Page 9 of Captured By the Dragon Warlord (Fated Mates of the Sarkarnii Warlords #2)

I made it clear I wanted all my warriors to attend the celebration, even those who are in shift.

We’ve altered the Steel Jewel to be able to accommodate warriors in any form, whereas generally Sarkarnii ships have limited spaces for our shifted forms. At any one time, half of my crew at least is in their Sarkarnii form, and they still have to eat and sleep.

The only rule, enforced to the maximum, is no flame. Our eyes can’t take it in the confined space. So, there is no flame in the hall, only smoke. And fighting.

I lift my head and roar. The hall stills almost at once.

Those able to, sit. Those in their Sarkarnii forms cease their battles, pulling their wings close to their bodies.

Making themselves look as small as possible.

They don’t want to threaten me. Making a clan member shift when it is not their time would not be a good thing.

I lead my Scarlett through the throng, keeping up a low snarl at any warrior who might look too long at her, but in the main, they keep their heads suitably bowed. I reach my seat at the head of the hall and fling myself into it, pulling my mate onto my lap.

Scarlett does not make a sound.

I dislike her silence almost as much as I love the lack of her thoughts in my head, given it’s filling with all the thoughts of my warriors.

Most of which are related to the ale-wine, the food, the fights they were planning/having, and, fortunately for my temper, very little to do with the female in my lap, other than a passing interest.

“I have the female I stole from Lord Darax,” I announce, lifting both of Scarlett’s arms into the air. “He will not keep his spoils from us again!”

The crowd roars, the air filling with smoke and sparks. Tails thump on the floor and the noise is tremendous.

“Let the celebrations begin,” I growl. “No one leaves here sober.”

A large goblet of ale-wine is planted in front of me, and I drain it in a single gulp. A smaller one is placed for Scarlett.

I hand it to her. She shakes her head.

“You must drink,” I rasp. “It is expected.”

“I don’t care. I don’t drink alcohol. I’m allergic,” she says, folding her arms.

“All-gergric? What is this?”

“It means if I drink alcohol, my throat swells up and I die,” Scarlett snaps. “So, I don’t care if it is expected or not, I won’t be drinking it.”

I rumble my concern. I don’t want my mate to die, but I do want her to celebrate her new life, here with me, with my clan, on my ship.

I want my warriors to see the female in my lap as my equal.

I motion to the warrior serving me.

“Get some fee for my female as the ale-wine does not agree with her,” I murmur. “Put it in a goblet.”

If he is in any way perturbed by my suggestion, he does not show it. The fee arrives in a nova-second, and I pass the container to my mate.

“I already told you…” she splutters, exasperated.

“This is not ale-wine. It is fee, a drink for sarkarnlings. No alcohol.”

Scarlett eyes me warily, but she takes the goblet, albeit reluctantly, and takes a sip.

A small smile appears briefly on her lips as she takes a larger gulp.

The entire hall erupts as they see her taking the drink. I lift my refilled vessel and hold it up to them, triggering sounds which are quite deafening.

“So, you celebrate abducting females.” Scarlett glares at me once the noise has died down.

“This is a celebration of our superiority over the other warlords,” I respond as a platter is placed in front of us. “It shows my warriors I am the supreme warlord and that they are well taken care of.”

“But you all help each other, don’t you?

” Scarlett’s little brow creases. “You helped us get away from the Veseli, the cockroach aliens.” Then she puts her finger on her mouth, and my cock goes instantly hard.

“Actually, no, you didn’t help, did you?

In fact, you were conspicuously absent from helping us not be eaten by giant insects,” she finishes with a growl.

“I had more important work to do,” I respond.

“Yeah? Well fuck you too.” Scarlett takes another swig of the fee and tears her eyes from me, looking out over my warriors instead.

Anger rises within me. I take hold of her chin and pull her gaze back. She resists, but not for long.

“There is more to this than you know, little ember,” I growl. “Far more.”

“Let me get this clear, Dexx. You took me from my friends, from the one place I felt safe, by force, and now you’re insisting that I co-operate. It isn’t going to happen. This isn’t the way to get me to like you or want to be with you,” She spits out.

I pull her closer to me.

“You are my mate, Scarlett, whether you like it or not. And you will like it. I insist.”