Drelix

If I thought the rut might end with a mating, I was wrong. But then I never expected mating to be such an incredible, delicious experience. If anything I hope I can continue mating with my heartsfire over and over. Although she did sleep for a while after I hooked her.

Admittedly, so did I. The sleep was sweet and dreamless.

And when we wake, it's the morning. The food has been replaced by the automated service and the twin suns are rising slowly over Tatatunga's glitz and filth.

I don't want to be here. I want to be back on the Golden Orion with my fellow warriors and my sweet mate so I can rut her to oblivion.

Instead I'm embroiled in a quest for revenge I've been pursuing for too long. I have to see it through, for my family, for my leader, for the Sarkarnii.

I lift Crystal into my arms, and she stirs, brushing the back of her hand over her nose and scrunching up her face in the most gorgeous manner.

"Where are we going?" Crystal asks as I carry her through the suite and into the admittedly far too small aquium.

The Pompas knows, to a degree, how to treat its customers. And in turn, it seems, as much as my rut wants to continue, it also knows how else I need to treat my mate.

"To bathe." I nuzzle into her neck.

She hums with pleasure and my heart soars. Once in the aquium, I remove her boots and the remnants of her clothing. Crystal giggles against me.

"What am I going to wear now?" she says as I walk into the aquium carrying her.

"I have arranged for you to have clothing," I reply as I gently lower her into the water.

Crystal hisses and I growl, the noise reverberating around the room.

"It's fine, Drelix. It's been a while, and no matter what your seed can do, you're still very big." She chuckles and lies back in the water.

I duck underneath and show her exactly how a Haisarkarnii helps heal his female. My venom doesn't have to be injected directly after all.

"Drelix!" she gasps when I finally resurface. "You can breathe underwater?" Her chest heaves with the further climax I extracted.

"I have flight lungs. They mean I have plenty of breath," I reply.

"Will the wonders of this galaxy never cease?" Crystal sighs, dipping her chin beneath the water.

I turn away from her with a snarl when I hear a noise outside. "Stay here," I growl.

"I'm naked. Where am I going to go?" she retorts.

I rise from the aquium, irritated in the extreme I'm being disturbed when I have a mate to rut and pleasure. Water sluices from my scales as the door to the aquium opens and…

A high-pitched voice reaches me. "Where is my subject?"

Coming not even up to waist height is a bright green Kosta. They glare up at me, three eyes blinking in unison, a very unhappy expression on their face.

"Well?" they say. "It's clearly not you, Sarkarnii."

"It is my mate. She is bathing," I snarl.

"Good, then I can start from zero." The Kosta pushes past me, followed by their entourage, towing all the accoutrements of the tailor's dark arts.

"You have some visitors, Sarkarnii," the final creature in the group says on passing.

I turn to say something to Crystal, but instead the Kosta scowls at me and shuts the door. Out in the suite, there is a crash, causing me to growl.

A diva Kosta tailor, I can leave with Crystal without any concerns. However, the unknown threat in our suite needs dealing with immediately.

Unsheathing my claws, I stalk into the main part of the suite, ready and willing to engage whatever needs engaging.

Stood shoveling food into his mouth is one massive creature, the feathers of his huge wings slicked down as he concentrates on putting away as much as possible. Next to him is another of his species, dangling one of my mate's garments from one claw, brow furrowed.

I let rip with the most blood curdling growl I can muster. The one holding the clothing drops it and looks up at me. The one eating pays me no attention at all.

"Gryn," I snarl.

"Sarkarnii," the big one who isn't eating snarls back, stepping into an attack position.

I shift my wings and close the gap between us, and he grabs my outstretched arm, pulling me against his chest with a huffing growl. It's as close as anyone will ever get to these Gryn without fear of physical injury.

"It's been too long, Sylas," I say as he releases me. "I see Blayn is as much of a liability as ever."

The Gryn stuffing his face looks at me and grins through a mouthful. "Good," he says and goes back to demolishing the food.

Sylas shakes out his feathers, his torso a mass of scar tissue as always, although there are a few darker puckers suggesting recent injuries.

"Why do you think he's with me and not back at the dome?" he says.

Like Sylas is any less of a loose cannon. Presumably he thinks if he has to watch Blayn, things won't end up cut to shreds because he's lost control…again.

"I think he's dangerous anywhere," I reply. "You got my message?"

"I did." Sylas scents the air. "You are mated, old friend?"

I'm unable to stop the roar which rises within me. It even caused Blayn to stop eating for a beat.

"Does that answer your question?" I say once I've regained some decorum.

"It might make some aspects of what you want difficult. Tatatunga is no place for a defenseless female."

I refrain from telling him there is nothing defenseless about my Crystal.

"I can protect her."

"I would expect nothing less," Sylas replies. "We cannot remain here long. We are expected back in the training pits. There are games coming up shortly, and we are being…paraded," he says darkly.

The word conjures up a guttural growl from Blayn who drops the soft roll he was eating, his body going rigid and his feathers slicker than ever. His eyes are dark and glassy. Sylas places a hand slowly on his comrade's shoulder.

"Not now, Blayn. Not now. You're safe for now," he croons quietly. "Eat," he urges, picking up the dropped food and placing it in Blayn's hand.

Slowly the big Gryn swivels his head, looking down at his unfinished meal, and after a time where I feel we both hold our breath, he swipes it from Sylas and takes a bite.

I watch as the broken, brooding commander attempts to soothe his equally broken compatriot, although it's not entirely clear who is helping who. Nothing has changed for the Gryn. Still indentured, still tortured, still forced to fight in the dome.

And the only friends I have on this blasted planet.