Chapter 15

Snow drifted down the mountain, falling silently in large bluish flakes. Ria watched them floating across the window, sometimes catching in the soft glow of yellow from the city lights.

Beside her, Draka lay sleeping, one arm thrown across her, soft snores vibrating in her ear. His thigh brushed against hers, his cock resting against her backside. Only a few hours ago, he was filling her again, resting inside her after he'd taken her from behind—going as deep as before, her body adjusting quickly to his and giving in.

"See?" He had smiled, sliding his fangs across her neck and nipping at the sensitive flesh. "Perfect."

He'd rolled them both to their side and had fallen asleep not long after.

She let him be for a while until eventually the ache became too much and she carefully slid from him, making sure not to wake him.

She went in and out of sleep for a while until eventually she found herself staring across at the window. She didn't want to consider Freys' words from the day before, but ever since their conversation, that seed of doubt had grown, her anxiety with it.

She'd reserved herself to not believe him. At least at first. That night after their talk, nothing changed between her and Draka. He didn't appear any different. In fact, he was more responsive than before, touching her and exploring her. She focused on that for the remainder of the night, but in the morning, the memory of Freys' words returned and a thought hit her.

What if he really wasn't himself?

Chemistry was her life's work. She might have found that passion in the inorganic, but she'd done plenty of studying on the organic as well. She knew what chemicals could do to the brain. She'd never studied their process in nonhuman lifeforms, but she imagined they could have similar effects if the body was looking for a specific reaction. In some it could be like a drug.

She was Draka's drug to keep the painful heat at bay. But what would happen if he no longer needed her to satiate the heat? Would he still feel the same for her?

That question ate at her for the rest of the day. And it still ate at her now as she lay beside him watching the snow drifting down. Several times she'd caught him watching her, and in those few times, she'd seen that shadow pass over his gaze as if he were seeing her anew. She still couldn't gauge what it meant. She only considered again Freys' words:

If he starts giving you weird looks, maybe acting distant, you might want to get out.

Thing was, she didn't want to leave. What she wanted was to know the Draka before he had laid eyes on her. Before his supposed heat kicked in. The real Draka.

She didn't think he'd harm her even if his heat were to settle. He'd said before he felt guilty for his past transgressions against her kind. That he wanted to make up for it. And she believed that part of him. So, no, she was sure he wouldn't hurt her, not physically at least.

But he could grow numb to her. After all, lust can only take a bond so far. There had to be more. She'd had his friendship as Oza, but that had changed too ever since she'd been forced out of that disguise.

You're fretting, a little voice told her. Why are you so worried? That Draka will kick you out of the pack and you'll have to fend for yourself again? That if he were somehow able to get off world he wouldn't take you with him?

Yes. The answer was yes.

She'd be all alone again. Only this time her heart would be burned.

If she hadn't already been hurt in the past, maybe she could squash her doubts. Trust never came easily and what human had ever been able to trust a sidonion?

She lay listening to Draka behind her, his claws twitching against her hip. There was no chance she'd fall back asleep again with her mind racing.

Carefully, she slipped away from him, rising from the bed. She glanced at him to see that he still slept as she quietly put on her clothes. When she laced up her boots, she made for the door, slowly pushing it back and nudging herself through the opening.

As she crept down the stairs, she felt no fear of being encountered by the others this time, even if Draka wasn't by her side. She didn't know where she walked at first until her feet took her in the direction of the lab. She hadn't gone back in several days, not since the day she went to the Antiom. Draka hadn't mentioned her getting back to making the fuel, and she was still meaning to ask him about it, but for now she just wanted something to take her mind off the growing anxiety.

The tunnelways were empty. It was still early, so everyone besides those on lookout were likely still asleep. When she got to the passage toward the lab, she headed straight down, noticing the lights were still on inside. She paused partway down to look over at the large metal door that must lead to whatever Draka was working on within. It was quiet inside.

She went into the lab and found everything as it was the last time she'd been there, the tanks filled and needing to be drained.

She got to work on them while starting a new batch, feeling sort of at ease as she focused on the task at hand. Once she got the capsules finished and sent to Freys, she'd tell him she'd need more empty ones…

Maybe not for generators but a ship. A ship she'd be on whether he changed his mind or not.

She mixed up some of the compounds and got them cooking, setting the other ingredients aside as she went back over to the tanks. She drained one, filling up one capsule, then started on another.

A ship. That had to be what was beyond the metal door, what they were working on.

A soft knock at the doorway startled her out of her thoughts. She looked over and saw Timothy standing there.

"Hey, hope I'm not intruding," he said.

She shut off the drain and sealed the cap. "No, come in."

She set the capsule aside as he stepped in, looking over the lab. "First time I've seen you in here. Is this what you were doing before?"

"Pretty much." She smirked at him. "It's how I got my free pass in here actually."

He shook his head as he leaned on one of the tables. "Can't believe you got away with it. Hiding in plain sight. You're kind of my hero."

She snorted as she moved back to the burner and stirred the mixture carefully. "You're lucky too. If it hadn't been for me, you'd probably be in a worse place right now."

"I know," he said. "I still can't thank you enough for that."

She glanced back at him and smiled. "No one is giving you trouble I hope?"

He shrugged, looking down at his hands which tapped softly on the steel surface. "Serbril tolerates me, I think, and the others…haven't bothered me. I just get a few looks now and then. I mostly keep to myself." He glanced back up at her through his mass of curly brown hair. "That's why I noticed you here actually, I kind of just wander around when Serbril kicks me out."

"They didn't give you a room?"

"Oh, I got one. I just don't sleep much."

Ah, yea, she got that.

He looked over his shoulder at the doorway, then turned back to her. "It's not that I don't want to trust them," he continued, "but I think you and I have to be a lot more careful."

"I don't disagree," she said in a low voice. "Everyone here is dangerous." She eyed him closely. "Including us."

He gazed at her, stunned, then laughed softly. "Technically, you aren't wrong."

"So what got you here?"

He exhaled slowly, dropping his head. "I, um"—he cleared his throat—"I got involved in some bad business."

"You and me both," she said, then arched her brow. "What kind?"

He rolled his shoulder, and she could see it made him a little uncomfortable, but she didn't take it back. Everyone was here for something. No shame in hiding it now.

"I got into the organ trade," he said.

She paused her stirring to face him. "Human, alien, or both?"

He swallowed hard. "Both."

She glared at him. "You didn't mess with karakis, did you?"

The look he gave her told her enough.

"I know it's bad," he said. "I was in a lot of debt and my family was in trouble. Trust me, I know I deserve to be here. Doesn't mean it doesn't still suck."

"No." She went back to stirring, unable to look him in the eye. "I'm here because I made fuel with karaki secretions."

He cursed softly. "Yeah, those...went for the highest price."

She closed her eyes. "I didn't know though. The person I was working with didn't tell me, and I'd made the fuel thinking I was using something else. I hadn't bothered to ask where he got his sources."

He was silent for a moment, and when she glanced back at him, she caught him watching her.

"You sound like you regret it too."

"I do."

He straightened. "And now we're both doing the dirty work for other criminals. At least this time you know what you're getting into. You do what you have to for protection."

She stiffened at his words. She hadn't really thought about it like that. "It may be for criminals but it's for a much better cause."

He frowned at her, as if confused. "Is it?"

She frowned back at him.

"They did tell you what the fuel was needed for, right?" he said.

"I was told the generators," she answered. She turned back to the burner, getting ready to siphon the compound. "But I think it's for something else."

"You'd definitely be right there."

"I think it's for a ship," she said. "The fuel is a type made for travel, so it makes sense."

Timothy fell silent. She looked over her shoulder and caught his eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He looked almost guilty about something. "It's not a ship," he said.

She stared at him, then turned to face him fully, forgetting her mixture. "And how do you know that?"

His eyes turned downward. "Serbril talks. A lot. Sometimes he says things I don't think he is meant to. Especially to me."

She grew still, watching him. He knew. He either knew what it was or at least had a hint.

"What are they making, Timothy?" she asked, almost scared to know the answer.

"I…don't know a hundred percent. Serbril didn't tell me straight up. He only said Draka's project would stop everything once and for all. And then he'd be free. They all would. He said…if the world had to burn, so be it."

Her heart slowly sank to her stomach.

Timothy looked to the door again and stepped around the table, closer to her. "Also, I caught something inside that hangar. I was in here just looking around one day when I heard people coming down that passage. I hid, afraid I wasn't supposed to be here. I saw it open and I got a glimpse inside."

She clenched her fist against the counter. "What did you see?"

"Not enough to know for sure. But something big. And it wasn't a ship. There were parts scattered around. One looked like…" He shook his head. "Some kind of weapon."

As he said it, the blood drained from her face.

No. No, he wouldn't.

This time she shook her head. "That can't be right," she said softly. "You had to have seen wrong."

He gave her that guilty look again. "I know what I saw. I thought maybe you knew something. He didn't tell you?"

"I…" She swallowed hard. "I hadn't asked. I thought it had to be…"

"A ship," Timothy said when she couldn't finish.

She nodded.

He couldn't be making weapons again. It wasn't possible. No, she had to see, she had to know. Had to know what she really was helping to create.

Was she really fueling his weapons?

Timothy put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you okay? Shit. I didn't know you didn't know. I'm sorry."

"Didn't know what?" came a low, threatening voice by the doorway, low like thunder.

Ria glanced beyond Timothy and saw Draka there, Freys, Kreed, and a few others behind him. The look in his eyes made her shiver, like looking into a storm.

He glanced down at Timothy's hand on her shoulder. Like a shock, Timothy released her, dropping his hand.

Draka stalked into the room toward them. Timothy went to step away, but out of rebellious need, she grabbed his arm and kept him in place. That made Draka stop, his claws extending fully, then going back in, a flash of surprise—and was that pain?—in his eyes.

"I found you gone," he said. "I worried."

She glanced again at the others behind him. "I can see that."

"Thought you ran off again," Freys blurted. A few of the others snickered.

She looked back at Draka. "Did you think that?"

He didn't say anything. His eyes only drifted down to her hand on Timothy's arm.

"Oh, for fuck's sake." She dropped her hand. "Is this how you respond because I'm not at your side every waking hour? You think I'd disappear?"

He tapped his claw on the metal table. "I don't know, Oza. You do like to hide." He tilted his head. "From me."

She could just make out the sad tone of his words in the edge of his voice. "Maybe I have reason to," she said. "If you are going to watch my every move. And not let me hang out with another human male without you wanting to rip his throat out. If you look at me again like you wonder who I am." She shook her head, stepping closer to him. "But it's just the heat, right?" she said quietly. "Maybe it's gone to your head."

He glared down at her. "No. It's not that."

"You sure? Or are you afraid to lose the one thing that brings you relief? So you have to keep me close. Because if I do run again, you won't ever be able to find me?"

His mouth twitched. "No, I don't fear that."

"No?"

"Because you have no chance of hiding from me again."

His words struck her like a knife. So there was his arrogance he'd warned her of.

"She was just trying to help, I interrupted her work," Timothy said, trying to fix the tension that cut through the air, but he was unsuccessful. "We were just talking—"

Draka's icy glare and her hand stopped him mid sentence.

"You think so, but I hid pretty well from you once," she argued.

"It was luck, my sweet Oza."

She shook her head. "No. I think it wasn't. And I think if I had to, I could again."

He leaned down toward her, his eyes darkening. "Is that a challenge, pet?"

She clenched her jaw. Oh, yes, it fucking was.

"Yes," she said. "It is."

The others whooped and laughed. Draka stared at her, studying her closely, then smiled.

"You don't have to do this," Timothy said. "We can work this out."

"No," Ria said. "I want to." Let him have this chance to hunt and catch her for real just like he wanted. "I want outside."

"You stay within the boundaries of my territory," he said. "First rule."

"Fine." She didn't want to encounter anyone else anyway.

"You have till sundown. If I find you before last light, then you submit."

Submit. Of course. "And if you don't find me," she said. "I want something in return."

He tilted his head back. She could see the fire in his gaze. Oh, how he wanted this.

"I want inside that hangar." She pointed toward the metal door. "I want to see what the hell you're really creating in there. And you'll tell me everything."

Freys started to protest and Draka silenced him. "Deal."

"I also want me and Timothy to be a part of this pack and under your protection no matter what. Even after your heat settles and with the possibility that you will lose interest in me, you can't go back on your word. You will still keep to your promise to take me off world." Saying all this out loud actually hurt. But it had to be said. She had to have his promise, even after everything was done, and if he really did have that post sex clarity hit him like Freys said, he wouldn't abandon her.

She couldn't read him this time. Couldn't tell if that hurt him too. "I swear it," he whispered. He turned for the door, then looked back at her. "Come, follow."

They left the lab with him and followed through the tunnels to the entrance by the waterfall. She waited first in the room with the tanks full of sea creatures where Draka ordered one of his men to grab them coats and for her to have a pack. She took both, putting on the coat, then pack over it, expecting there was food and water inside.

When she felt secure, he led her and the group outside and down the path along the waterfall. Past the tower, there was a bridge which they crossed, taking a new path over to the north side of the mountain. Timothy had managed to grab a coat and join her, keeping close to her side. Draka stayed a step ahead of her, not once glancing back to see that his pack followed, knowing that they did without question.

When they got to a point where the waterfall pooled and turned into a small stream that eventually dropped down into the earth below, Draka stopped. From the edge was a rocky decline, not as steep as the other sides but with several towering boulders scattered across the landscape, leading the way down. Steam rose in small pockets among them.

"Keep to this side of the mountain between the towering rocks. That is your boundary," he said to her, pointing to the boulders. "No prisoners have been seen this way, but if they should, I will cut them down as I hunt you. That means anyone in the pack too." He glared back at them. "None will help."

They agreed. She was certain none of them were intending to betray him to aid her.

He turned to her and motioned her forward. She approached as the others backed off. He got close, leaning forward, then reaching out, raising her chin with one finger so that she was made to look up at him. He searched her eyes. "You're certain this is what you want?"

She stared back at him, stomach twisting and her pulse racing. She nodded. "Yes."

His eyes searched her face one last time before he dropped his hand and brought it to the sheath at his waist, carrying his blade. He unhooked it from his belt and place it on hers, opposite the blade she already had.

She flinched back. "I don't need this. I already have the one you gave me."

"Take both, in case of skalegs. They shouldn't pass this way, but it's a precaution. You don't have to use it against me, but I will not fault you if you do." He brought his hand up and cupped the back of her head, bringing her closer. "You have permission to fight me in any way you choose."

The words chilled her as did the breeze that swept across her body. "Fight you…"

"If you run, I will chase, and my instincts will kick in. I will take you, Oza, do you understand? And I cannot guarantee I will be able to stop. With this game and the heat that still drives me, I will be consumed by the fire to claim you. As I've wanted to since the beginning. And I can't promise now I will be gentle. So, you must choose. Do you still want this?"

Her heart pounded, breath catching. Only one answer came.

"Yes. I still want this."

He closed his eyes, and she could feel his hand trembling at her nape. "Tykara."

"What?"

He opened his eyes. "Tykara Draka. That is my full name. Use it if you start to fear for your safety and I become too rough. Call to me, and I will try with all my power to calm the flames and separate from you. It's all I can give you."

That made her smirk. She took his hand at her nape and gently pulled away before stepping back. "I won't need to use it. Because you aren't going to find me."

That made him smile back at her. "I love your spirit."

She turned to start down the hillside when he caught her one last time, his lips to her ear. "I'll give you as much of a head start as the first time you ran, so fly as fast as you can, my sweet Oza. Because you're mine."