Chapter 9

The plan was going far better than expected. She was able to keep hidden for some days now, focusing on the fuel and acting her part as one of them. Draka and his pack might have been suspicious of her in the beginning, but now they didn't question her. They were more satisfied, she guessed, by having a new team player than worrying about what she looked like underneath. So far, she hadn't had to worry about food or shelter, and she was protected by Draka even from those in the pack who might try to pick on her.

She was still cautious of him, uncertain still if the words he spoke would match his actions. He was still a scary-ass guy in her eyes, but she had also seen his vulnerability, a softer side she would have never believed existed.

The poor guy was lonely as hell, and he wanted her bad. He was considerate at the most surprising of moments, and he didn't have to act like an asshole all the time to prove to be their leader. He even showed a measure of compassion.

But there were other times he could be as cold and calculating as he had warned. If anyone threatened him and the pack, he wasn't hesitant about showing the offender why they should be very afraid. Sometimes he was clear-headed and chill. Other times he looked ready to kill with a smile on his face.

He was an enigma, at least to her. And her feelings for him confused her even more. If she had told her past self a couple of weeks ago that she'd start to take a liking to a sidonion, her past self would have told her to jump off a cliff.

She'd almost been crazy enough to reveal herself back when Draka had shown her the weird starfish plants, a part of her thinking he might understand.

But then she'd wimped out, fear swelling in her again, her mind racing still with all the what ifs. What if he had been lying? What if he didn't really want her like he said he did? What if it was just a fucked up game he was playing? What if…

So she stayed hidden, still uncertain, waiting to see a side of him that would confirm all her fears.

So far, it hadn't come. And they had spent every day together since the first day she arrived. If he wasn't in the lab helping her, then she saw him later after dinner. He would have her follow him around various parts of the base as he did his rounds, checking the scrap heaps brought in, making sure their storage was well kept, making sure the men at each checkpoint were in good shape and could give him a report about any prisoners stepping into his territory.

At night they played games and talked. Draka told her about some of the worlds his kind discovered, about his time on his homeworld, a place that sounded like some dark metropolis of the gods. A place where he had become one of the top-ranking students of his class. Then the war came, and he dedicated his time to the creation of his weapons.

"If you were to leave here, would you go back?" she'd asked him as they sat together on a step just outside the entrance to the waterfall. High above, the night sky was lit up by blue and green solar flares, and the moons bathed them both in their greenish light.

He appeared to think it over, then said, "No. My world hasn't changed, I think, since the war. The royals and elites live in the past, and there's been no movement to expand and make allies. They want to keep it frozen in time as it was before the war. They want to close themselves off. That's why you don't see many of us anymore. It's disappointing."

It made sense since most disappeared after the war. "What will you do then?" she said, more curious than ever.

"When I leave here, I'll go searching for a new home. I've heard of a few potential worlds. Wherever it is, I'll work on changing it for the better."

She shifted beside him, their legs almost touching. "If you find the human…will you take her with you?"

"If she comes out of hiding…" He looked at her when he said it and for a moment, she thought her heart might leap out of her chest. She fell into his gaze as he smiled at her. "I would without question. This is no place for the likes of her."

She definitely agreed with that.

Draka cupped the back of her helmet, pulling her closer. "And you could come too, Oza, and be our little servant, eh?"

"Absolutely not!" she blurted.

He laughed. "Or you can be our driver, how about that? Keep our ship running. Come, Oza, I need someone to make fun of and keep me sane."

"You honestly think I would keep you sane?"

"Yes. And give me advice on how to please the human because I'll probably do something stupid." He shook her a little, as if excited. "That's it, you'll be my advisor. It's official."

"Why me and not Freys or one of the others?"

He snorted, letting her go. "Freys is good, one of my best. But he would make a terrible advisor."

"He's your friend, isn't he?"

"Yes. But so are you, aren't you?"

She tilted her head in a shrug. "I haven't been here that long."

"I like to think I'm good at feeling others out. You are a good person, Oza. And I can't explain it but…" He turned to her. "I feel drawn to you."

That made her feel all sorts of things. Wait till you see the real me, she thought. If I ever decide to show you.

If he really meant to get them out of Arkona, she would reveal herself at an opportune time. A time when she could make a choice to run or stay.

"I feel…the same," she told him. And, wow, she actually meant it.

But she liked what they had now. Because it was safe. She still hadn't forgotten how he'd acted at the pool. Or how he pined for her now. And that part of him still intimidated her.

When they returned inside and she went back to her room, she sat down on her mat and let her mind wander to places she'd never let it before.

What would it be like to be with a sidonion? How different would it be? Would it hurt?

She'd only ever been with human men and a couple women. Being with an alien was strange enough, but it wasn't unheard of in her neck of the galaxy. The idea wasn't totally unappealing to her. Draka was freaky as fuck looking…but he wasn't necessarily unattractive to her either.

Just imagine those teeth gliding across your bare skin…

The thought made her shiver.

When she considered it safe, she took off her helmet then her coat before peeling off the shirt underneath. She winced as she unwrapped the scarf around her shoulder. The warm air felt cool on her skin which throbbed. She looked down at the wound and saw the red puffed flesh.

The salve soothed the pain for a period of time, but it didn't do much else. It wasn't enough to heal the wound properly.

If she knew what to look for, she would sneak out right now to Serbril's room and rummage through his stores for some medicine. But she knew nothing of the kind of medicine they had and what would help. Her plan to keep her disguise for as long as she could was coming to an end. She might have to reveal herself if she wanted to get the right treatment.

Just a little longer, she told herself. Tomorrow she'd go to Serbril and ask for stronger medication, something to stifle the infection.

She tried to sleep and kept waking in a sweat, only to fall asleep again, tossing and turning from dreams and nightmares. Many of them about Draka. Draka hunting her through the icy tundra, Draka with a wicked smile on his face as his claws dug into her, Draka eating her.

She could hear his voice even as she came to again. When she realized his voice was real and he was coming down the hall, she bolted up and covered herself with the coat then threw on the helmet just as he stepped to her door.

"Oza, are you sleeping?" he asked behind the curtain.

"I'm up," she said as she put on her gloves and zipped up her coat.

He pulled back the curtain.

She froze when she saw his face. "What happened?"

"They've found her."

She stared at him in disbelief. "Are you…sure?"

"One of our packmates got wind of a human seen down in the city. There is talk that she will be in the Antiom today."

"The Antiom?"

"Neutral grounds, like the work areas only for play, not work," he explained. "Where packs and prisoners can safely be around each other without trying to kill one another. Well, unless there are planned fights. Trades happen there too, and I plan to make one. Hurry and prepare yourself."

She got to her feet. "What about the fuel?"

"Leave it for today. It will be fine." His head disappeared as he moved the curtain back in place. "Meet me at the front entrance. I still have a few other tasks at hand before we go."

He walked away before she could argue, and she didn't think to call him back.

She took off her helmet and shook her head. Her hair badly needed washing. She reached down beside the mat for a foodbar and unwrapped it. She took several bites as she shrugged off the coat to put on her shirt. She put on her shoes next, making sure the vial of viluum was still snugly kept inside, always as a precaution. Wincing, she slipped back on her coat, noticing she was much warmer than usual, but she would have to endure.

It had to be a mistake. How could they have seen her?

Unless there was another human in Arkona.

Shit.

She ate the rest of her bar and drank a generous amount of water before she put the helmet back on. She left her room and slipped down the hall to the bathrooms, doing her business and washing a little when no one was around, then she headed for Serbril's.

Maybe she could convince the nilgani to give her stronger medicine that she could take on her own like the salve. It was worth a try. But she needed to go now, or she likely wouldn't get another chance until tomorrow.

She weaved through the passages until she came to Serbril's room. She peeked her head inside but saw no sign of the nilgani. She crept in and checked the curtained-off room with his bed but found it empty.

"What are you doing?" came a voice behind her.

She whirled around and came face to face with a silderhyde with one ear missing.

"I'm looking for Serbril," she said. "Where is he?"

The silderhyde's red eyes narrowed. "He's gone. A packmate fell from a small cliffside close to the base. Broke their leg. Serbril has gone to attend to them."

Damn.

"When will he be back?" she asked.

"How should I know?" the silderhyde hissed at her.

He turned, leaving her standing in the room. She could try to look around and take something, but she risked being caught. And she still didn't know what to look for.

She left Serbril's instead and returned to her room to put on an extra heaping of the salve, hoping it would last till she returned and could meet Serbril later. Before she met Draka at the entrance, she checked on the lab but didn't start any of the mixtures per Draka's request. Instead she capsuled some of the fuel and set it aside for Freys to collect. Now that she wasn't worrying so much about keeping her head down and doing her work, no questions asked, she'd started to wonder why exactly they needed the fuel. She had yet to see the giant metal door next to the lab open, but she suspected it had something to do with what was going on inside. Kreed had mentioned a project.

What was Draka really working on?

Right now, she wasn't too keen on sitting around and concocting theories. Her mind was more focused on the fact that there might be someone like her on the planet. And she was curious to find out who.

After storing the fuel, she left the lab and headed for the front entrance, her heart starting to race. There were a few working around the drill site but the room of scrap by the entrance was empty. The door at the front was halfway open, allowing for her to slide out underneath. The wind hit her, dusting her helmet and coat with a fine layer of snow from the ground. She walked a few paces outside and saw by the wall Draka and a few of his men standing together, Kreed and the uugari, Targus, among them but not Freys who she suspected stayed behind to look after the base.

When Draka turned toward her, Ria almost froze, seeing her scarf around his throat again, covering his mouth. It made her heart do a little flip. No guy had been this desperate for her, and she admitted it excited her in a way she never expected. Knowing it was Draka, a sidonion, scared her a little, but the thrill was there, undeniable.

Still, that little fear, that uncertainty, kept her from revealing herself, knowing if she did, he would consume her, sink his claws in and refuse to let go. And she wasn't sure whether she'd want him to or not. She liked the tender friendship they were building, but it would be gone when he learned who she was. He might even be angry with her for deceiving him. He might punish her in a way she couldn't guess, shattering the bond they'd built in such a short time.

She wanted to reveal herself when she was ready, when she thought she could truly trust him. When the time was right, she would, but not now. First they had to see about this human.

"I was just about to have someone go fetch you, Oza," Draka said when she came to his side. He put an arm around her shoulder. "Stay close to me. You're so small, and I don't want anyone to harm you, got it?"

She nodded.

"Good." He patted the top of her helmet and turned to make his way down the mountain. "Let's go."

She placed herself beside him as the others followed a little ways behind. She kept her eyes on the ground, stepping lightly from one rock to another.

"It's perfect I have you with me, Oza," Draka commented as he strode with ease down a short incline. "You'll not only be there to keep me in check, but you will be able to convince her to come with me. To tell her she has nothing to fear."

"Does she really have nothing to fear?"

She noticed him glance at her from the corner of her eye. "I don't intend to harm her."

"But you look dangerous," she admitted.

He laughed low. "True. But I'll ease her fears regardless."

She took a slow breath, pacing herself as they walked down the snowy path toward the city. "Don't come on too strong," she said after a pause. "If you want to convince her, show her you can be trusted. When she…opens up to you, be understanding."

He tilted his head toward her. "Understanding over what exactly, Oza?"

She took a moment again before she spoke. "When you found her, she was afraid, right? And you told her you wanted her in your bed. Then she fled from you and your response was to hunt her down. She needs to know that…when you finally have her… you aren't going to punish her for hiding from you. That you mean what you say and won't be upset but understanding of why she was scared."

"Ah." He was silent for a moment as they walked, the city coming closer to view. They passed through the arch of rocks that served as the border of his territory then down toward the path leading into the sector where the Antiom was located. "I would not punish her for being scared. Nor for fleeing from me, though it did hurt a little," he said quietly.

"Just be nice, give her a little space," she responded. "And that means no grabbing, no pinning her down, and—taking her as soon as you have her."

He groaned softly, and she wished it hadn't made her insides melt. "I can't make any promises."

"Draka…"

He laughed softly. "Alright, I'll be as sweet as a ketterling."

"I don't know what that is."

He grinned at her. "It's the only creature on my home planet that isn't excessively aggressive."

She could believe that. "Promise you'll try."

"I'll try," he said.

She saw his claws slip in and out and knew it would be hard for him. She just wanted him to be chill, to try to take things slow.

But he was like fire, and she knew she wouldn't be able to stop him. Worse, she was feeling the heat, and she was starting to like it.

Still, she hardly knew him, or understood him. She was still trying to understand her own feelings. He could consume her before she even knew what hit her.

And what would be left?

What if she did lay with him and he didn't like it at all? What would he do? Would he care even then?

She was sick of the "what ifs" but they still ate at her, kept her from saying "fuck it" and taking off the helmet right then and there, sparing a trip into the Antiom. She found it hard to see past what her mind knew of sidonions. Ruthless tricksters and unfeeling killers. Draka, no matter how different he appeared, couldn't fully change her mind.

But that fire, that heat was becoming real damn tempting.

If only there was a way to have a taste without getting burned.

Unable to take the chance and risk it, she followed him to a domed building on the west side of the city. At least she could sate her curiosity about the Antiom and the human who might be inside.

Deep in the back of her mind, she prayed it wasn't another woman. She felt sick at the idea of seeing Draka take another in her stead and breaking every promise he made right in front of her. Seeing some poor lady like herself get caught unguarded by a sidonion made her stomach twist. She imagined they'd react just like she had the first time she'd encountered him. It wouldn't be a pretty situation.

"Ah, I forgot, before we go in..." Draka took hold of her arm to halt her. From his belt he unhooked a sheathed blade. "It hasn't been long, but I think you deserve this. Everyone should wield one even in the Antiom, just in case."

She took the sheathed blade and thanked him quietly, hooking it to her own belt. At least he trusted her. She wondered if that would change too when he discovered her true identity.

Forget it for now, she told herself as she followed him to the doors of the Antiom. There were groups hanging out around the entrance. As she, Draka, and his packmates approached, the others moved aside, acknowledging Draka's presence like he was some king.

King of the mountain, she thought. And she had to admit it was nicer being by his side and seeing the others stay back than being alone and afraid. Just a couple of weeks ago, she would never have considered stepping into a place like the Antiom, never let herself be this close to so many other prisoners unless she was forced to, like in the work areas. Now she walked freely inside the domed structure as if she was someone to be feared. And it felt good.

She knew it was an illusion of course because it was really Draka everyone saw, and she was just in his shadow. Draka feared no one, and why should he? If looks could kill, Draka would have massacred the whole planet by now.

As they walked deeper into the Antiom, she slowed as she took in the two-story structure with its crumbling pillars and walls. High above, the dome was broken in several places, spilling light into darkness.

She could not fathom what sort of place the Antiom had once been. Maybe some sort of office building back when Arkona had been a civilian city, she suspected maybe even some sort of library or archive. Now there was nothing but bare gray walls and cracked blue and green marble floors. A few tattered pieces of furniture were scattered around and a few machines long dead. In the center were the large skeletal remains of some massive animal no one had cared to move. There was a small fight in one room opposite where onlookers watched, while trades happened all around. Viluum, food bars, heat lamps, knives, tools, and all other kinds of resources to be traded.

Draka lead them toward the back, into a separate room. Less natural light filtered through so green and blue heat lamps were placed around the walls. The chamber was long and had an arched ceiling connected by several metal pillars. The walls, however, were the most impressive, containing strange paintings of giant beasts. A set of wide but deep steps to each side led down to a golden mosaic floor depicting two serpent-like monsters entangling together. In the center was a slight indent in the floor, as if something like an altar had once been placed there but was now gone. It had to have once been some kind of temple of a long dead religion, but now it appeared to serve as a place for inmates to gather.

There were groups already sitting on the steps, waiting. Several moved over for them when Draka approached the left side and took a seat near the center. Ria went to sit next to him then froze, her body tensing, as she caught a pair of white eyes on the opposite side of room.

She'd never seen the alien before, blue-gray like some of the ashora but without the black gaze. He had tusks protruding from his bottom lip and a face like an ogre with a body that reminded her of a bear, only less fur and much bigger. A line of gray hair went across his head and down his neck. One ear had a ring on its pointed tip.

He was the only one who looked as intimidating as Draka himself. And something told her that she knew exactly who he was.

Without taking her eyes off him, she sat herself close to Draka. "Is that Margrul?" she said, low enough for only him to hear.

"Not hard to guess, is it?" Draka said, not bothering to keep his voice down, uncaring whether Margrul heard.

Margrul's eyes narrowed on him, his upper lip twitching. She peaked over at Draka and saw him smirk back at him.

Margrul made a low growl and the inmates around them fell silent. "You're brave to show your creepy face here, Draka," he said, his voice like two rocks scraping together. Those of his pack who sat around him snickered in response.

Draka smiled. "Not as brave as you for showing your whole nasty self here, Margrul. You've been so kind in keeping hidden these past few weeks." He tilted his head. "Come to get a look at the human I'll be taking home?"

Margrul's nostrils flared. "That human is mine. They need to pay for what they did to Corik. Just like you should pay for what you did to my other packmates, Draka."

"They attacked my men in my territory. You honestly think you deserve vengeance for that? You're lucky I didn't do worse."

He scoffed but didn't argue. "What use do you have for this human?"

"Many actually. She came into my territory first and used my resources. I intend to…pay her in kind."

He was bluffing, he had to be. He didn't want Margrul to know what he really wanted her for. Still, Ria tensed next to him. She was stuck in a room with two males who wanted to punish her, in two very different ways.

The tension in the room was unmistakable. Margrul looked like he might be ready to spring up at any moment and go for Draka's throat. While Draka appeared the opposite, calm and seemingly indifferent, though she knew underneath that wasn't true. He was just as dangerous, just as ready to kill. She saw him flex his claws as if ready to slice someone open with them, a dark fire in his gaze as he glanced between Margrul and his men.

Unease settled in her gut as a very tall ashora appeared from the door with a line of traders behind him. Each of them either carried or pulled something, whether inanimate or alive. Things she assumed multiple people were looking to take. One ashora had with them a pair of thick feathered, stocky red birds with white bellies. She'd seen a pair before high up on cliffs. She'd also seen a few of their large eggs cracked below, the yolk eaten. An uugari she suspected was female had a baby skeleg, its fur fuzzy and white. Why someone would want one she couldn't begin to understand. The others had drillers for finding pools outside the city and mines, fishing gear, and various long-lasting items that would be useful for years to come.

The last to arrive down the line was a group of silderhyde, one pulling a rope. At the end of that rope with their hands tied was clearly a person.

She sat up straight as they came into view, but she couldn't see who they were because they had a black cloth over their head. They wore a stocky coat similar to hers so it was hard to tell what they looked like underneath. All she could tell was they were shorter than her and a little thicker, their head bowed as the silderhyde led them to the center.

Draka shifted beside her, his claws extending one last time before slipping back into his fingers. She could practically feel the heat coming off him. He leaned forward, his eyes keen on the human. He was so focused on them he hardly noticed her now at all, or anyone else around him. He looked ready to spring just like Margrul.

The tall ashora went down the line, naming each item, and the auction began. Only it wasn't a typical auction since credits didn't mean shit here. Instead, pack members called out what they were willing to trade in exchange for said item and the sellers would take whatever offer they thought was the best.

She waited with bated breath as each item was sold. She hissed a little in pain as her wound started to bother her again. She gripped the end of her coat in order to keep herself from rubbing it. She really hoped this didn't take too long.

Draka sat dangerously quiet beside her, not noticing her discomfort, not interested in anything else but the one prize he saw before him, the human.

When they got to the end, the group of silderhyde stepped up, tugging the person before them.

"Last trade. A human," the ashora announced. "Found on the outskirts."

It was probably uncommon for them to trade a person since most aligned themselves to a pack. But because she was being hunted so damn badly, they knew the human would make a good trade if caught. She made herself believe this anyway, because she didn't want to add auctioned slaves to the list of shitty things this place had to offer.

The silderhyde pulled the human down to their knees, reaching up to tug off the black cloth. The first thing they saw as the cloth slid over their head was a mass of curly brown hair. The hair was long enough to cover part of their face. One silderhyde grabbed the back of their head and pulled, tilting their face up for all to see.

Draka growled low beside her.

A human man stared back at them, bright blue eyes wide with fear.

Ria tried not to sigh too loud with relief. Not a different woman for Draka to claim at least.

But the relief was short-lived. Because he was still a terrified human.

The other inmates laughed. All but Draka. He didn't look amused at all.

"That isn't the human we seek, you brain-rotted dirtslags," Margrul snarled. The silderhyde looked panicked.

"We found them in the ravine. It is human is it not? It is what you seek," argued one silderhyde.

"Not the right gender. Or color from what I've been told," Margrul said.

Clearly the silderhyde couldn't tell the difference between males and females or notice different skin shades and colors. They heard a human was being sought after and they found one, simple as that.

She glanced at Draka again and saw his claws fully extended, curling on his lap. "Not her. It was supposed to be her…" He said in an almost husky, desperate voice.

He bolted to his feet, ready to pounce for the silderhyde. She caught him by the arm before he could take a step toward them.

"Wait, Draka," she said, gripping his coat.

He looked back at her, his glare like ice. A warning. Still, she didn't let go.

"Take him," she said.

The ice melted. "What?" he whispered in shock.

"Trade for him. If you save him from a worse fate and allow him to stay, I guarantee the woman you seek will see it as a sign of good faith. That you are willing to protect any human. Not just her. She will be much more willing to accept you if she sees you have another like her with you."

Draka stared at her, his eyes narrowing. "He is a threat."

She didn't know exactly what he meant but she could guess. He wasn't scared of the human harming him or the others in the slightest, it was that he didn't like the potential competition. Because to him it would make more logical sense for a human woman to choose her own kind over him. And she imagined he really didn't like that. So the male was a threat to him.

She squeezed his arm. If only he knew how illogical she was feeling right now. "Trust me, Draka, please."

He studied her for a long moment, and she feared he would deny her. Then his gaze softened. "For her then." He turned back to the silderhyde. "I'll take him."

"Hold your tongue, Draka," Margrul said. "You think you are some king to have anything you want? Sit down before I cut you down."

Draka snorted. "It's cute you think you'll even get one drop of blood from me before your face is permanently etched into this fine floor, Margrul."

The tall ashora who had been watching close by glanced between them. "Will an offer be made then?"

Draka stared Margrul down and smiled. "Two cases of food and water."

Margrul glared back. He bared his teeth and growled. "What use would I have for a pathetic human scum? I want the one who killed my second in cold blood. Until she's found, I'm not interested." He rose and started for the door. His pack followed.

"Any other offers?" the ashora asked.

None. The silderhyde looked disappointed. Probably because they expected much more for the human. But they gave him up, not having any use for him either.

The man shuddered in front of Draka who made sure to look down on him at his full height. "It's your lucky day, human," he said. He rolled his shoulders and hissed. "I'm still not happy." He turned away from him.

Ria went up to the man and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You'll be okay," she tried to say in a soothing voice but doubted it got through to him with the helmet. "What's your name?" she asked.

"Timothy," he said.

"Timothy…just do as Draka says, keep out of trouble. I'll try to help you."

The man mumbled something she didn't catch and shivered. She took out her blade and noticed the man flinch as she severed the ropes.

"Thank you," he stammered.

She sheathed the blade. She felt sorry for him, and could see he must be new, inexperienced in the ways of Arkona.

She kept him by her side as they followed Draka out, hoping she hadn't just put this man in a worse situation. Hoping Draka wouldn't change his mind and harm him.

They remained within the city and around the Antiom up until the sun started to slip across the sky. Draka's utter disappointment and vexation at having Timothy instead of her did not go unnoticed by anyone. The tension radiated from him, giving off a warning to anyone who got too close. Even his own packmates gave him space, including her.

He was pissed, it was clear to see, but he'd done what she asked, he'd taken Timothy in. He could have said no, he could have struck her or threatened her for suggesting it. He could have shown a side of himself that she feared to see, but he hadn't. Instead, his words penetrated her skull.

For her then.

He'd done it for her, even when it had annoyed him, even when he didn't like the idea of having a human male around as potential competition.

She could say she was grateful, but she felt more than that.

As the day waned, she sat on a pile of empty crates, Timothy beside her, watching Draka wrestle with a huge uugari with reddish skin. The uugari slammed his fist into Draka's chest, sending him back, making her wince.

He got to his feet, swaying a little. He bared his teeth in a wicked smile.

He was drunk. Or in some way equivalent to it. After the auction, he had Targus and a few others did one last search, a last attempt to see if anyone knew of anything about the one he sought. But he looked hopeless even then. He had Kreed find him someone who was selling a brew called brim. He and the others traded a few weapons for a barrel of the sour smelling drink and cracked it open right away. Some was offered to her, but she declined as did Timothy.

By high sun they'd drank half the barrel and were getting rowdy, picking fights, challenging prisoners, even burning already broken machines. Kreed, she was surprised to find, had a set of firecrackers and set them off, delighting all within the Antiom. The other inmates grew more at ease with Draka, even participating in his antics. Then one of Kreed's firecrackers burned the red uugari, and in response, he tried to attack him. Draka saw it fit to challenge the reptile that was almost bigger than him by punching him in the snout and sending him back.

Now everyone was watching the fight, hollering and jeering. She sat high on the pile of crates in order to watch Draka and the uugari kick the shit out of each other.

Her heart fluttered a little, out of fear the uugari might break Draka's skull, but also that she was kind of turned on by watching Draka pummel the guy to the ground. She'd given up wondering what was wrong with her. Now, as she sat quietly, she thought instead about how the hell she was going to approach him when they got back to the mountain.

"How long have you been with them?" Timothy asked, breaking her thoughts.

She glanced at him, noticing his unease. "Not long."

He watched the others circling the fight. "How worried should I be?" he asked.

"Truthfully? I don't know," she answered honestly. "But if you do as Draka says and don't get in anyone's way, you should be fine."

"That's reassuring." He shifted beside her. "But you're like his second, right? So, if you say it's okay…"

"What makes you think I'm his second?" she asked.

"He listened to you. He didn't want to trade for me, but he did as you asked. Doesn't seem like a guy who would readily let his lessers tell him what he should do."

"No, he's not. But I gave him good reason."

"Another human."

She curled her hands on her lap. "You heard that?"

He nodded.

She turned her gaze back to Draka. "Yeah, he's looking for a woman who's been here for a little over a month now."

"Why?"

She found it hard to speak at first, then said, "He wants to make her his."

"His what?"

"His lover."

Timothy cursed. "No way I'm going to believe that. Everyone always says a sidonion only wants a human for one thing. To hunt and kill. Maybe play with them for a little while before they drop dead. That's it."

"He hasn't done that to you yet," she pointed out.

"No, not yet. But it's probably only a matter of time," he said under his breath, shaking his head.

A matter of time.

Pain shot through her shoulder, and she leaned forward, stifling a moan. The burning sensation had returned in full force—she'd felt it as they'd sat at the auction and it had only grown worse from there. Nausea turned in her stomach from the sudden pain, making her break out into a sweat. She was so hot she wanted to chuck her coat off and roll in the snow. But doing so would reveal her in front of everyone including the few of Margrul's men still in the crowd. She could imagine the bloodbath that might ensue for those who would attempt to grab her.

And then there was the possibility of Draka's fury she wasn't ready to take.

Timothy put a hand on her shoulder as if to steady her. "Hey, are you okay?"

She went to get up and got dizzy, forcing herself back down. "I just need to go outside."

"Let me help. Are you lightheaded? You should take the helmet off. You might not be getting enough oxygen."

She shook her head. "I can't."

She went to stand again. She saw Draka clock the uugari in the face one last time to bring him down. The crowd of inmates cheered and Draka howled.

Her vision began to go black.

No. No, this can't happen now.

"I…I have to…go," she tried to say but her words were slurred.

"Hey." Timothy tried to grab her. "Hey!"

She went to step down, but her vision swam. The pain seared down her shoulder into her arm.

Before she blacked out, her last image was of Draka.

Please. Please don't let him…

Her thought was lost as her knees buckled under her and she fell.