EPILOGUE

CRYSTAL

Below me, the shrine is a hive of movement. The movement is mainly Sarkarnii males. They've been hard at work making it into their own. They like to celebrate their ancestors with raucous celebrations and far too much ale wine. It makes them a happy bunch, and happy Sarkarnii warriors are, in the main, calm warriors who don't set things on fire…much.

I pat my stomach. It's been three months since the decision was made to take on Orias as the Sarkarnii base planet and, yep, you guessed it, I'm pregnant. Apparently, it's very much a thing with the Sarkarnii. It does not take them long to ensure their females are…ready to pop.

I'm just pleased one of our number is a human doctor. Although even she seems somewhat confused as to exactly how all of this works.

Yet another club we've all joined.

My big iridescent dragon couldn't be happier, and by happier, I mean he is setting less stuff on fire. Shame the same couldn't be said for Daeos, but that Sarkarnii is absolutely a law unto himself.

Sunlight from the two suns above me caresses my skin and I lie go to lie back on my blanket, but encounter some resistance.

Some scaly resistance…

"Hello you," I look up into Drelix's handsome face.

He slides his arms around me, hands resting on the barely there baby bump, he does one of his signature growl/purrs.

"I was wondering when you'd get here."

The star cat ambles up and flops down next to us both, dropping head onto paws and flickering an ear.

"It took longer on Trefa than I had hoped, but here I am, little morsel." He leans in and kisses me like we haven't seen each other for an age…when in reality it's been about a nova-day.

"Good," I manage, after being nearly kissed to death, "how did it go? Were you able to get the Gryn out?"

I look around, hoping to see the big guys in the sky on Orias, but other than the occasional Sarkarnii, there is nothing.

"I did say it would be harder than getting Nayl and his family off Station X42," Drelix shakes his head, "we couldn't get the Gryn released, and even if, by some miracle, Draco had persuaded their owners to grant any early pardon, I'm not sure they would have appreciated it." Drelix sighs.

"You mean they wouldn't have left?"

"Sylas has his honor. The others…I wonder if they simply don't know anything else." Drelix pulls me into him, "after all, what can the galaxy do with a set of killing machines?"

"They could come here and join your lot. I wish we could free the Gryn, I really do." I say.

"Draco tried, but you know he's more focused on finding the other Sarkarnii, that has to take precedence. But we can always try again." Drelix replies. "Now Drasus and Drega have the obsaphir working correctly, now the galaxy, and in particular the galaxy council know the Sarkarnii have a planet and no one will challenge us now."

Drelix stretches out his wings with a comfortable sigh.

"And the other Sarkarnii?"

"We will find them, wherever they are. If they want to come to Orias, they can. If not, then at least they know they have a home if they want it."

"He's not going to make you go on a search?" I twist to look at my Drelix properly. "Not yet."

"I am absolved from anything else off world until you birth, and beyond." He smiles at me, probably too much fang there, because he knows what it means.

Drelix rut might have ended, but his desire for me has increased. Now he is free of any off-world duties, I am going to be very busy.

"Which means I get to pleasure you to oblivion." He murmurs, taking possession of my lips again.

"Pleasured to oblivion?" I reply. "I should hope so."

With a huff, the star cat gets up and stalks off, leaving us alone. It's something the creature has a six sense for…

Drelix peels my dress back from my thighs. It's deliciously warm here on Orias and given I have a Sarkarnii for a mate, I've adopted the easy option of access when it comes to clothing.

RIP my pants.

Once I am suitably naked, he lifts me up and places me on his lap, clawed fingers gently tripping over my skin, forked tongue lapping the areas he knows I love, until he reaches my stomach and he purrs up a storm, huge hand spanning it.

"You are gorgeous, little mate," I can't wait until you are ripe with our Sarkarnling." His tongue delves between my thighs, and I fall open for him. "You taste like all the suns," He rumbles and I can already feel my first climax rising.

Beneath me, Drelix shifts. I'm pretty certain the day he got me pregnant was the day in the cave, and since then, mating in his alternative form has been one of our favorite pastimes.

Looks like today is no exception. I'm going to be railed by my dragon love until I can't stand.

And then he'll do it all again.

I couldn't want for anything more.

THE GRYN ARE COMING…