Page 36 of Captured By the Dragon Warlord (Fated Mates of the Sarkarnii Warlords #2)

A fter the explosion on Dexx’s ship, the Sarkarnii go on high alert. There are regular meetings in the neutral sector with the other warlords, and Dexx comes back from them usually grumpier than ever.

Mining has had to be significantly curtailed in order for every inch excavated to be checked for any more of the devices, multiples of which have been found on every single warlord’s ship.

Dante is most amused by it all, which is slowly driving Dexx to distraction.

“If it wasn’t for the fact he values his scaly skin as much as any of the warlords, I’d accuse him of orchestrating this,” Dexx growls after one such meeting. “But it is of no benefit, and given he gets most of what he needs from Driok and Darax, he isn’t going to target them.”

Despite his grumblings, I can tell he’s genuinely concerned about the situation and how it affects both Vorostor Central and his warriors.

Warriors who are becoming more frustrated daily. They still have to shift, but without the mine work, it means they’re packed together within the ship. There are fights and injuries.

“Why don’t you let them out onto the planet when they’re shifted?” I query Dexx after witnessing yet another vicious fight which he has to break up.

Dexx is in his shifted phase too, and his huge head looks down on me.

“I can only let a number out at a time. While we don’t know who is doing this to our home, it’s too risky to not have enough warriors to defend ourselves.”

I want to say that warriors vexed by shifting and fighting probably aren’t going to be at their best, but Dexx puts considerable faith in his clan, and it’s clear they would do anything for him.

Except stop fighting each other.

My comm device chimes, and I check it to find a flurry of texts.

Since the explosion, my friends have returned to Darax’s ship, and any further movements have been placed on hold.

While potentially no one is safe anywhere, moving around could put them in further danger, so Kerra put her foot down and fortunately the warlords agreed.

“I’m going back to your quarters,” I say as yet more snarling indicates another fight.

“I’m going to have to knock heads together,” Dexx rumbles. “Send some to the aquiums to cool off.”

“What about a feast or something?” I suggest. “The last one was cut short and perhaps it would be a way they can let off steam?”

“My warriors might smoke, but they do not steam,” Dexx says.

“It’s a human expression. It means they get to have some fun.”

“Fun.” Dexx huffs. “They are not working. They are having fun.”

A pair of huge Sarkarnii roll past the end of the corridor, biting lumps out of each other and producing vicious snarls.

“Sure.” I raise my eyebrows at him. “I think this falls under rule six.”

“Rule six?” Dexx says with an anguished tone. “What is rule six?”

“Scarlett is always right.”

Dexx releases a snort of smoke from his nostrils, and in one of his signature moves, he has me caged against a nearby wall.

“I don’t think there needs to be a rule for that, heartsfire,” he rumbles, his huge tongue coming out and licking up my face while I attempt to get away.

Dexx is equally interested in mating me in both forms, and we are regularly indulging in both. I’m not sure which I prefer, so, for science, I am content with trying every way we can.

The snarls from the atrium get louder, and Dexx is distracted. I duck out from under his claws and wave my comm device at him.

“I’ll leave you to it,” I say as he stares after me.

By the time I get back to our quarters, the device is blowing up with messages, mostly of congratulations, and I can’t work out what’s going on. However, there’s a separate chat which Kerra has opened up.

Kerra

Sorry, I meant to tell you first, but it slipped out to Rosalie and now everyone knows.

Tell me what? It’s manic here. What did I miss?

Kerra

I’m pregnant, Scarlett. With Darax’s baby.

I stare at my device for a long time. My stomach has dropped to my boots and waves of heat and cold wash over me.

If Kerra is pregnant…it means Sarkarnii and humans are…compatible. It means Dexx and I are compatible.

Congratulations

I mean, I hope it’s what you wanted

Kerra

It is. Darax is so happy.

I wanted to let you know first because I presume you and Dexx are probably, you know

I have a coil

I don’t know why I tell her this, but it’s more like I want time. Time to think, to work out what this means.

When did I last have a period? While we’ve been with the Sarkarnii? But we’re in space, in a different galaxy, our cycles no longer tied to the turning of the earth. What does any of it mean?

Am I pregnant? Dexx and I have been trying hard enough.

I just didn’t think it was possible.

It is possible.

One hundred percent possible.

Kerra

Okay. I guess that would work.

I feel terrible and guilty I’m not sharing her joy. I want to be there for her, not currently stuck in my own existential crisis because I thought I knew what I wanted.

And now I don’t know anymore.