Page 69 of Captured By the Dragon Warlord
“It’s not yet time, my mate,” I say, knowing my lie is in direct contravention of the rules, but I don’t want to upset my sweet Scarlett.
A little lie will not hurt her, but the truth might.
“I like you big,” she says, snuggling up against me and making my heart flip in my chest in such a way I can’t believe it doesn’t cause me pain. “You’re very warm.”
“I aim to please.” I purr out the words, hoping she might sleep again and I can determine if there is any way out of the cell we appear to be in.
Which is when the gravity ceases to function, and I find myself rowing my wings in zero-g and attempting to catch hold of Scarlett who is flailing all her limbs and whimpering in terror.
“I have you, little mate.” I pull her against me, tucking her between my shoulder and leg.
“What’s happening?” she pants, her breath far too quick for my liking.
“The artificial gravity has been turned off, which means we are no longer on Vorostor,” I murmur.
“Have they done it on purpose?” Scarlett’s voice is stronger, even if I can still feel her heart beating so very fast.
“It’s difficult to say. Free fall can be disorienting for some species, and it is usually possible to turn off the gravity in different parts of most ships to save energy.” I scan the square cell we’re in. My eye is better in the dark than in the light in any event, but so far I’ve not been able to determine any door leading into the cell.
Which concerns me. If we’re in a transfer cube, there will be no exit or entrance and the last thing we want is to be floating around in space.
There is the sound of tapping and scraping outside. I fill my accelerant sacs, readying myself to protect Scarlett and do whatever I can to destroy those who think they can take a Sarkarnii warlord and get away with it.
One wall comes up fast and I bump into it, causing Scarlett to cry out in alarm.
“I believe we may have docked,” I say as calmly as I can.
Scarlett says nothing. In the dark, I can see her eyes, wide and frightened. Rage rises within me at her fear.
My mate should never fear. For the first time since I found we were in this situation, I am pleased to be in my Sarkarnii form. I can protect her with everything I have.
A long low hiss alerts me to what is going to happen next.
“Hold on to me, Scarlett.” I beat my wings as far as I can in the confined space to get as close to the floor as I can.
It means when the gravity comes back on, I’m ready to land with a purposeful growl. And I’m ready for anything which comes at us.
A crack appears in the wall. The bright plasma cutter runs around in a circular shape. I spit a few flames as the wall itself falls away and light spills in.
“They’re in here,” a voice calls out.
Before I can stop myself, I release the sheet of flame I’ve been holding for our captors.
“Nev it to the ancestors, Dexx,” a familiar voice says. “This is a rescue, not a party.”
“Dante?”
The nevver steps into the light, his wings shifted and his tail lashing as he wipes soot from his face.
“Is Scarlett with him?” One of the humans comes up behind Dante.
“I’m here.” My mate pulls herself free from my grasp and runs into the arms of the female.
I shove my head out to find we are on board one of Dante’s planet hoppers.
“What the nev happened?” I growl.
He makes no attempt to shift, which is the usual reaction to my Sarkarnii form. Instead his gaze rises and rises as I make my way out of the transport cube.
