Page 77 of Captured By the Dragon Warlord
The creature reveals its teeth. “You should be grateful you live, and your gratitude is for us,” it says.
“I owe you nothing.”
“You owe us everything, and if you want your mate to live, you will comply with all our instructions.”
“Scarlett.” Her name bursts from my lips before I can stop myself.
“If you want her, you will comply.”
I want my mate with all my being. I need her to shift and to shift back. I need the calmness she brings to my turmoil, the softness of her skin, the chime of her voice. The way she imposedruleson me which I instantly ignored.
When I get her back, her rules will be my mantra.
And I will get her back.
“And what would you have me comply with?” I keep my voice as even as I can, trying not to growl.
Perhaps if I lull them into a false sense of security, I can rip off some limbs, providing the species seeking to control me has limbs. If not, I will simply shred them.
“You will hand yourself over for the final experiment.”
“Which is?”
“You will find out.”
“Not much of a choice.”
“There is no choice.”
I hate it is right.
“Then I comply.” I unsheath my claws. “Come and get me.”
“You will come to us,” the face on the screen says.
My flyer moves as if in a tractor beam. Ice is beginning to form on the instruments as the deep freeze of space seeps inside. No matter for me. Most Sarkarnii can stand a brief exposure to the vacuum which is the universe. It is the way some transfer from ship to ship, and it provides an element of surprise which brought us the control and the wealth we’ve found in the galaxy surrounding Vorostor.
My breath fogs in the air, and I release some flame to heat the interior. There is a tingling in my abdomen which usually means a shift is imminent, but in the confines of the flyer, it won’t be possible.
I have to hold it down, risk the sickness which comes of going too long without a shift. But once I reach my destination, there will be no stopping me. Total destruction comes to those whothink they can control the Sarkarnii. Complete destruction to those who think they can take my mate and best me.
Scarlett is mine. And the first thing I will do when I get to her is claim her with my bite.
DEXX
The flyer clanks against a larger vessel. The airlock hisses as it docks. I don’t bother readying myself for what might come through. They want me alive, and if that’s the case, they’ll expect I’ll come out fighting.
My accelerant sacs are already filled. The mating mix which pours into my system at the thought of seeing Scarlett again helped considerably against the cold.
Perhaps being in rut is not such a bad thing for a Sarkarnii after all. Even being envenomated seems like a small price to pay for being at my peak.
Scrambled thoughts penetrate my brain. I believed it was only Sarkarnii I can hear, but these messages are not Sarkarnii. It seems like they’re coming from Madar, given I can almost smell their skin.
Madar are in league with the creature who believes he can take a Sarkarnii? Whilst I have little respect for the green, bulbous species, even this seems to be beneath them. Plus putting themselves at risk of retaliation is not their style at all.
The airlock cracks open and I release the first sheet of flame as I push through whatever is blocking my way, getting out into an open hangar which is devoid of life.
Behind me, there is the scent of cooking meat.
