Chapter Nine

Castor

I wasn't thrilled at the idea of taking the whole crew to the purple district, but Axlin was right. It would be best to present them with a united front. At the very least, I figured Sunny would need to go as the diplomat from the Moonscale Dragon Flight. And I wasn't taking him anywhere near that place alone.

Fred's mate, Elio, came along with us. His brother, Marsin, stayed home with their baby. He'd seen the purple district enough to know he probably wasn't going to find his true-mate there. Eyeballs flitted in every direction as we walked down the back-alley way that led to the employee entrance to Sprinkles. That didn't stop dragons in various states of undress from having all the fun they wanted to. Only Teddy kept his eyes on his boots. Then again, if my sire was nearby I probably would've died on the spot. Then again, he may have beat me to the doors of life and death if he knew this place existed. Inside wasn't going to be any more innocent than outside.

I kept an eye out for Melon because I wanted to tease her about that drink and cigarette, but didn't spot her on our way to the club. We didn't head upstairs with Axlin to his dressing room, but were led by one of the staff with the painted, white stars to an office where Sprinkles waited for us. Axlin had spoken with her on the phone that morning to ensure she had no problem with us making use of her venue to recruit help.

Inside the office was the tallest woman, dragon or otherwise, I'd ever met. She towered over her desk with her elbows resting on it. She wore a dark blue blouse with shiny sequins and her purple eyeshadow had the tiniest glint of green glitter to match her eyes. There were seats for all of us and she motioned for us to sit down without any need for the handshaking and introductions Clarence Moonscale would've demanded.

"I assume nothing," she said, leaning back in her high leather chair. "Which of you is Castor?"

She looked right at me when she asked the question and I squirmed under her gaze. Did I already smell that much like Axlin?

"Me."

"Thought so. I only caught a glimpse of you the other night, but I rarely forget a face. After Axlin explained the situation to me I called our fearless flabby leader. He was resigned about the whole situation as usual. He has his true-mate, after all," she rolled her green eyes. "As you may have noticed our leadership here is more about keeping the flight on the right path than finding love. I," she pressed a long-fingered hand between her ample bosoms, "would like to find my mate in this lifetime. This whole place is fun, but I think it'll be twice as fun when I meet her. I was so disappointed that there were no women on your ship. I mean from what the literature says about the Moonscales I didn't expect anyone aboard to be an omega, but no women?"

"That was by accident," I said. "No women showed up wanting to go to outer space."

"It was mostly nepotism," Fred volunteered.

"You're the Moony who used to own the club I've heard a bit about now."

"That's me. See what happened is my first true-mate died. Then Elio and his brother sent me a message through the Other World gateways on Earth with a spell. I thought it was her. So, I decided to answer the call. That one," Fred pointed to Teddy, "is my kid. I sorta strong armed everyone. I'll admit it. They needed me to get here, and I would only come if my son could. The one ogling your breasts, is Sunny. He's the son of our leader and a good friend of my son. Castor built the ship. Casimir helped. Izora was the only doctor we knew who wanted to go to space. If my daughter had wanted to come I'd have made a way for her to come too. We didn't try to leave anyone out. The Medwin 2 was built to house a crew and not a whole flight."

I almost shot Fred a dirty look, but he related to Sprinkles on a level I couldn't. He knew the business she was in and it didn't seem very different than when he ran a club back on Earthside. Well, no one attacked this club as far as I knew, but it was close enough.

"Interesting," she nodded. "I'm in. I have no idea how to go about any of this. I've heard the elves are in charge of it all. They say the gateways belong to them. If you need an elf to open one, I have no clue where you'd find one."

"That's why we want to gather ideas. The Starscales know these worlds better than we ever will," I said.

"I hope you stick around forever, Castor, Captain of the Medwin 2. I'd sorely miss Axlin on the stage. He always brings in a good crowd."

"So, I've seen once," I said, trying not to blush as the memory of our meeting came back to mind.

"I can't guarantee anyone will know what to do, but I'd put my favorite corset and whip on the line that a lot of people are going to want to help. Our biggest problem here is finding our true-mates. We haven't really hacked the code of life and death as much as Hush and the other leaders would like you to believe."

"Well, we hope to help you all have more of a chance to do that," I said.

"Tell me, is it everything they say it is?" she locked her green eyes to mine.

"More," I said and meant it.

"Good. I look forward to working with you all. Castor, welcome to the Sprinkles family."

Then and only then, did she stand to shake my hand. When that was finished, she ran a finger over Sunny's cheek.

"Sweet hatchling," she purred, "even if I swung your way, you couldn't handle me, but you can look all you like."

The door opened and the white-stars ushered us into the audience's space of the club. Sprinkles had reserved us a table right up front. I blushed thinking about what Axlin might choose to wear when he came out on stage.

I was about to look for a server or head to the bar to finally get that drink when Melon plopped down in the only empty chair at the table and handed me something that looked fruity but smelled like a mix of every liquor in the bar along with a cigarette that Fred eyed. I rolled it to him. I wasn't much for smoking anyway. He lit it up with a match from a passing white-star. Elio gave him a dirty look and mumbled something about him taking a shower before touching the baby. Fred grinned and shrugged. Elio melted. He'd make his mate wash up before touching the baby, but he wasn't going to stay mad at his mate long over one cigarette.

On the stage was a buxom dragoness with bright yellow scales on her knees, toes, and finger joints. She rubbed the pole between her breasts and someone in the crowd hooted. She blew them a kiss before wrapping herself around the pole and climbing up and bringing out bright yellow wings that matched her joint scales.

"Didn't think I'd see you here again once Axlin claimed you. The other day you looked like a fish out of water, if you don't mind me saying so," Melon said, drawing my attention away from the dancer.

"I still am," I shrugged. "Wanted to see outer space and prove the Starscales were more than lore. We found you."

"That you did," she laughed and took a sip of her own drink. "Now, I hear there is some big announcement from your man tonight. Unless Moonscales conceive and show up twice or three times as fast, I don't think that it's you're expecting a baby."

At that comment, Casimir took my drink and downed it. I hadn't taken a sip yet. Not even a taste. I fought off the urge to kick him under the table.

"Well, someone's looking out for possible eggs," Melon laughed.

"Someone's not minding his own business."

"I find that most men never do," she grinned. "Now, about this announcement."

"It's not really an announcement. More a request for help."

"What do you Moonys need?" she asked, suddenly concerned.

"It'll help you more than us. Well, maybe. I'd say it would help some other Moonscales too if we pull it off."

"Now, I'm intrigued. You all don't look like there was a famine or something back on Earthside," she raked her eyes over me and then glanced at Casimir.

He grinned at her, and my mouth hit the floor. He didn't smile at anyone like that. He was loudly and proudly pansexual before everything back home unfolded but was celibate since then as far as I knew. Maybe I was wrong or maybe he had plans to change that in the purple district.

"No famine," Casimir said, flexing an arm up to show off the fact he kept his muscles despite being trapped on the Medwin 2 for more than a year in space. "We're looking to hook you all up to the Other World gateway network. If you hadn't heard about it before it's sorta how Elio got in contact at all."

"That's real?" she arched a brow and leaned to rest her arms on the table. "I thought that was made up. Doors connecting everywhere."

"Nope, it's real," I leaned back in my chair.

"And what do we need to do to get those?" she asked.

"That's why we're here to ask for help, because we're not sure. You'd think if they belong to the elves like everyone thinks that they'd have seen all the messages that Elio managed to get through to Earthside," Casimir shrugged.

The dragoness with the yellow scales finished her dance and took a bow to the audience. They cheered and clapped. I didn't look behind us to see what else the patrons of Sprinkles might have been doing during her performance.

"Oooh! Your guy is next," Melon shot me a grin.

I swallowed hard thinking about what Axlin might walk out onto the stage in. He was fucking gorgeous and the whole of the purple district knew it. I knew it more. I knew the lines and curves of his body. I knew the face he made while I sucked his dick or was inside him. I knew the primal cries he made while pounding into my body.

"Slow down there, Castor," Casimir laughed and nudged me with his foot under the table. "You smell like you're about to get up on stage and give us a show when he walks out."

I didn't apologize. Instead, I caught the attention of one of the white starred guys and asked them to bring me what Melon had but make it a virgin. I didn't feel pregnant, but wasn't taking any chances. If I was, that drink could wait a few more months. Maybe we'd crack a bottle of champagne after I laid my egg.

Axlin walked out onto the stage shirtless. He'd mussed up his hair to make it look like he just woke up. He wore a bit of black eyeliner as dark as his star scale. Pants. He had on pants. I knew strippers danced their clothes off, but I had expected him to wear less for some reason. Maybe it was wishful thinking. I waved at him, and he winked at me as two white starred dragons carried a black leather loveseat out onto the stage and handed him a microphone. His mind was quiet over our mating link as if he had meditated before taking to the stage. I let out a long, slow breath. Clothes on or off, the man took my breath away.

"Testing," Axlin said into the mic, lowering his voice to the husky pitch that made me come undone so many times since I met him. His voice echoed around the room and the crowd turned their attention to him.

"Now that I have your attention, I want to introduce you properly to someone very important to me. He's squirming in his seat right now because I didn't tell him I was going to do this, but he has something to tell you all. I'm not sure how things work on Earthside, but I was raised by a carrier who'd march in here and beat me with the nearest wooden spoon if I tried to take away an omega's voice or credit for something I had little to no hand in. Now, some of you might remember him from the other day, but I'm not going to tie him up this time. I know everyone came out for a good time and I think tonight will be the best of times – if a little different from my normal routine."

All eyes fell on me and for a second I wished I was invisible. Only, I couldn't be invisible and help them at the same time. I took a deep breath and stood up as Axlin said my name. I turned and waved to the crowd.

"Do I get to walk this time? No brutes with white scales to kidnap me?" I teased.

The crowd laughed and Axlin beckoned me to him with the wave of a finger. The audience cheered as I made my way to the front of the stage and held up a hand for him to pull me up. Pull me up, he did. Right into his arms. He kissed my forehead and whispered over our mating link that everything was alright.

"This is Castor. He's mine. Remember that."

"Hey!" I laughed. "No, he's mine." I said and made a show of running a hand down his chest and stomach to appease my dragon's streak of envy. The crowd cheered and Casimir rolled his eyes at me, but even my cousin seemed to be having an okay time. Melon had taken up my chair and was sitting next to him now, sharing my virgin drink between them.

"Never gonna get one," my dragon rolled his big eyes inside his inner sanctum.

"I'm going to hand the mic off to him now," Axlin said. "Listen to him. Hear him out. I think the dilemma he presents is small compared to what our flight accomplished by building not one but three worlds from nothing. Any other dragon flight may be lost at sea with a challenge like this, but we're Starscales! We are the problem solvers!"

The audience stopped their feet and a few dragons let out roars. The building shook and I slid my hand in Axlin's afraid I might topple over from nerves and vibrations. I hated public speaking. I almost wanted to call the showboat Fred up to tell them about it, but I was the captain of the Medwin 2. I was the one with the mate who got us on stage. So, I bit the bullet and told them everything I knew about the Other World gateways and what one here could mean for them. They were quiet and thoughtful. The white-scaled staff handed out sticky note pads and those tiny pencils that I never knew who made or where they came from for those who wanted to take notes. Sprinkles watched from the back of the room by the door, proud of her loyal patrons for taking an interest in the well-being of the flight and of future generations. I was proud of them too. Back home, any time something like this was pitched arguments inevitably broke out. The Starscales were a different breed all together. Perhaps that was because they did build everything from scratch and only had each other to rely on out here in the dead of space.

I closed my talk by letting them know that their very own Marsin had set up an email for them to submit ideas and theories to. When I handed the mic back to Axlin he apologized that he wasn't going to dance for them tonight, but instead planned on showing me a proper good time in the purple district.

Before parting ways with the group, I warned the single dragons that no pregnancies better come of tonight. Sunny rolled his eyes and Casimir asked over the family link if I brought condoms with me. I hadn't, but Axlin knew that every place handed them out if they were needed.

I didn't pause long to think about who he might use those condoms with. Instead, I left hand-in-hand with Axlin. We walked down the purple paved roads, winding through the crowds of talkers, kissers, and those who made it a lot further along than the previous two groups. He nodded and said hello to everyone who looked in our direction until we reached Hot Tails. I thought it was another strip club, but when he pushed open the doors, he revealed a candle lit restaurant beyond the hostess stand.

With its hardwood floors and sleek metal walls it could've been any fine dining restaurant back home. Well, almost. Maybe a nudist restaurant. The diners were in various states of undress and the host was a tall omega dragon who only wore a bow tie and dress shoes. He let everything else hang out. A sign behind his stand read "PLEASE REQUEST A BEDROOM FOR INTIMATE ACTS BY REQUEST OF THE FOOD SAFETY COUNCIL."

"Another council," my dragon chuckled into my thoughts.

"Hey, Ax, finally got around to bringing your mate in, I see," the host said with familiarity that made me a little jealous. How was it fair that everyone knew him before I did? I wanted those years with him too. Even holding his hand, I pined for more of him. Would I always be this desperately in love with him? I prayed to Frost, Juda, and their little babies that I would be.

"Castor this is Raye," he introduced me, and we shook hands before he led us back to a table for two in the corner.

The servers all wore g-strings in colors that matched their star scales. Ours was a perky blond with equally perky breasts wearing a gold bottom. She introduced herself as Maxi and took our orders. Axlin ordered a jumbo lobster. I was ever the Moonscale and ordered a steak which the menu and the server called a cow loin. They really did call their food what it was over here.

We ate in companionable silence, watching each other in the candlelight. Hot Tails felt so damn high class even with all the nude bodies parading around. It felt safe. Safe was a strange word to my tongue in this situation. I'd always been one who could hold my own in a fight or at least get the fuck out of dodge if I didn't have a chance of winning, but safe wasn't what I'd call that. That was awareness of my environment and being able to survive. This was a whole new feeling.

Hot Tails buzzed with conversation and a few other tables sent us desserts or drinks we might like since we were newly met. I blinked back tears. I'd always been a Moonscale. I'd die a Moonscale too, but maybe, just maybe I could be a Starscale as well.

"You are a Starscale now, mate," Axlin said over our mating link. "You were as soon as your star showed up."

"You guys just did society up proper," I said, blinking away the tears.

I usually wasn't the overemotional sort or even the emotional sort. I had emotions but fortunately knew how to process them without big hurrahs. I was privileged that way. I could sink them in and let them dissolve and then solve the problem. I knew I was lucky. Not everyone's brain worked that way. I watched Casimir struggle for years after what happened.

"Thanks," Axlin smirked at me as we finished up a piece of what was called cheesecake here. It was richer and creamier than the ones on Earthside, but not as sweet.

After dinner we walked around the purple district, holding hands, while Axlin showed me around and pointed out all the things one could get done while visiting. Everything from tattoos and piercings to less permanent body paint. They had tanning salons and waxing salons. There were bars and clubs that specialized in BDSM and other adult entertainment. Places that were known for group sex or therapists who specialized in sexual issues. There were quiet places and places that vibrated with music. The Starscales didn't shove away or hide their needs or desires. Instead, they built places for the primal parts of themselves and invited anyone with that shared desire to come and enjoy it with them. This world built for and by dragons was starting to feel a lot like home.