Coral

He's here.

Bigger than ever, his scales sparking with life under the layer of dust which outlines every single one of his abs, every single muscle, and Drasus is absolutely covered with muscle.

How long have I been away from him? It can't be longer than twenty-four hours, give or take, but he is more handsome, more delicious than ever.

He strides towards me, blinking as if he can't quite believe I am here either, before he reaches me and stands, arms hanging by his sides as he studies my face.

"Heartsfire?"

I put my hand on his chest. It's warm and the scales are silky under my touch. Smoke curls from his nostrils and my senses go wild. He smells like the best bonfire with undertones of spice and musk. I am intoxicated by him.

"You came," we both say at the same time. Drasus' eyes soften as he looks at me.

Another explosion has my ears ringing, and I'm thrown against him by the blast. He wraps his arms around my body, swinging me around to cradle me against him as destruction reigns around us.

"They took me, the Bogarok and the Habosu needed Sarkarnii mates in order to use the Sarkarnii for…I don't know what, but they want you all for something."

"They may want us, they may think they can get us by threatening what belongs to us, but they are wrong," Drasus growls, and I feel it flow through me.

It makes me feel powerful.

Laser bolts are zipping over our heads. The air is filled with dust and debris. Explosions are going off everywhere and through the gloom I see Sarkarnii fighting with Habosu and Bognarok.

Everything seems to slow down. Time doesn't exist because it is just me and Drasus. My big, beastly Sarkarnii who came for me, like he promised.

Who is here, larger than life with my chin between his fingers, gazing into my eyes like he never, ever wants to let go.

Why did I ever think I could give him up? Drasus is mine as much as I am his.

"Let me dance for you, my Coral. Let me claim you in front of all my den warriors. Be mine. Be part of all of this."

"By this, you mean mayhem?" I query as more things explode and more laser fire flies around us.

"I do. It follows wherever the Sarkarnii go, that I cannot deny." He grins. "But without you, it is hollow. The fight means nothing. With you, it is no longer a battle, no longer chaos. It is the very heart of the fire around which I burn, for you. Only for you, Coral."

And I think of the hologram image of all the Sarkarnii Artur showed me, all the males together. And I think I know what is wrong with it, what it is missing.

It's missing Amber and Jem. It's missing Ruby and Opal. It's missing me and it's missing Jade.

We are what make the Sarkarnii whole, make the universe itself worth fighting.

And Drasus is what makes me whole.

"Dance for me, my love." I have to yell over the noise. "Dance for me and I'll make you mine."