Page 14 of Pursued by the Dragon Alien (Zarux Dragon Brides #4)

FOURTEEN

Lilas

Lilas stepped carefully down the ramp of the Darkslip. Her boots hit the packed-metal floor of Pavo Outpost with a quiet thud. The cold air smelled of hot oil and something slightly sweet, like spiced pastries left too long in the heat. Unlike the Vexir Trade Station, this place wasn’t a riot of voices and flashing neon. The lighting was dim, the overhead fixtures casting a burnt-orange glow that made the shadows stretch long against the metal-paneled walls. Stalls lined both sides of the trade deck, but they weren’t packed together like on Vexir. Here, space was valued—broad walkways gave merchants and travelers room to move without having to squeeze past each other.

It was quieter too, though not silent. Vendors spoke in low, measured tones as they discussed prices with buyers. The occasional clatter of crates being shifted echoed off the high ceiling, and somewhere further into the outpost, a deep thrum signaled the arrival of a new ship through the docking bay doors. The pace of life here seemed slower, more deliberate. Less chaotic.

Still, Lilas stayed close to Razion.

In the four cycles since they’d slept together, they’d spent more time together. Something had grown between them. She felt it in the way he stood beside her without having to check if she was there—in the way she trusted him to watch her back, even in a place like this. Even now, as they walked through the trade deck, she caught the subtle tilt of his head, the way his sharp, storm-gray eyes swept over the merchants and travelers before settling on her for the briefest second. Just making sure.

She liked it. Too much.

Vedd, walking just ahead of them, exchanged quiet words with a squat, purple-skinned merchant at a tucked-away stall. The male eyed the crate Vedd had hauled off their last raid, then scanned it with a small handheld device. A light on the scanner blinked green—not junk, then. Still, there was a long moment of tense haggling before a final price was agreed upon, and the merchant transferred the credits with an impatient flick of his fingers.

Vedd flashed a lazy grin as he pocketed the funds. “Pleasure doing business with you, Ormoc.”

Ormoc grumbled something under his breath but accepted the crate anyway.

“Alright,” Vedd said, turning back toward them with an easy smirk. “That’s one less thing to haul back to the ship. Let’s go find our rock boy.”

Razion inclined his head, leading them deeper into the trade deck. Lilas stayed close, her eyes scanning the booths they passed. Unlike Vexir, where every vendor seemed to be shouting over one another, Pavo’s merchants worked in measured exchanges, their voices steady as they listed prices, weighed goods, and examined trade offers.

She exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders. This was manageable.

After a few minutes, Razion slowed, then angled his head toward a booth near the edge of the trade deck. “Over there.”

Lilas followed his gaze and spotted them—a group of massive beings with rock-textured skin, their features broad and heavily ridged. Even seated behind their trade stall, they were imposing. The male at the center had thick, slate-gray skin with deep cracks that reminded her of the dry riverbeds back home. He was slightly smaller than the older Rokkol male and female beside him—his parents, probably—and spoke quietly with a customer while two younger Rokkol children stacked crates behind the display.

“That must be Ulo,” Vedd said.

As they approached, the young Rokkol’s golden eyes flicked up, locking onto Razion first, then shifting to Lilas. It was just the three of them. Krask and Cozax were seeing to ship upgrades.

“You must be Razion,” Ulo said, his voice a low rumble of acknowledgement. “I’d recognize a Zaruxian anywhere. And you must be Lilas.”

Lilas blinked. “You already know my name?”

Ulo grinned, a deep, easy expression that cracked wider crevices in the stony surface of his face. “Sevas spoke about you.”

Lilas’ heart clenched at the sound of her friend’s name spoken so casually. “Sevas. She’s…okay then?”

Ulo’s expression softened. “She was when I saw her last. She was so kind to me. We arrived at the arena on the same transport and were put in the same cell.”

Lilas pressed her lips together to keep from asking too many questions at once. Sevas was alive. There was verifiable proof. She squeezed her hands into fists to steady herself.

Razion leaned against the booth. “Thank you for meeting with us. As Vedd told you, we want to know what happened at the arena,” he said. “Everything you remember.”

Ulo’s expression darkened slightly as he glanced at his family. His parents were still busy, but they were listening—it was clear in the way their sharp eyes flicked toward him before returning to their work. He exhaled, then nodded once. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll tell you what I know.”

He folded his arms across his chest, the grooves in his rocklike skin catching the dim light overhead. “I was a prisoner at the Slarik Arena,” he said. “Taken from a convoy raid. They put us in the pit, expected us to fight for entertainment. It was so terrifying.” His mouth pulled tight. “But the mechs don’t give you choices. The Axis ran the place,” Ulo continued. “They owned the fighters, placed bets, set up the matches. It was supposed to be a game, but it was a death trap.” His gaze flicked toward Razion. “If not for Takkian, I wouldn’t have survived.”

Razion stiffened slightly. “Takkian?”

Ulo nodded. “He was like you. Zaruxian. Looked different, though—scales were green, and he had a lot more scars. But when I first saw you, I thought—” He shook his head. “For a second, I thought he’d come back. You have very similar eyes.”

“That’s because he’s likely my brother,” Razion explained calmly, but as Lilas glanced at him, she saw the tight set of his jaw and the twitch of his wings.

“Oh, wow,” Ulo said, rocking on his heels. “That’s amazing. Takkian would be so happy to know he had a brother.”

“So Takkian wasn’t an Axis agent?” Razion asked.

Ulo exhaled. “Oh, no. Takkian hated the Axis so much. He was forced to fight and was stronger than the others. He won every time we were there and he took care of Bruil.”

“Who’s Bruil?” Lilas asked, trying to keep up.

Ulo leaned forward slightly. “He was in our cell with us. Takkian looked out for him. He was older and his fighting days were over. Takkian made sure he wasn’t sent to a ‘final’ match.” He lowered his voice. “A death match.”

“Wait. There were two Zaruxians in that cell with you?” Razion’s voice was clipped.

Ulo nodded. “Bruil was a little grumpy sometimes, but he taught me how to fight. He was important to Takkian, and when we, uh, borrowed a ship to escape in, Bruil flew it. Said he learned how to in the war.”

Lilas saw Razion’s fingers flex. “An elder. I didn’t think anyone survived the war that destroyed my people.”

Lilas felt her pulse in her fingertips. “And Sevas?” she asked carefully. “Was she forced to fight, too?”

Ulo’s expression softened. “Yes, and she won the one match she was put in. She got hurt, but Takkian took good care of her. He and Sevas… I’m not an expert on that or anything, but they kissed and stuff.”

Kissed and stuff . Lilas shared a quick, amused glance with Razion. “How did you all escape?” she pressed.

Ulo glanced at Razion, then back at her. His expression grew grim. “They made Takkian fight Sevas,” he said. “Forced them into the pit together. She didn’t stand a chance against him. He was supposed to kill her.”

“Oh, no.” Lilas’ heart slammed against her ribs. Her nails bit into her palms. “How did she survive?”

Ulo exhaled sharply, his heavy shoulders rising. “Well, Takkian changed.”

Lilas blinked. “What?”

“Takkian,” Ulo said slowly, like he needed her to understand, “shifted. Not like his stance or how a soldier changes their grip on a weapon. He became something else.” He lifted his massive hands, pressed his palms outward, mimicking an explosion. “I didn’t see it happen. I was back in the cell with Bruil. All I know is, they were taken from the cell together, and they came crashing through the wall, busting everyone out. Takkian wasn’t himself anymore—he was something bigger . A beast. A dragon.” His black eyes gleamed in the dim outpost lighting. “I saw it with my own eyes. You don’t forget something like that. And then he turned back into his usual form and passed out.” He stood straighter and puffed out his chest. “I carried him through the arena to the ship.”

Lilas’ stomach twisted. She shifted closer to Razion, half expecting him to scoff, to call it an exaggeration, a prisoner’s misremembered chaos.

But Razion was *staring*. His expression was unreadable, but his body had gone rigid. “Dragon,” he murmured.

Ulo nodded. “It was chaos. The whole place was just torn apart. The chaos gave us all a chance to escape.” A flicker of something solemn crossed his features. “I don’t know if everyone made it out. But those of us who did? We owe our lives to him and Sevas.”

She shot Razion a look. He was still staring at Ulo, his jaw clenched so tight she thought it might snap. “You really saw this?” he asked. “You’re certain?”

Ulo raised his rocky jaw. “I know what I saw,” he said. “And Rokkols have excellent memories. We don’t forget anything.”

“What happened after you escaped?” Lilas asked gently.

Ulo’s expression sobered. “They helped me find my family and made sure I was safe. They didn’t have to do that. If you’re looking for them, I hope you find them.”

Hope . Razion had spent most of his life carving out a future that didn’t leave room for hope. But now, it was flickering inside him like a stubborn flame refusing to die.

“We are looking for them,” Lilas said, her tone steady but urgent. “Do you have any idea where they are?”

Ulo’s heavy brow furrowed. “I don’t know where they went after my people came for me,” he said, then brightened. “But I remember the ship they took. I spent much of the ride staring at the registration number and I memorized it in case I needed to find them again.” He reached for a small data-slate behind the counter and tapped in a string of characters. “This was what they were flying.”

He turned the slate around so Razion and Lilas could see. The number blinked in bold white text against the dark screen, a unique sequence identifying the vessel.

Razion inhaled sharply as he took in the details. “Thank you,” he said. “That’ll give us something to work with.”

Lilas’ heart pounded. This was more than she had dared to hope for. They had a ship, a registration code—something real to track. If Sevas had escaped with them, she wasn’t lost. And if Takkian and Bruil were out there too…

Razion pressed a small device to the data-slate, downloading the information with a quick scan. “You’re sure you have no idea where they were heading?” he asked Ulo.

The young Rokkol shook his head. “Sorry, no. They didn’t say much, just that they had their own people to find. But they were worried that the Axis would try to find them. They knew they couldn’t stay in one place for too long.”

That made sense. If the Axis had seen what Takkian could do, they wouldn’t sit back and let him disappear. They’d be hunting him. They’d be hunting all of them.

Lilas released a slow breath, trying to steady the pulse hammering in her ears. “Thank you, Ulo.” Her voice was softer now. “Sevas is one of my best friends and one of the kindest people I know. I’m glad you found her.”

Tears glistened in Ulo’s small eyes. “She was wonderful. I’ll never forget her.” He hesitated, then added, “She talked about you and her other friends. She missed you and was worried about you.”

Lilas’ throat caught. She swallowed against the sudden tightness in her chest. “She did?”

He nodded. “Kept saying she hoped you and the others were okay. Wondered if any of you made it through the auction. I know she never stopped thinking about you.”

Lilas clenched her fists, fighting the sudden burn in her eyes. For so long, she’d had no idea if her friends were even alive. “I’ll never stop thinking about her.”

Ulo smiled, a soft, knowing expression for someone so young. He extended a heavy, rock-textured hand, and Lilas clasped it tightly. “If you find her, tell her I’m safe,” he said. “And that if she ever needs help, the Rokkols don’t forget their debts.”

Lilas nodded, her grip firm. “I will.”

Razion exchanged a nod with Ulo before turning back toward the outpost’s main thoroughfare. “Let’s go,” he murmured to Lilas, his fingers brushing against her lower back in a quiet reassurance. As they walked away from the booth, each step felt heavier with the weight of what they had just learned—and with the road ahead.

Lilas inhaled deeply, steadying herself as they moved further away from Ulo’s stall. Her thoughts were a jumble—hope, relief, urgency, all coiling tightly in her chest. She glanced up at Razion. His expression was unreadable but tense, the same weight of revelation pressing on him too. She needed space, even if just for a few moments.

“Razion,” she murmured, touching his arm lightly. He turned to her, brow furrowing. “I need to walk. Alone. Just for a little while.”

His fingers slid over her jaw in a gentle caress. “Don’t go too far.”

“Don’t worry, Captain.” Lilas leaned into his touch with a smile. “I won’t.”