Page 116 of Scorching the Alien Empire
“What the hell, Dracoth? Stop!” Princesa’s voice shrieks behind me. Her tiny hands slap uselessly against my armor. “We talked about this! You promised, you wouldn’t collect any more spine bits!”
“No,” I growl, my grip tightening around the exposed bone.
She lies.
There was nopromise,only complaints—complaints I chose to ignore. This is my people’s ancient rite. Hemo-Tok. I honor Arawnoth. I honor the vanquished. Let their rattles herald my coming. Let them strike fear into the hearts of my enemies.
“But... but it’s your own spine—kind of.” She presses, voice edged with pure disgust. “It’s weird and creepy!”
I twist my hands. The bone snaps with a deafening crunch.
“SO FUCKING GROSS!” She shrieks, retreating into the corner of the room, followed by dry retching. “I think I’m going to throw up!”
She will grow to accept it... in time.
I wipe away the worst of the gore, threading my belt through the vertebrae. The fresh bone jangles pleasantly as it slides into place, joining its brothers of bone. A piece of my clone—a part of myself. I will cherish it always.
A reminder of who Itrulyam.
“What’s the matter,Pinkie?” Drexios sneers, his tone laced with mockery. “Never seen a littleHemo-Tokingbefore?”
He flicks a hand toward my belt, grinning. “Just a couple’a bones, jingling and jangling. No good to the poor voiding bastard now, is it? Hey—what say me and the boys make youone? Assuming there’s any bones left in that steaming pile of glop we left back there.” He flicks a hand behind him.
Princesa’s retchingintensifies.
“It would be an honor, blessed daughter,” the warrior Tharok chimes in earnestly, clearly unaware of human fragility.
Princesa whirls, jabbing a finger toward them. “I swear on both Arawnoth and Aenarael—if any of you come near me with one of those... things!” She waves a hand over my belt like it’s a nest of vipertails. “I will lock you in my divine barriers and launch you all into space!”
The warriors exchange glances—then erupt intoboominglaughter.
“Fine,whatever,” she groans, hands raised toward me. “Beep beep, Red Taxi. And tilt the bloody bits away, that’d be just lovely.”
I do as she asks. Sweeping her into my arms, tilting the belt slightly.Accommodating her—until she grows stronger.
My eyes flick to Razgor, busily scanning the terminals, the tanks, the remains of the clones.
Yet, it is not the corpses or data that compel me forward. It is the door at the far end of the room. Some fragment at the back of my mind lingers, some knowing, as if I’ve been here before. A memory—buried deep and suppressed. Remnants of the Voidbringers torments?
“Come. Answers await.”
Chapter 23
Dracoth
Precious
“Oh,Ilikeanswers,”Princesa purrs, her softness shifting into the groove of my arm. “I just hope they’re the good kind—and don’t take too much longer.” She sighs, warmth radiating from her core, her intoxicating feminine scent tickling my senses. “There’s only so much excitement a lady can handle.” Her fingers delicately trace the lines of my neck, her breath husky.
The contrast is jarring.
This place—its crushing horrors, the grotesque revelations—mingles with her caresses and arousal, creating a potent cocktail that sends my mind reeling. But I don’t show it. I stride forward—a titan of war, unbreakable. A pillar of strength for others to follow.
“I bet under that big scary mask of yours, you’re wearing another—my Mr. Frowny Face.” Princesa giggles, though her voice carries a sharp edge. “But only I know who you really are, underneath. The fears, the doubts... they burn deep inside you, spreading to me.”
Her gaze drops as she idly spins her diamond and Elerium bonding rings. “It’s not good enough, Dracoth.” Her voice lowers to a whisper, warm breath brushing my long ear. “You’re my Red Dragon, and nothing can change that. Be the man you promised to be.”
My fingers coil into fists, tendons straining under my power.
