Crystal

So. Many. Sarkarnii.

They are lounging around outside a large cave entrance situated in rock which reminds me of old slate mines. All a myriad of scale colors and all looking like they're thoroughly dangerous.

Especially the one I recognize from the vid-screen on Drelix's ship. Draco. He's bigger and meaner looking in person, the gold under his dark scales glittering in the light like an evil disco ball.

Daeos is not as bothered by Draco's formidable appearance, ushering me swiftly up to the big Sarkarnii.

"This is Drelix's mate!" he says enthusiastically.

"Where are Drelix and my brother?" Draco doesn't even look at me.

"Drelix started a war. Draxx has gone to help him. My mission was to bring Drelix's mate here to be safe." Daeos appears to swell with pride at a job well done.

I can't fault him for completing his mission. I am certainly here without incident, and I'm beginning to suspect this might not be a common occurrence given the look on Draco's face.

"That's not quite the position…sir," I say, taking a step towards Draco.

To my absolute surprise, he takes a step back to maintain the distance between us.

"You are Drelix's mate? He has claimed you?"

"He has, he bit her," Daeos says unhelpfully.

Draco's nostrils flare and smoke curls out.

"The biting…never mind." I flap my hands at Daeos. "Yes, I am Drelix's mate. And we didn't start a war. The inhabitants of this planet want to enslave the Sarkarnii, and we were trying to stop them."

Draco growls deep in his chest.

"This changes everything," he says.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the Golden Orion is due to destroy the power source we located here, the one which is responsible for the weaponry on this planet in the next nova-hour. But it seems we have to do more than simply disable their ground-based weaponry." He dips his head until his chin grazes his chest. "If Drelix didn't want a war, it sounds like he got one anyway."

I open my mouth to protest about us not starting a war, but given the way the rest of the Sarkarnii perk up hearing their leader mention war, I shut it again.

Anything which helps Drelix is good in my book, and especially if it involves large males who can turn into dragons.

"Get the female a weapon," Draco orders. "We need to finish this before the quantum booster operates."

"You can't stop it?" I ask, as a large purple Sarkarnii presses a pulsar pistol into my hand.

"Standard tactics," he says. "Advance party, second party, and the ability to carry out the mission regardless," he says and places a hand on his chest. "I'm Drasus." He gives me what has to be the standard issue Sarkarnii insanity smile. "I have a human mate too. She'll like you."

I check over the pulsar pistol. "How many of you have human mates?"

"Including Daeos, five of us, six now with Drelix having found his." He stares at the evidence of the bite on my neck. "I'm pleased he finally embraced his Haisarkarnii roots."

"It seems everyone knew he was Haisarkarnii, despite his belief otherwise," I reply.

Drasus looks over at Daeos who has picked a fight with two other Sarkarnii and is presently a snarling ball of scarlet scales.

"Only a Haisarkarnii would swear a vow of silence until his revenge was complete," Drasus says. "Everyone knows that. But only Drelix would eschew his vow when he knew he had to do the right thing. Because he is both Haisarkarnii and a warrior, the best of the best."

Drasus looks down at me, pride ringing in his voice. My heart swells to hear of my Drelix being spoken of in this way.

He thought he was alone in his quest, but he is not. Because being together is absolutely what being a Sarkarnii is.

Even Daeos has settled his differences, whatever they might have been, and is introducing the others to the star cat, who has taken it upon himself to groom as many as he can, much to their surprise and obvious delight.

Draco rolls his eyes at the carnage the star cat is causing. "Is that creature yours?"

"It followed me here." I stare up at the big Sarkarnii.

"Can you remove it from my warriors so we can go and fight with your mate?" He says with a resigned sigh.

Doing my level best to hide my smile, I head over to the star cat, who rubs up against me with a force enough to nearly knock me off my feet.

"Hey, furry features, you need to leave these big bad warriors alone. They have work to do, helping Drelix," I say as I delve my hand into the dense, soft fur.

The star cat rumbles out a purr which reminds me of Drelix so much my throat closes over.

Draco barks out orders, and just over half of the Sarkarnii shift to their dragon forms and take to the sky, led by Daeos. The rest of the Sarkarnii assemble next to me, and I'm surrounded by enormous males.

"Drelix's mate is going to take us to the fight," Draco informs them. "She is brave and true, just like your den warrior."

As one, the Sarkarnii slam their fists against their chests, and Draco gives me a short bow.

"Drelix is not going to like this, but in order to get to where we need to go, you'll need a lift. If you will let me?"

He shifts, and a huge dark golden hand filled with claws extends.

Drelix is not going to like this at all, not when he wanted me as far from the perceived danger as possible. But my heart aches to see him, and I know if I don't go…if he doesn't return, I will never forgive myself. For a woman who was hiding away, unprepared to let anyone in again, Drelix has wormed his way into my heart, and I'm so glad.

He makes me happy in a way I didn't ever think would be possible, not on Earth and certainly not after I got stuck on Station X42. Those days seem so far in the past they might as well have been another life.

As I rise up within the cage of Draco's claws, anticipation churns my stomach. This is one battle the Sarkarnii have to win, for all our sake.