Drasus

So, it wasn't a paraxio-induced dream. Drega really has arranged for the human female, Coral, to tend to me like a sarkarnling.

If I felt like I had any strength at all, I'd walk out of here immediately. Unfortunately even lifting my head takes so much effort, I'm asleep as soon as it hits the pillow again.

I nevving hate it. I hate my body which won't shift. I hate the Belek for putting me in this position. I hate Drega for giving me paraxio and the blood of that nevver, Daeos.

I will not hear the end of it when I get out of here.

"Hey?" A soft voice infused with kindness I don't deserve breaks into my consciousness.

"What?" I growl.

Coral is still here. In fact, she's sitting next to me with a platter of food on her lap and a goblet in one hand.

"Are you sure you're not hungry?" she asks.

A feeling floods through me, and it's not one I've felt in a long time.

Mischief.

"I can't feed myself," I grump at her.

Coral blinks a couple of times. It's possible I went too hard on the annoyance.

"Okay, I can work with that," she says.

Wait. What?

Coral stands and places the platter on the chair. She leans over me, and I get a lung full of delicious scent.

Not scent from the food. The scent is coming from her. My flight lung twinges, and as she slips her arms under mine to lift me into a sitting position, I'm wracked with a cough I can't stop.

"Here," she says, lifting the goblet to my mouth. "Sip this, slowly."

I take a mouthful.

It's not ale wine.

I spit it back into the goblet.

"What are you doing?" Coral says, irritation shaking her.

"Want ale wine," I say with a wrinkle of my nose.

"You're not getting any, not until you're free of paraxio. I'm going to assume it's the paraxio making you behave like an arsehole and give you the benefit of the doubt. Now drink," she snaps at me.

Feisty, and she likes being in control. This little female has no idea who she's dealing with.

Perhaps this could be a fun experience after all.

I take a drink and make a face. I don't actually mind kolade, unlike some of my fellow warriors. The sweet and slightly sour taste appeals to me.

"More," Coral says, and it's an order which runs through me with a delightful shiver.

So, she likes to order males about too? She's definitely picked the wrong male this time. I take a bigger gulp, and she seems satisfied as she sets the goblet to one side.

"What do you like to eat?" She gestures to the platter.

I fold my arms painfully over my chest. The wince is not something I have to put on. "Don't like any of it," I say and study her reaction.

All I see is the slight tremble of her hand. She lifts her head and her eyes, a deep swirl of green, are fixed on me.

"Basically, it's all meat. Sarkarnii like meat, I know you do. Either you eat this or you eat nothing."

Oh, nev this little female to the ancestors! She is absolutely delightful! I might not be able to physically fight anything, but she is going to be the best sparring I've had in ticks, evs even.

"But what will Drega say if I don't eat anything?" I rasp, leaning forward so I can take in her scent again.

By the ancestors, it's good! This little female smells like a wicked promise. My scales prickle and…my cock stirs in its pouch.

My cock stirs?

"Drega will say you're an idiot," Coral retorts.

She's not wrong.

"Drega might say you're not doing a good job."

"Then he's also an idiot. Given I'm having to wrangle a paraxio soaked Sarkarnii into eating his favorite meal."

Again, she's not wrong.

"How do you know it's my favorite?" I ask before I can stop myself, my mouth running away with the words.

"I asked Mistress Leoni," Coral says, and she picks up a slice of tralu, roasted rare. My mouth waters.

She asked what I liked to eat?

"Open wide." She offers up the food to my mouth.

This is wrong, I should be feeding her, not the other way around. I growl and open my mouth to protest. The perfectly cooked meat melts over my tongue, and I'm unable to control the groan.

I had my first solid meal in I don't know how long yesterday. My stomach makes a noise to rival any Sarkarnii roar. I need this meat. I need it almost as much as I need this female under me while I mate her to oblivion.

What?

I'm not rutting for this female, surely? I've recently come out of a coma, I'm weak and pathetic. A damaged, injured male. Rutting is for the prize Sarkarnii at the peak of their strength…and Daeos.

I am a poor specimen any female would simply envenomate and toss aside. I study Coral carefully. She has small white, blunt teeth. Any envenomation will be painful in the extreme.

"More?" she asks.

I take the platter from her and munch on the pieces of meat she's brought for me, only remembering I said I was unable to feed myself after half of the food is gone. Coral has a look on her face I can't quite fathom. I eat the rest of my meal, carefully watching her.

"Do you need to use the bathroom?" she asks after I finish.

"No."

I do. I don't want her to help me again, like I'm some sort of invalid.

"If you try to go on your own, I will tell Drega, and the chances are you'll be back on the paraxio infusion by tomorrow," she says.

Her tone is sweet and there's a wicked smile on her face. I might have picked a fight I cannot win.

"Yes, I need to use the sanitary facilities," I growl. "I can go on my own." I throw back the blanket and my legs just about respond.

I don't stop growling all the time she assists me. And by the time I'm back in my bed, I can hardly keep my eyes open. Something cool rubs over my face and down onto my chest.

"I'm cleaning you up a bit, Drasus," Coral says, cloth in hand. "It won't take long."

"Stop." I grab at her hand. "I don't need your help," I snarl. "Leave me alone."

Because if she touches me any more, I can't be responsible for my actions.