Page 48 of Captured By the Dragon Warlord
The pair shake themselves, and with tails lashing, Drix takes up position in front of us and Devix at the rear.
The distance to Dante’s sector isn’t as far as I thought it might be, which maybe explains why and how he came to be in the mines earlier. Once we reach the airlock entrance, Cestapal pulls out a small comm device and punches in what looks like a code.
With a hiss, the airlock spins open like an iris, and I see some familiar faces peering out at me.
“Scarlett!” I’m surrounded by my friends, all giving me a hug, and at least one person is squealing. I think it’s Rosalie.
“Hi!” I’m smiling so much as questions about my health are fired at me, along with a good scolding from Maggie.
“Hey, I figured if you’re going to get abducted once, why not multiple times?” I laugh.
“Not funny, Scarlett,” Maggie grumbles.
“Not funny, Scarlett,” Rosalie says with a twinkle in her eye. “We thought the cockroaches had got you…again.”
“Now, being abducted twice by cockroaches would be idiotic.” I laugh and shudder at the same time before I look around me.
Dante’s sector is less chaotic than I expected. The small atrium we’re in is clean and bright.
“This is Cestapal.” I introduce the small creature next to me. “She’s a Paralnyi and they live in Dexx’s sector.”
All three of my friends do a brief double take at the little raccoon before they all smile and politely say hello.
Cestapal gives them a brief bow and returns their greetings.
“I guess you’re being touted around the warlords?” I ask.
“We are. Kerra gets to stay home,” Lydia grumbles.
“It’s not so bad, so far,” Maggie says.
“That’s because there’s fresh meat for you to ogle.” Rosalie chuckles.
“Never let it be said I don’t appreciate an arse you could sink your teeth into,” Maggie says haughtily before leaning closer to me. “And Dante’s warriors generally don’t bother with pants,” she adds conspiratorially.
“Scarlett knows all about pantsless Sarkarnii,” Rosalie trumpets as we leave the atrium next to the airlock and they guide me through to what is clearly their quarters within Dante’s sector. “She’s been doing the horizontal mambo with Mr. Big, Bad, and Brooding.”
“You and Dexx?” Lydia gasps. “I thought he abducted you.”
“He did.” I sigh. Clearly Kerra has been passing on all the messages I’ve sent. “It’s complicated.”
“Well.” Maggie throws herself down into the cushioned depression in the floor. “We’re all here for complicated.”
“You’re just fishing for gossip,” Rosalie says with a snort.
“As is my right as a Sarkarnii slut.” Maggie waves her hand in the air. “And you want to know as much as I do.”
All three of them turn to look at me. I heave out a sigh.
“Okay, ladies, if you’re sitting comfortably…I’ll begin.”
SCARLETT
“So, let me get this right.” Rosalie furrows her brow. “There’s something in the sectors trying to kill Sarkarnii?”
“Basically, we’re all going to die.” Maggie drops her head back. “I knew it.”
“We are not going to die.” I shake my head. “If nothing else, I don’t think the Sarkarnii would allow it.” I look around my friends. “They’ve already saved us twice.”
