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R osalie runs at me the second I step into the comfortable round room. It has a depression in the floor filled with cushions where the rest are sitting. I fling my arms around her neck and give her the biggest hug, still hardly able to believe we found each other.

“I’m so pleased you’re okay,” she says into my ear.

“And I’m pleased you’re okay more.”

Rosalie laughs. “Being around these reptile guys hasn’t changed you.”

I look over my shoulder. Darax stands in the doorway, arms folded, looking like a cross between a bouncer and a dinosaur.

“And he really does change into…one of those dragons?” she asks, her voice lowered.

“Apparently so.” I sigh. “Is Lydia okay?”

“I’m here,” a quiet voice calls out from the cushions below.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better,” she replies.

Her ragged clothing has been replaced with a massive set of white overalls, the sleeves and legs rolled up multiple times. Her hair is clean, and she has a spark to her eyes where she didn’t before.

I pull Rosalie down into the cushions.

“I’m Kerra,” I say to the others.

“We know,” Maggie says. “What the fuck is going on, Kerra?”

“Generally, metaphorically, or locally?” I bristle a little at the tone of her voice.

She glares at me briefly before she cracks a smile. “I’m sorry. I’m often told I’m too direct. I can’t help it. I know this isn’t your fault.”

“Let me guess. You were a lawyer too?”

Maggie’s smile gets wider. “You?” she says. “We’re a breed apart, aren’t we?”

“Kerra likes to think so.” Rosalie pokes me in my side.

“We’re all just alien food now,” Scarlett says with a glance at Darax who still hasn’t moved and is continuing to smoke from one nostril.

“They don’t want to eat us,” I say.

“Told you,” Rosalie interjects, nodding at the others. “We’re too bony, like fish.”

“I am not like a fish,” Scarlett replies.

“I see you’ve been making friends while we’ve been apart.” I poke Rosalie back. “You and your fish metaphors.”

Rosalie gasps at both being poked and in mock horror while Maggie chuckles.

“What do they want?” Lydia flops next to us like a seal in her huge outfit.

“I’m…well…” I trip over my words. “They don’t want to eat us.

We’re with a Sarkarnii warlord called Darax, who is very annoying .

” I look at him pointedly. “ And could just go away and leave us to talk .” I turn back to the ladies.

“There are other Sarkarnii warlords. Together they run the galaxy we’re in. ”

“So, not going to be eaten, but we have fallen into the hands of alien gangsters?” Maggie says.

“Sort of. They don’t want to harm us, or at least, Darax doesn’t. I think initially he saw me as part of the spoils of capturing the ship we were on,” I say to Rosalie.

“And now?” She waggles her eyebrows.

“Now we have an understanding.” I say loudly and firmly.

“Is that what it’s called these days?” Scarlett snorts. “I haven’t dated for so long, I’m completely out of the loop.”

“Look.” I cover up the fact my cheeks are heating with words by blurting out an explanation.

“Darax doesn’t want to hurt us or eat us.

He’s sort of claimed us as his, but as far as I can tell, all that means is he’s going to let us stay with them.

The only thing is he doesn’t want to tell the rest of the warlords about you.

He thinks it would be a bad idea. I told him it wasn’t his decision. ”

I glance at Darax who is still leaning against the wall.

“I don’t want to meet any more warlords,” Scarlett says quickly. “I just want a bath, some food, and sleep.”

Maggie sighs deeply. “I’m the same,” she says. “It’s been a day…or a week…or a month.” She flaps a hand. “I forget how long, but too long. I can leave off warlord bothering until another day.”

I look at Rosalie.

“You know I trust you, Kerra,” she says. “Whatever you think is the right thing to do.”

“What happens if we don’t tell the warlords about us?” Lydia asks, seemingly having found her voice. Her words are not directed at me, but at Darax.

He smokes a bit more, pushing himself upright. For some reason, I feel distinctly uncomfortable with his attention on Lydia.

“Nothing, provided they don’t know you are here.”

“And do they?”

“I can’t say for certain,” Darax growls. “I will be meeting with them later in a neutral part of Vorostor Central. I can find out then.”

“If they do…know about us?” Maggie asks.

Darax’s eyes drop to mine. “The Sarkarnii have been in this quadrant for some time. We are…not as we once were. I do not know what will happen.”

“I don’t want to start a war,” Scarlett says. “Although there’s a first time for everything.”

Maggie laughs under her breath.

“There will be no war. All of the warlords know we can’t exist without each other, nor can we beat each other,” Darax says. “They need me to ensure they are supplied with all the niceties they have become accustomed to. I have promised Kerra you will be safe with me.”

“Oh, that’s okay then.” Rosalie looks directly at me, her gaze not wavering. “If you promised Kerra .”

The sarcasm flies over Darax’s head.

“I always keep my bond,” he growls. “I leave you with Kerra. I have to attend to the meeting arrangements. I will have food sent in.”

He turns on his heel and stalks out of the door. I feel hopelessly confused, my stomach churning in his wake.

“Why are some of them naked?” Scarlett asks. “And some of them not?”

“How easy do you think it is to keep on a pair of pants when you turn into a ginormous dragon?” Lydia says, flopping back on the cushions, one of her rolled up arms coming undone, flapping around against the seating.

“I don’t mind a lack of pants.” Maggie grins. “And, it seems, neither does Kerra…”