Crystal

The cell door presents zero issues for a fully functioning Sarkarnii male. Drelix rips the thing open as if he's tearing paper.

I'm a woman of the world, of the galaxy, and so I shouldn't find such a raw display of power sexy.

But holy hell, I do…

"If they didn't know we're escaping, they do now." I laugh as I skip through the opening.

We're in a domed space, circular and lit from above. There are multiple levels, all containing multiple doors, all open. It looks like a prison. A prison meant to take a lot of big prisoners.

My stomach drops into my boots. We were not brought into the cell this way, meaning the place had to have two openings, one hidden and on which opens into what looks suspiciously like an exercise yard.

A place built to take…

"They meant it, didn't they?" I whisper. "About the Sarkarnii. They want you."

"I can tell you one thing, heartsfire. No one cages a Sarkarnii, not now, not in the Kirakos, and not ever," Drelix growls. "Whatever the Sisters have planned, it will not happen."

The alarm is a low, deep pulse I can feel in my chest. It's not loud, more annoying. Drelix keeps shaking his head.

"What's wrong?"

"The frequency," he says with a snarl. "It's interfering with my heat sense," he says with a short burst of flame.

"Then let's get the fuck out of here. I don't want to end up chained again."

Drelix grabs hold of me, pressing a kiss to my lips and giving me the best smile.

"I promised to keep you safe, little morsel, and I am sorry you ended up in the hands of my enemies. I understand how bad it must be for you."

My heart nearly bursts from my chest. He remembered how I told him what happened to me when I was first abducted.

"As long as I'm with you, Drelix, I know I'm safe." I trace my fingers over his jaw, and he leans into me, closing his eyes.

I have a big bad dragon at my mercy.

I'm not sure I've ever felt so alive.

Poor Drelix winces as the alarm continues to sound.

"How are we going to get out?"

Drelix looks up. "I can shift. I doubt they made this place to contain a shifted Sarkarnii. Presumably they intended using the collars on us." He barks out a harsh laugh. "I suspect the Belek haven't yet told them how well that went in the Kirakos."

"You got out of them?"

"They never worked completely. We could still shift a little, and most of us could still flame. They are not the Sarkarnii cosh they think they are." Drelix growls. "Stand back."

He gives me a gentle push, and then without any further word, he leaps over the balcony edge and into the void.

"Drelix!" I rush forward, terrified for him, but as I reach it, something huge rises up out of the darkness.

A large, leathery wing flails, an enormous set of claws hooks over the edge.

Three heads, each one on a long sinuous neck, appear.

"Come, little morsel," the middle head says in Drelix's voice, even though the mouth is filled with the huge fangs I remember from what seems like a long time ago. "It's time we finished this with the Sisters."

A vast hand/paw reaches onto the balcony, and I clamber onto it, trying hard not to look down. However, when I inevitably do, all I see is a vast swathe of scaled neon skin.

"Hold on," Drelix says, depositing me on his back behind his middle neck.

Each neck has a ring of bony spikes which I grab onto with some force. Drelix releases a guttural noise.

"Really? Now?" I query.

"Still itchy," he rumbles back.

I give him a good scratch with both hands, and with a roar, dragon Drelix circles around the pit prison at a tremendous speed before his claws slam into the side of the dome and he climbs towards the light. I duck my head as, at pace, we approach the glowing glass like structure and, as if it's made of nothing more than cheese, we pop out into the fresh air, and I exhale the breath I've been holding, only to take it in again as pulsar fire bursts around us.

Dragon Drelix jinks right and left, but the fire is increasing, so instead he dives back down until we're at the dome. A clawed hand plucks me from him.

"I'm going to draw their fire. Wait here," the huge beast rasps.

I don't have time to protest before Drelix is back in the air. He's certainly drawing fire, but it seems to be getting heavier the more he flames and retaliates. The fact he thinks he's invincible concerns me, and I hate being stuck on the ground, helpless. I look around me, wondering if I could get to one of the cannons which are pumping out bolts at my gorgeous three-headed dragon.

I am not going to let these zombie aliens win.

"Ah, fair creature, there you are."

I spin on the spot, ready to fight like a hellcat when I hear the voice, but instead I'm confronted by an elderly looking male Oykig dressed in long, neatly folded silver robes. His black eyes glitter. Sat next to him, his long tail wrapped around his huge paws, is the star cat.

"We've been looking for you everywhere."

"You have?" I take a step back.

"Of course," the old Oykig says, not moving. "He missed you." He gestures to the cat. "And you have some friends looking for you too."

Above us, the cannon fire increases.

"Your mate fights this battle with honor," the Oykig says, following my gaze upwards. "A battle he will most certainly win, with your help."

As he speaks, to my horror, the massive dragon form of Drelix folds up with a sickening suddenness and drops out of the sky, landing with the most horrendous crash I can hear even being a considerable distance away.

Instantly I'm running towards where he fell, but before I can get far, out of the thick undergrowth, a big red arm snatches at me, just as the star cat slides under my legs, knocking me off my feet. I tumble forwards, knowing it's all going to hurt so very much when I finally come to a halt.