Page 26 of Possessed by the Dragon Alien (Zarux Dragon Brides #6)

NINETEEN

The air lock hissed open with a soft whoosh of equalizing pressure.

Nena tensed in her seat aboard Rien’s shuttle, watching as a tall figure ducked through the entry hatch.

Dark purple scales caught the cabin’s overhead lighting, and her breath hitched as recognition slammed into her like a physical blow.

“Chancellor,” he said, straightening to his full height in the confined space. His voice carried the same commanding tone she remembered, but something in his silver eyes was different. Warmer, perhaps. “Welcome home.” Then he turned his cool, silvery gaze to her. “Hello, Nena.”

Nena couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped her lips. Her muscles went rigid as memories flooded back—settlement meetings where his name was spoken in hushed whispers, the rare times he’d flown overhead in dragon form, the stories of his power that had shaped her childhood fears.

Madrian’s hand tightened on her arm. She felt his body tense beside her, wings spreading slightly as his protective instincts kicked in. The air between the two Zaruxian males crackled with sudden tension.

“You know him,” Madrian said. It wasn’t a question.

“He was the overseer of my settlement,” Nena managed, her voice barely steady. “The one who controlled our lives.”

Ellion’s expression shifted. Something like regret flickered across his features. “I was many things I am no longer proud of.” His gaze moved to Madrian, assessment clear in his silver eyes. “As were we all, it seems.”

Madrian’s posture remained rigid, wings held tight against his back. The tension between the two males was palpable in the confined space.

Before Ellion could respond, another voice cut through the tension. “Oh, for the love of—I knew you shouldn’t have been the first one through that tube.”

A second Zaruxian squeezed through the air lock.

His red scales gleamed under the shuttle’s interior lighting.

Jewels and molded gold had been inlaid in the heavy bones of his wings and more gold winked at his ears.

He wore snug pants and a leather vest that left a good deal of skin exposed.

It was a lot to take in, after the dark, serious attire that everyone wore at Central.

Unlike the two tense males before her, this one moved with easy confidence despite the cramped space, rolling his eyes at the scene before him. Where the overseer carried himself with rigid authority, this male radiated casual charisma.

“This stern fellow is Ellion,” the red-scaled Zaruxian said with a charming bow.

“And I am Cyprian. Former proprietor of Erovik, current pain in everyone’s ass.

And you must be the infamous High Chancellor Madrian and his beautiful Terian mate.

We are pleased to meet you both.” The easy introduction seemed to defuse some of the tension.

Madrian’s wings settled slightly, though his posture remained guarded.

Cyprian’s gaze was warm on Nena. “My mate will be very excited to see you. Fivra has been worried about you.”

Nena’s heart jumped. “Fivra is here?” And this was her mate? She blinked at the male before her, who looked as if… Ah, she’d heard his name on the way here. He was the ex-brothel director.

“She is.” He glanced back toward the way he’d come. “Shall we go see the others?”

“Cyprian,” Ellion said in warning.

“Don’t ‘Cyprian’ me,” the red-scaled male replied, waving a dismissive hand. “This is hardly the place for introductions. It’s so small, we’re liable to run out of air,” Cyprian said, glancing at the cramped shuttle interior.

“Fine. To the central hall, then,” Ellion said. “There are more crowding the tube, but they can’t fit inside this small shuttle.”

“Smart to keep the numbers small in here. The tube gets crowded fast.” Cyprian gestured toward the air lock where the sounds of more figures could be heard waiting in the docking tube. “Half our crew wanted to get a look at you two. Word travels fast on a ship this size.”

Ellion’s jaw tightened. “They were told to maintain their positions.”

“Relax, brother. Curiosity isn’t a crime.

It’s not every day that a high chancellor of the Axis is invited here, after all.

” Cyprian’s tone held fond exasperation.

He looked at Rien, who remained seated at her pilot’s station.

“Oh, hello. You must be Rien, who Siku talked about. You’re welcome to join us. ”

“I’ll stay with the ship,” Rien said simply, eyeing the massive Zaruxians with wide eyes. “Make sure everything’s secure.”

“Come on then,” Cyprian said to Madrian and Nena. “Let’s get you to the central hall before someone’s protective instincts cause an actual incident.”

The tunnel stretched longer than Nena had expected.

Emergency lighting cast harsh shadows on the metal walls, and their footsteps echoed in the confined space.

Madrian stayed close beside her. His presence was both comforting and tense.

Behind them, Ellion moved with the measured pace of someone trying to control his emotions.

“How many are aboard this ship?” Madrian asked.

“It varies. Stavian brought some ex-miners with him after they escaped, and Razion’s crew stuck around. They come and go, but all told, there are about fifty of us between the three ships,” Cyprian replied over his shoulder. “Mix of species.”

“And Zaruxians?”

“Seven of us now, counting you.” Cyprian’s laugh held an edge. “Unless you’re still figuring out which side you want to be on.”

Nena felt Madrian’s tension spike, but the tunnel opened into a vast central hall that took her breath away.

The space soared upward, supported by massive beams that disappeared into shadows above.

Couches and seating were scattered around the common area, as well as a large, beautiful fireplace that flickered with white, ionic flames.

Tapestries, plants, and other decoration gave the space a warm feel.

It felt so very welcoming, unlike the view outside the ship’s hull.

Three more Zaruxian males waited near the center of the space.

Nena cataloged them quickly—one with green scales and faded scars across his arms and neck, another with gleaming gold coloring, and a third whose scales shifted between aqua and blue.

They were stunning, all of them, and the family resemblance was impossible to deny.

All of them watched Madrian with expressions ranging from curiosity to outright suspicion.

“Takkian, Razion, Stavian,” Cyprian said, gesturing to each in turn. “Meet High Chancellor Madrian and Nena.”

Madrian sighed and turned his gaze to the ceiling. “Just Madrian. I left the high chancellor at Central, where Nena and I barely avoided assassination.”

Razion, the gold-scaled male, stepped forward first. His posture was tense, hands clasped behind his back in a way that suggested barely contained hostility. “High Chancellor,” he said, ignoring Madrian’s request. He spoke the title with disdain. “I’ve heard much about your work.”

“Have you?” Madrian murmured. “All good things, I assume?”

Razion flashed his teeth. “Shall we make a list?”

“You’re not helping, Razion,” Ellion warned.

Nena watched Madrian’s nostrils flare, but otherwise, his control was perfect. “You’re that raider who took out old Gribna and looted his ship, aren’t you?” Madrian asked with a calculated smirk. “No big loss there.”

“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” Razion’s voice cut sharp across the space.

“I’ve spent my entire life fighting the Axis, hitting their supply lines, freeing their prisoners, making them bleed whenever I had the chance.

” His flinty eyes blazed with the fury of someone who’d fought a guerrilla war against impossible odds.

“And now we’re supposed to welcome one of the Twelve with open arms?

How do we know this isn’t exactly what they want?

How do we know he’s not here to infiltrate us, to learn our weaknesses and report back? ”

Stavian, the sapphire-scaled male, threw up his hands. “ Must we do this again? He’s here, isn’t he? When you and I came aboard, we were both subject to the same mistrust and suspicion.”

“That’s different,” Razion said. “I was unpredictable and used to being on my own. You were a mining controller for the Axis. The others were suspicious of you, too.”

Stavian nodded grimly. “Nothing wrong with my memory.”

“You of all people should understand the danger.” Razion spun toward him. “The Axis are masters of manipulation.”

For his part, Madrian just watched them.

Interesting , Nena thought, but she realized that he was approaching this the same way he likely did a council meeting.

Provoking, then sitting back and seeing what happened.

Nena watched Madrian turn his gaze to each of the males.

He was taking them in, cataloging their reactions.

He was learning the tics and nuances of each of them.

It was old behavior. It was Axis behavior, and it wouldn’t serve him here.

It was only making him appear less trustworthy.

For once, someone needed to stand up for him .

“You want to know who Madrian is?” she asked, her voice carrying clearly through the hall. “I’ll tell you.”