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I lie with Darax, cradled in his arms as he continues to fill me. A pleasant ache spreads over my stomach.

“Am I claimed?” I ask.

“You mean you don’t know?” Darax says, attempting to put a shock element into his voice and failing. “When my mate is claimed, she stays claimed.”

“Oh, someone’s ego survived the fight.” I chuckle.

Darax drops a bevy of kisses onto the top of my head.

“Did you think, even for a second, I wouldn’t come for you or for Deus?”

“Your brother isn’t mad, you know, or at least not from the rut. He lost his mate, and he’s grieving for her.”

“I’m beginning to understand it,” Darax says with a deep burr to his baritone voice. “I’ll do anything for you, my Kerra, and I know Deus would have done the same.” Darax stills. “I was wrong to lock him up.”

“Maybe, maybe not. When it came down to it, he did the right thing by me and by you.”

“That sounds like my brother. He was an honorable warrior and a good male.”

“The other warlords say he wasn’t on the ship, but I can’t believe it.” I swirl a finger over Darax’s muscled chest. “He was with me when the Veseli took me, and I’m sure I heard him, although I thought it might be you.”

“I should be hurt you can’t tell us apart, but I am not,” Darax rasps. “Because I know I am better than Deus.”

Spoken like a true brother and a true Sarkarnii. I cuddle closer to him.

“I hoped it might be you, except I didn’t want you to have been captured by the Veseli or the other creature who wanted us.”

“Was that the biped that used the Veseli as a personal shield?” Darax asks.

“If you mean he used them as expendable protection, I expect so.”

Darax growls to himself. “Then he got away.”

“He might have, but we’re both here and together.”

“Anyone who hurts you will die a horrible death,” Darax says, but there’s no real force to his words. “I will send out word with my warriors in the galaxy to look for this creature. Once I have him, you can decide his fate.”

“I’d rather stay as far away as possible from it…” I don’t finish my sentence as Darax’s eyes are blazing.

This is how he is, my warlord. I might have claimed him, but he is not tame.

Darax will never be tamed and it’s just how I want him.

“What happens now?” I say instead. “About Deus and my friends.”

“I will also be looking for my brother, of course, and as for your friends…” Darax rests his chin on the top of my head.

“The other warlords know about them. I will ensure they respect the sanctity of my sector, and should any of them express a desire to meet with your friends, we will put such a request to them. Is that fair?”

He lifts his head to study me.

“I’m not their leader,” I reply. “It has to be up to them to make whatever decision they like. I presume if they decide to stay here, you will accept them?”

“My sweet mate.” Darax brushes his lips over mine. “What belongs to me belongs to you. You rule my sector as much as I do. If your friends wish to live here, then the choice is yours.”

“Oh my!” I clutch at my breastbone. “So much power ! I feel like I’m becoming a Sarkarnii warlord…it has to be the venom.”

It’s Darax’s turn to chuckle. The deep and rich tones fill his quarters.

“Little mate, you are going to make the best warlord this galaxy has ever seen.”