Page 32 of Possessed by the Dragon Alien (Zarux Dragon Brides #6)

“Exactly. Madrian chose me, and I chose him. Freely. Willingly. With full knowledge of who we both are. When we joined…” Heat flooded her cheeks, but she pressed on. “It was like coming alive for the first time. Like finding the other half of my soul I didn’t know was missing.”

“That’s how it should be,” Fivra said warmly. “That’s how it is with all of us and our mates. The Axis tried to break our people’s ability to form true bonds, but they couldn’t destroy it completely.”

“No,” Nena agreed, thinking of the way Madrian had held her afterward, the wonder in his silver eyes, the careful reverence in his touch. “They couldn’t.”

Sevas raised her cup in a toast. “To choosing our own fates.”

They all raised their cups. The gesture was simple, but profound, as for the first time in their lives, they were free to love whom they chose, to make their own decisions about their futures.

The moment was interrupted by approaching footsteps. The Zaruxian males entered the dining hall. Their expressions were a mixture of excitement and grim determination. Madrian’s eyes found Nena immediately. The soft smile that crossed his features made her heart skip.

“Hello, there, Nena,” Cyprian said with a bow. “I hope you’re feeling rested. We have news for you all.”

Ellion moved to Turi’s side. His hand settled possessively on her shoulder. “Word of our reunion has spread faster than we anticipated.”

“How?” Nena asked, though she noticed Madrian hadn’t joined them at the table. Instead, he stood slightly apart. His attention was focused on the view out the viewport.

“Communication networks,” Razion said, settling beside Lilas with predatory grace. “Both official and underground. The story of six royal Zaruxians reuniting and defying the Axis is exactly the kind of hope oppressed worlds have been waiting for.”

Stavian nodded grimly. “We’ve received over two hundred messages in the past twelve hours. Requests for aid, offers of alliance, pleas for liberation. Mining worlds, agricultural colonies, space stations—everywhere the Axis has spread their control, people are stirring.”

Takkian’s scarred face was thoughtful. “It would appear we began a galaxy-wide rebellion.”

“We have,” Cyprian said, rocking back on his heels. “We’ve been discussing what to do about it.”

Nena watched Madrian’s face as he absorbed this information. His expression was carefully neutral, but she could see the tension in his wings, the way his jaw tightened as he processed the implications.

“Madrian?” she called softly.

He looked up. For a moment, she saw the weight of responsibility in his eyes. This was a male who had spent his entire adult life making decisions that affected entire star systems. Now those skills were being called upon again, but for a very different cause.

“The communications are confirmed,” he said, joining them at the table finally. “Rien has been monitoring Axis channels as well. They’re mobilizing everything they have. Every ship, every weapon, every loyal world. They know what’s coming.”

“Which is?” Sevas asked.

“War,” Madrian said simply. “Open rebellion across the galaxy. And we’re at the center of it.”

“Then we must be ready.” Nena surprised herself with the steel in her voice.

All eyes turned to her. She felt the weight of their attention but didn’t shrink from it. These were the people she loved most in the universe. Their safety, their freedom, their very lives hung in the balance.

“The Axis stole our people, our homes, our identities,” she continued, rising to her feet. “They scattered us across the galaxy and tried to make us forget who we were. But we remember. And now we have the power to take back what’s ours.”

“We fight.” Madrian’s voice carried the authority of his former position, but it was tempered with something new.

Not the cold command of an Axis official, but the warm determination of a male protecting his family.

“But we fight smart. We coordinate with every ally we can find. We hit the Axis where they’re weak and avoid where they’re strong.

Fortunately, I know where those weaknesses and strengths lie. ”

“And we take back our homeworlds,” Ellion added quietly.

“Zarux and Teria,” Cyprian said. “The Axis has been sitting on our birthright for too long.”

“It won’t be easy,” Razion warned, ever the pragmatist. “Central is heavily defended. And if it’s really built on Zarux itself…”

“Then we’ll need every ally we can get,” Stavian finished.

As if summoned by their words, Rien appeared in the doorway. Her pale features were animated with excitement. “Forgive the interruption, but you need to see this.”

She activated a portable holographic display, and the air above the table shimmered with incoming transmissions. Dozens of them, streaming in from across the galaxy.

“Mining Collective Theta-7 pledges twelve heavy transports and three hundred volunteers,” Rien read from the scrolling data.

“Hecron War Council offers four battle cruisers and elite warrior squads. Agricultural World Kepler-9 requests evacuation assistance but offers supply depot access. The Vedd Syndicate…” She paused, eyebrows rising.

“The Vedd Syndicate offers a full pirate fleet and asks only for first salvage rights on any Axis ships we destroy.”

Razion snorted. “Vedd’s probably broadcasting that offer to every rebel cell in the sector, just to make sure no other salvage crews beat him to the best wrecks.”

More messages continued to pour in. Space stations declaring independence. Colonies throwing off Axis governors. Resistance cells emerging from hiding. It was as if a spark had been lit and was spreading across the galaxy faster than anyone could have imagined.

“ Sweet stars ,” Fivra breathed. “It’s really happening.”

But Nena found herself looking at Madrian. She watched the conflict play across his features. This was everything they’d worked toward, everything they’d sacrificed for. But it was also the end of the only stability the galaxy had known for generations, however twisted that stability had been.

“What is it?” she asked him quietly.

“I’m trying to count the cost,” he said honestly. “How many will die in this war? How many worlds will be devastated? The Axis may be evil, but they’ve also maintained a kind of order. When they fall…”

“Chaos,” Stavian said grimly.

“For a time, yes.” Nena moved to Madrian’s side, taking his hand in hers. “But chaos is better than oppression. We can help these worlds build something better from the ashes.”

“Will we?” His silver eyes searched hers. “I’ve spent my entire life in systems of control and domination. How can I help create something different?”

The vulnerability in his voice made her heart ache. This powerful, dangerous male was terrified of becoming the very thing he’d fought against.

“You’re not alone anymore,” she said simply. “All of us have different strengths and backgrounds. No one is going to let you fall back into Axis ways.”

“That’s the truth right there.” Razion crossed his arms with a grin.

Around them, the others nodded in agreement. These weren’t would-be tyrants seeking to replace one empire with another. They were survivors who had found love and hope in the darkest places, who understood the value of choice and dignity and the right to determine one’s own fate.

“Together,” Madrian repeated, and some of the tension left his shoulders.

“Yeah, together,” she confirmed, lifting their joined hands to press a kiss to his knuckles.

The moment was interrupted by an urgent chime from Rien’s display. Her expression shifted from excitement to alarm as she read the new transmission.

“What is it?” Ellion asked sharply.

“Long-range sensors have detected a massive Axis fleet moving toward the outer rim territories,” she said tersely. “They’re not heading for us. They’re moving to crush the bigger rebellions before they can fully organize.”

The mood in the room shifted instantly from hope to urgency. If the Axis could stamp out the uprising in its early stages, their chance might be lost forever.

“How long do we have?” Takkian asked.

“Two full cycles,” Rien replied. “Maybe less, before they reach the first rebel worlds.”

Ellion looked at Madrian. “You have the most inside knowledge of the Axis. What do you think we should do?”

“We must move now.” All traces of uncertainty vanished from Madrian’s voice.

This was the tactical mind that had served the Axis so effectively, now turned to their destruction.

“We should coordinate with all available rebels. Tell them to converge on the following coordinates.” He rattled off a series of numbers that meant nothing to Nena but made Stavian’s eyes widen.

“Hold on. That’s the edge of Axis Central’s sensor range,” Stavian said. “Why there?”

“The Axis has little surveillance and few defenses in that sector,” he said. “If we can unite some of the rebel fleets before the Axis can divide and conquer them individually, we have a chance to disrupt a significant arm of the armada.”

“And if we can’t?” Sevas asked.

“Then we die trying,” Lilas said with typical bluntness. “But solid chance we live.”

Sevas shrugged. “Okay. I’m in.”

“As am I.” Takkian nodded. “Madrian’s knowledge is the key to defeating the Axis. I say we follow his lead.”

The others agreed, and Nena felt a fierce surge of pride. These were her people—not just the Terians, but all of them. The family they’d chosen, the bonds they’d forged. If this was to be their final battle, at least they would face it together.

“How long until we reach the rendezvous point?” she asked.

“Three hundred piks ,” Rien answered. “Assuming nothing goes wrong.”

“Something always goes wrong,” Razion muttered.

“Then we plan for it,” Madrian said. “Rien, I loaded as much detailed intelligence on every Axis vessel, every weapon system, every defensive position around Central that I could gather before we left. It’s in the data bank of the shuttle.

Gather it and send it to everyone here. If we’re going to do this, there are no secrets. ”

As the others dispersed to make preparations, Nena lingered beside Madrian.

The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on both of them.

The possibility that their newly discovered happiness might be cut short haunted them.

The love they’d only just begun to explore might be lost before it could fully bloom.

“Are you afraid?” she asked quietly.

“Terrified,” he admitted. “Not of dying. I’ve been prepared for that my entire life. But of losing you. Of not having enough time to be the male you deserve.”

She turned to face him fully. She cupped his face in her hands. “You already are that male. I’m a free Terian because of you. Don’t forget that. I won’t.”

He leaned into her touch. It was so very clear that High Chancellor Madrian was truly gone. This left only Madrian—her mate, her heart, her choice.

“Whatever happens,” she said softly, “we face it together.”

“I love you, Nena,” he said, and sealed the promise with a kiss that tasted of hope and determination and the unshakeable certainty that some bonds were stronger than any force the universe could devise to break them.

Around them, the great ship hummed with activity as allies converged and preparations began for the battle that would determine the fate of the galaxy. But in that moment, Nena felt only peace. Whatever came next, they would meet it as they were meant to—united, unbroken, and free.