part ways as I get back to theSilver Star.

“Your orders, Lord Darax?” Dalat asks.

“What ships do we have available which are fast, well-armed, and have the latest scanner tech?” I stride through to the docking area. “Quick, warrior. Time is of the essence.”

“We have one with weaponry and speed, but the latest tech has yet to be installed. TheAmber Gem,” he says. “Taken from Lijiki pirates six nova months ago.”

“I recall the ship. We only captured it because the crew blew up an engine with their heavy tentacled use of the thing. Is it fixed?”

“I did the work myself, my Lord.”

“Good, where is it?”

“In orbit.”

I head to the nearest flyer.

“Dante is going to inform the warlords of our findings. Whether they wish to assist or not is their prerogative, but it’s clear the Veseli are back.”

Dalat bristles, his shift flowing through him. “I hate the Veseli,” he says with considerable feeling.

He’s not alone with the sentiment. Not only are the creatures foul beyond belief with a scent which is utterly repelling to a Sarkarnii, but a number of our ships were captured when we first ventured out into this galaxy from Vorostor.

We freed our brethren not long after, but most, to this nova-day, won’t talk about it, including Dante and Dexx.

It was the impetus we needed to set up Vorostor Central and co-ordinate our efforts. It was how we ended up as warlords. That and the undeniable fact the Sarkarnii are the biggest predators in this galaxy.

I make it to the dock without shifting, even though every atom in my being wants to go without a ship. While it might be possible, the rational side of me manages, just, to persuade my Sarkarnii side going in shift will not allow me to bring Kerra back.

I board a small flyer, and in less than ten nova seconds, I’m heading to the outer atmosphere. The ship I want appears on the horizon, hanging in space, waiting for me.

I dock and set the flyer’s co-ordinates to return itself to Vorostor. I don’t need the additional weight. Not if I’m going to catch the Veseli ship.

“Lord Darax.” Dalat comes over the comm within theAmber Gem. “Do you have co-ordinates as to where you are going?”

I growl, which reverberates through the empty ship, flinging myself into the pilot chair and firing up the engines.

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