Chapter 20

Darah

"I did not like seeing her suffer in pain like that," I told Terrek as I lay behind Flame, rubbing her head as she slept. "I know. I did not like her suffering either. She is a brave

warrior." Terrek bent down to kiss Flame's brow, then gave me a sweet kiss.

"Stay with her. I need to see about something." Terrek turned and left us.

I wonder what he had brewing. He looked determined. I kissed Flame's neck and fell asleep with her in my arms. This time, there was only darkness, no dreams, and no family visits. I woke up feeling disappointed.

That feeling vanished when Flame turned towards me. Tingles rushed over my body, all giddy for the sexy woman looking at me with love in her red eyes.

"How are you feeling?" I asked with my sleepy voice.

"Better, especially waking up in your arms, beautiful." Flame kissed me sweetly before she got up.

"Why don't we stay in bed all day?" I asked with a pout, patting the bed, hoping she would jump back in.

"I would rather spend all day in bed with you, my sweet Darah. Unfortunately, war waits for no one. We have a lot of people to save."

"You are right. I don't want you to push yourself too hard. You just had a painful procedure."

"Pain I can handle, resisting you and all your sexiness, now that is the true suffering." Flame said as she wrapped her beautiful dark red hair up tight.

"You're the sexy one, you she-devil," I said as I rolled out of bed reluctantly and rushed to use the bathroom.

Flame walked up to me she bent down and kissed me deeply, her tongue tasting fresh from the mouth cleanser in the bathroom.

"Now that's what I call a kiss," I said as she left me hot and breathless. Unlike Terrek's commanding, hard kisses, her kisses were soft and sultry. I am not comparing. I was thrilled I had my yin and yang, the perfect blend.

We stepped out into the hall where Terrek stood with a small group of crew members.

"Oh, good, you're up. I was waiting for you. I did not want to disturb you ladies and your resting time." He leaned down to kiss me.

"Do you feel well, my Flame?" Terrek asked, looking her over to be sure.

"Yes, I feel great." Flame said as she smiled up at him. Terrek leaned in to kiss her sweetly, too.

"Good, just the way I like it. My girls are happy and healthy." Terrek turned to the crew.

"Okay, let's get this job done." He said as they carried tools and materials into our room.

"What are you up to?" I asked curiously.

"I am extending our bed. We need to make room so Flame will feel welcomed."

"Is that not the sweetest damn thing?" I said as I looked at Flame, who looked like she was holding back tears that brimmed her eyes.

"Oh, Hun, we want you in our bed. You are our mate. It is now your bed, too." I said as I pulled her in for a Texas-sized hug.

Terrek pulled us both into a big hug. "You are ours forever. I go wherever you two go."

He kissed our heads, patted our butts, and then turned to help the crew build a big enough bed for us.

"I don't know why that choked me up. I am just so happy." Flame said as she composed herself, and we went back to duty.

"I think we all deserve our happiness. I am glad I have you, too, Flame." I said as we held hands as we went to the command deck.

The defense grid was almost entirely built. The Frio engineers were spacewalkers working like busy ants efficiently with a determined purpose.

Watching them on the viewing display was fascinating. They were in outer space as if they were on a planet. Free of the protections that we would need. Flame sent a drone with blue ice crystals to deliver to Glacier. He sent a video message in return.

"My favorite Fire, I could never repay you for this gift." The droning voice said, and his almost featureless face still conveyed deep gratitude.

"No need to ever repay me, my friend. I owe you more than those blue ice crystals could ever amount to."

"I would burn in a scorching fire for you, my dear friend Flame," Glacier said with a salute.

I knew that must have been a huge compliment from a Frio being. I reached out for Flame's hand and squeezed hers. I know how he feels. I would die for her, for Terrek, without hesitation.

"That male truly respects you," I said as a censor alarm blared.

The AI announcement called out. "Unknown lifeform is being tracked on Laverian."

"Mark the location and get a jump ship ready." Flame demanded as a commotion erupted among the crew.

"Where did it come from? Do you think it is a Kanenites spy?" I asked, my heart was pounding.

I rushed after Flame as we made our way to the jump pods. Terrek ran up to us just as the door opened.

"I am not sure, but it does not matter. I will find out." Flame said all business.

"I go wherever you two go!" Terrek said as he handed each of us the galaxtic empires modified device wands.

We quickly boarded the jump ship. We were suctioned to our seats like a magnet. As the pod jumped away from Stealth Davis, we flew to the location of the lifeform that appeared out of nowhere on our radar.

"This doesn't make sense. No craft has entered the planet's atmosphere or been in the range of our censors." Flame looked concerned.

"They have only plant life and microbial and the prill fish left on Laverian. There should be no lifeform on the surface." Flame tried to figure out how a lifeform was on the surface, and she did not look happy about not knowing. Her forehead crinkled with stress lines, and her face reddened. She hit scanning buttons with hard jabs.

She flew us to the surface area the beacon was tracking. In our viewing screen stood a tall woman dressed in a blue dress. She carried a bow and quiver full of arrows. Her hair was braided up like I would imagine Vikings did. The female looked confused and stared at our pod in shock.

"Who are you, and where did you come from?" Flame asked through an intercom that projected her demand outside our ship.

The woman stood taller. Her shock was replaced by defiance.

"I am Ember of the Dragoons. I came from the Goddess Harmony's god portal. Harmony has some explaining to do!" Ember shouted back at us.

I instantly relaxed, "If Harmony sent her, she must be a friend, not a foe." I insisted my intuition telling me so.

"There you go again, being too trusting." Flame said to me with an eye roll.

"I do not recognize her. She has purple slit eyes like the chetaht. She seems like a predator to me." Terrek spoke.

"You two are too much; that girl got here as I did. If Harmony sent her, that's all I needed to vouch for her worthiness," I said, knowing in my gut that Ember was a friend.

"Please, Flame, land this thing so we can talk to her properly. I need to teach you two some southern hospitalities, geez," Darah said.

"Woman! She hasn't been deemed worthy, but I will try to be nice. Only because you asked with that sexy, southern accent." Flame said as she landed our jump pod, and we exited.

The beautiful lady in the blue dress approached us confidently. Terrek stepped in front of Flame and me, taking a defensive stance. I rolled my eyes at Flame, who looked at our big purple male as if to get him to help her convince me to be cautious. Before I had the chance to move, I heard the stranger speak.

"Chill out there, big male. I will not harm you or your females." Ember said.

I stepped next to Terrek. He did not take his suspicious eyes off this lady. Flame stood to his other side. I could feel Terrek tense. He did not speak. Flame looked stern, staring at Ember with a hardness, a visual warning. What a sight we must make.

"I smell the fire in your blood, but you are not a dragon. I smell that you have claimed these two. Your fire marks them. The lady said to Flame.

He smells like he is of this world,? she said, staring at Terrek.

She flared her nostrils toward me.

"You are an earthling. Do any of you know why Harmony has brought me here?" She demanded, not very happy that she was here.

"First off, I am Darah from Texas on earth. Harmony brought me here, too. This big guy is Terrek of this planet. This world is called Laverian. This is Flame; she is from the planet Gia, a warrior world." I introduced my family, trying to break the ice.

"How are you able to smell what we are?" I asked curiously.

"I am Dragoon. My senses are excellent."

"Dragoon?" what does that mean?

"My mother told me that earthlings have heard legends of dragons. Do you not know what a dragon is?"

"I did not know dragons were real. My apologies. How does your mother know about Earth?"

"My mother is from the Earth. The magic of my world changed them into Dragoons. I am half earthling but wholly Dragoon. Dragoon is the family name of our most powerful dragon bloodline."

"You must be deemed worthy." Flame said sharply.

"Can you not smell a lie on me?" Ember asked Flame.

"I cannot smell a lie; can you smell a lie?" Flame retorted. Damn, she was hot when she was in boss mode.

"Curious, I smell your fire; you are somehow related to my dragon. But you are not a dragon."

"Just because we share names related to fire doesn't make us related." Flame said with her flair.

Flame looked at me, leaned behind Terrek's back, and mouthed, "What is a dragon?"

"Will you disarm yourself so we can go back to the ship and discuss this so we can figure everything out together?"

Terrek asked, holding out his hand for her bow and quivers.

"Look, I only wanted some "IN OUT" out-animal style cheeseburger. That damn blue door opened and sucked me into it. It has never taken any of us before.

It was supposed to be one way, only bringing the people Harmony has chosen to my world. That and the food replicator sends us earth food when we request it." Ember rattled on, seemingly frustrated.

"My family must be worried sick. I want to go home." Ember insisted.

I was taken when I fell into that koi pond, but I had no family left on Earth, so being here was not terrible for me. Ember seems sad that she is here. I felt sorry for her.

"I promise the next vision I have with Harmony. I will ask her about you. If anyone can send you home, it will be her."

Ember took her bow and quiver and reluctantly handed them to Terrek.

"Be careful with this; my Uncle Fang made these for me. He hand-carved my bow and each arrow, even using good wood. The enchanted wood the trees give freely. I will be fire-spitting mad if you damage it."

"Noted; I will take care of your bow," Terrek promised. He seemed a bit more at ease.

"If you are worthy, I will return it to you." Flame said, looking skeptical.

"What magic makes your metal fly?" Ember asked as she stepped into our jump pod.

"Magic? No magic. We use engines. What class level is your planet rated?" Flame asked.

"Class level? I am from planet Harmony. The goddess herself created my world. We fly using our wings, and we never go to space." Ember said simply.

"I never went to space before, and I ended up here going through the god portal myself. We have that in common, but I can teach you. Everything is so fascinating. Maybe you will enjoy your experience traveling in space." I suggested trying to relate to Ember.

"She needs to be deemed worthy before we offer anything to her freely." Flame chided me.

"Whatever! Let's get this over with." Ember said.

We jumped back into space and reattached to Stealth Davis. We escorted Ember to the chair.

"Is this for real? You want me to allow you to strap me down in that chair?"

"It won't hurt you; it is just customary." I insisted.

"Just so you know, I am willingly trying to appease you by sitting in this chair. However, if you try to hurt me, my dragon will protect me. It will destroy this vessel, and I guess that is a quick way to discover if a dragon can survive space."

Ember sat and let me strap her down. I was feeling a bit worried about her turning into a dragon. Was she for real?

Flame turned on the worthy detector. The image showed a dragon flying in a colorful sky; the dragon dodged a crystal platform floating with the clouds. It looks like a beautiful place. The dragons looked terrific. One blew fire playfully. The machine dinged green, declaring Ember worthy.

"That is a dragon," I said to Flame, who was wide-eyed and enthralled at the images displayed.

"A worthy dragon; I wish I could become something that cool." Flame said with respect in her voice.

"Strong women surround me," Terrek said as I unstrapped Ember from the chair.

"We don't have time to figure all this out. We have to leave for our designated rendezvous for the invasion." Flame said, reminding us that we have slaves to save.

"What invasion?" Ember asked, a bit alarmed.

"Laverian was attacked and harvested by these evil guys called the Kanenites. Terrek's people and the beings from other worlds are held prisoners as enslaved people. We have devised a plan of attack to save these people, animals, and resources and return them home."

"I will help you fry some evil asses. My world got rid of our evil vampire. I hoped that would be the last of any evil we ever faced. If I can help you fight, that is the least I can do to repay the Goddess Harmony." Ember offered without hesitation. I like this lady. She will fit right in.

"Welcome to the club," I said. Everyone looked oddly at me; I guess something in the translation was off with my earth slang.

"It just means we are happy to have you join us."

"I am happy to be a part of the club that kills the evil guys," Ember said, and we all laughed.

"I need to return home as soon as possible, so let's go fry some evilness." Ember insisted.

We headed to our destination after we gave Ember a quick tour of Stealth Davis and set her up in a crew bunk.

Talking significantly about saving the enslaved people was good, but suddenly, a hollow in the pit of my stomach weighed me down. I was terrified of Terrek and Flame being injured or killed. I could not lose my family again. I won't survive it.

I looked around the ship. The crew members and the warriors were busy checking all components and preparing the ship for battle. I saw a pallet of medical supplies being inventoried by medics, and reality sank in. Some of these people will be injured or worse. We are just hours away from a very intense battle.

Looking around, I saw that everyone was working and seemingly cool, just excited about the war we were about to engage in. They must be made of badassery, some tough stuff. I both admired and feared for them. I wished that I had it in me to be so cool.

Anxiety suddenly consumed me, my heart pounding, thinking about Flame being injured again. Or Terrek being hurt. They could die. I could not let them get hurt or die. I was helpless to control the unknown outcome. I started to hyperventilate, breathing fast and feeling dizzy with panic. I was fighting not to let it show.

Terrek first sensed it as he stopped helping a crew member and came directly to me. He wrapped me in his arms and carried me to the chow hall. He sat me on the table and got me a hot, fresh cup of tea.

Candy jumped on the table to lay his head on my lap. "Thank you, dear," I said, choked up.

Rubbing Candy's silky ears helps to calm me.

"Darah, don't be scared. I believe we will prevail. How can we not? We have your goddess on our side." Terrek tried to soothe me.

Ember came into the chow hall. Candy jumped down and ran to her. He jumped up to hug her and smell her face. Ember laughed and sank her hands into his soft fur.

"Hello, you sweet beast, I like you furry guy." Ember cooed as she sniffed Candy.

"Well, that's new; I am glad he likes you." I was starting to calm down.

"I smelled your anxiety and wanted to check on you. My Aunt Brooke helps my mom when she has anxiety attacks. Maybe I can teach you a breathing technique that might help."

"That is super sweet of you; I'll try it. I am just so scared of losing my mates in this battle."

"I go wherever you go, Darah. We will be together and survive." Terrek said confidently.

"You have me here now. I will fry anything that tries to hurt you or your family," Ember said while petting Candy.

"I believe in us. I hate that I let my anxiety consume me sometimes. Ember, will you teach me this breathing thing?"

"Absolutely."