Page 51 of Captured By the Dragon Warlord (Fated Mates of the Sarkarnii Warlords #2)
I doubt very much I can get away from Dalsor inside Dexx’s sector.
He’ll know it much better than I do. My aim is to get to another sector, Darax or Dante’s at a push.
Dalsor’s knowledge means I can’t possibly safe in this sector.
But in the other sectors, he will be more easily detected.
I doubt he’s going to risk another warlord now he knows he’s discovered.
“I’m coming for you, female.” Dalsor’s voice echoes through the passages. “And I can tell you, my master doesn’t need all of you in one piece.”
His words drip with menace. It makes me speed up until I get to the airlock leading out into the neutral sector.
“Mistress?” One of the warriors guarding it is caught unawares by my presence.
“I’m going to visit my friends in Darax’s sector,” I say rapidly.
He gives me the sweetest bow. “As you wish.” He motions to the other warrior who starts the opening sequence.
“Also,” I say carefully, “Dalsor is looking for me.”
The warriors exchange glances.
“And…he’s been making advances. Wanting to steal me away from Lord Dexx,” I say breathlessly. “Your Lord who is out there trying to find a cure for your shift and defending Vorostor from the Veseli.”
Both of them release low, evil growls.
“But Lord Dexx is my mate. I do not want Dalsor.”
The growls increase.
“Then he shall not pass, mistress.” The pair unsheathe their claws, and smoke billows from their nostrils as they get flame ready.
“I will inform Lord Dexx of your service,” I say, hating I’ve had to drop a little white lie into my need to get away from Dalsor.
I’ve already exposed him, and I can’t risk him getting hold of me. It wasn’t what Dexx wanted, even when he decided to jump into a space ship and chase down whatever was attacking us.
I can partially understand his zeal, but Vorostor is where the fight is.
The airlock hisses open, and I run out into the neutral sector, the air heavy with the smell of cordite, or the alien equivalent, along with the spicy scent of Sarkarnii and, of course, smoke.
Behind me there are a number of blood-curdling snarls, and I know it’s my cue to get the fuck away from Dexx’s sector. I have to hope Dalsor won’t take on two Sarkarnii warriors and will give up on his quest to get to me.
I do my best to trace my steps to Darax’s sector. The last time I was in the neutral sector, I had Cestapal with me, along with two warriors, and I admit I didn’t pay enough attention to the route we took.
It doesn’t help the fact the neutral sector is a battered maze of steel and scorching.
It doesn’t take long before I’m hopelessly lost. I haven’t seen a single airlock in the last ten or so minutes, and when I check my comm device, it’s gone dead, presumably something to do with being in this sector.
A crunching has me twisting, looking out for whatever might be lurking. It should only be Sarkarnii here, but as there’s been cockroach aliens invading Dexx’s sector and god knows what else, I’m not even going to hazard a guess at what there could be in here.
I shrink back against the wall, sliding along it, attempting to make myself as small as I can. The desire to hide, to get out of the way of the huge predators who haunt this place, is overwhelming.
I back around a corner. My eyes feel like they’re on stalks as I try to see everything I can, any danger, anything I can run from.
And I will run.
“Hello, little female,” a voice growls in my ear.
I yelp, leaping into the air, but I’m not fast enough, and an arm goes around my waist as my legs try to run but I’m lifted off the ground.
“Heartsfire,” the voice breathes.
“Dexx!” I spin around in his arms and fling myself against him.
“My sweet mate,” he rasps. “I never should have left you. Can you ever forgive me?” he murmurs in my ear.
“There’s something else in here with us,” I whisper in his. “And I think it’s Dalsor. He chased me in here.”
A growl rips from Dexx’s throat.
“That nevver is not going to leave Vorostor Central alive,” he says through huge fangs.
“We need to find out who he’s working for. He mentioned having a master and…there was something funny about his eyes, as well as him having control of what looked like black smoke.”
“The darkness,” Dexx says. “I have seen it. I have had it invade me. And I have seen the creature which thinks it can control the Sarkarnii.”
Somewhere in the neutral sector, something drops, rattling over the metal floor, metal on metal. I look up at Dexx. The muscle in his jaw flexes.
“You are right, my mate,” he says quietly. “We need answers, not blood. Or at least answers before blood,” he clarifies.
Which only goes to prove Dexx is both a Sarkarnii and my mate. Maybe I won’t need to introduce a formal sixth rule which would be about dismembering after all.
Although, from the dark look on Dexx’s face, I’m not entirely sure the rule would be enforceable.
What is concerning is the sheen of sweat on his brow and the way his scales have taken on a sickly hue.
It’s long past the time where he would normally have to shift, and from the looks of things, Dexx is suffering.
“Why don’t you shift now?” I whisper. “This place is big enough.”
Dexx looks down at me and brushes a knuckle over my cheek.
“I fear if I shift this time, I will never be able to shift back,” he says.
“That can’t be true.”
“I don’t know, and I am going to risk the sickness until I can be sure.” Dexx gives me a smile which doesn’t reach his eyes. “I want to be here for you and our sarkarnlings.”
If I ever needed a reminder of just how pregnant I am, it is not now. Not while we’re facing an enemy who has every intention of doing unpleasant things to the Sarkarnii.
“And I want you.” I take his hand and grip it tightly. “And if you ever leave me again, I promise I will hunt you down,” I growl.
“That’s my fierce heartsfire.” Dexx grins. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”