The others nod. “We did too,” Rezzix says. “When we saw that woman.” He points to a different human. “We demand a chance to claim our mates.”
“Are you animals?” I snarl, rage coursing through my blood. “You stupid fools. Their ship has crashed on this planet, and they’ve just learned that they’re stuck on the prison planet for the rest of their lives. They’ve lost their homes. Their families. Do you remember what that feels like?” I glare at them in turn—Belfox, Herrix, Rezzix, Magnux, Luddux, Yasix, Thesix, and Xanthox—and they have the grace to look ashamed. “Give them some room to breathe.”
Belfox takes a deep breath. “Very well,” he concedes. “Let the women rest tonight. But in the morning,” he glares at Dariux, “I expect this matter to be resolved.”
Dariux gives them a cold, quelling look. He turns to the frightened women. “My ladies,” he says quietly. “Our rudeness is unforgivable. Please, let me show you to my dwelling. You may sleep there tonight. We will discuss your role in our community in the morning.”
“Tell us what’s going on,” Olivia insists. Her face is still pale, but her voice is steady.
“Very well,” Zunix agrees. “Draekons gain the ability to shapeshift at will when they are mated. When a pair of Draekons shifts for the first time, it is because they have sighted a potential mate.” His lips twist wryly. “That’s what just happened.”
Olivia doesn’t react, but one of the others does, a woman with long curly brown hair. “I’m Paige Watkins,” she says. “So let me see if I can get this straight. The two of them,” she points to Zunix and me, “already changed to dragons when they saw one of us…”
“Olivia,” Zunix interjects. “We transformed when we saw Olivia.”
“Of course,” another woman mutters. “Double-D claims her next victim.”
Paige Watkins looks annoyed at the interruption. “And these guys transformed when they saw Olivia too?”
“Belfox and Herrix, yes.”
“So how does that work?” she persists. “Does that mean that Olivia’s expected to shack up with all four of them?”
“No,” Dariux replies, his brow furrowed. “The bond is always between two Draekons and one mate. To the best of my knowledge, this situation is unprecedented. We will need to decide how to proceed.”
“And the other dragons that shifted? Do you intend to mate with us against our will?”
“Never.” Dariux looks openly horrified. “There are other worlds in which such things happen, but we are citizens of the High Empire. We are not savages. If you do not wish to mate, we will respect that.”
Color is flooding back in Olivia’s face. The rubra is working its magic. For now.
I’m done with reassurances and discussions. Olivia’s leg is still broken, and healing her is the most important thing. “Enough,” I say impatiently. “You have a place to sleep. You will be safe tonight. Of these things, you have my word as Lord of Laris.” I turn to Dariux. “We need to use your med-kit.”
His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “There will be a price to pay.”
Of course there is. I might give away translators without a second thought, but Dariux always barters for an advantage. This time, the situation is grave. Olivia’s leg is badly damaged, and the open wound could infect her entire body.
Without the med-kit, her life is in danger.
Dariux’s cooperation will not come cheap.
5
Olivia:
That was educational.
For the moment, I ignore the fact that four of these guys leveled up because of me. With great difficulty, I also ignore my urge to strangle Felicity. Double-D claims her next victim. Catty bitch.
The situation is dire.
What none of the guys have said—but is perfectly obvious if you read between the lines—is that their protection comes at a price. This Dariux guy’s offer for a safe place to sleep tonight? Not without strings.
It doesn’t take Mensa-level IQ to figure out what the currency is. They want pussy. I don’t blame them. After sixty-five years, they must be pretty damn sick of their left hands.
Plus, there’s the shapeshifting thing. If they have mates, they get to be full-fledged dragons.
To be fair, Liorax and Zunix did warn us. You will be wooed, Zunix had said.
Do the other women realize what’s going on? Paige does, I think, as does Bryce. I can’t read May. Felicity is too busy being a twatwaffle to have any time to think. I have to figure out how to bring the conversation around to the topic.
The unpleasant reality is that if we’re really stuck on this prison planet, then mating with them might indeed be our best option.
Dariux disappears with the other women. Zunix finally sets me down on the ground. “Dariux will show the women to their quarters and will return with the med-kit,” he says, his voice gentle. “It’ll heal the break.”
“Thank you.” I wonder if I can risk a question without weakening my cover story. Because one thing is certain. Until I figure out who I can trust and who I cannot in this dog-eat-dog camp, I’m going to cling wholeheartedly to my ditzy, big-boobed, not-a-thought-in-my-head persona. “Is Dariux a doctor?” I open my eyes very wide. “I don’t have any money to pay him.”
Zunix’s eyes narrow. “So you heard that comment, did you?” A smile curves at his lips. “Liorax and I requested the med-kit. The debt is ours, and we will pay the price.”
“Which puts me in your debt,” I reply automatically. Shit. Ditz-Olivia isn’t capable of such analysis. I shouldn’t have said that out loud. What’s in the painkiller juice that Liorax gave me anyway?
Zunix tilts his head and surveys me. “Indeed,” he replies. “You’re quite right. It does put you in our debt.” His eyes crinkle with amusement. “I’m sure we’ll find a way to settle it.”
Of course you will. More boob magic.
Dariux returns before Zunix can ogle the girls too much. He holds a small rectangular box in his hands. It looks like my TV’s remote control, but it’s silver in color and has no buttons or screens of any sort.
The clearing has emptied. The sun’s waning rays filter through the trees, and the Draekons have vanished into their treehouses. Probably because of the detsena. Even my other suitors—Belfox and Herrix, if I remember their names correctly—have melted away for the moment, though I have a strong feeling I’m going to be seeing a lot more of them in the coming days.
Only Zunix and Liorax remain at my side. If they’re bothered by the prospect of being eaten by the detsena, they’re not showing it.
“What’s the price, Dariux?” Liorax demands.
“It’s simple. I want both your support in a matter of my choosing.”
Judging by Zunix’s reaction, that’s a steep price, and an unexpected one. “What sort of matter?” he asks warily.
Dariux’s lips curl in distaste. “Your mate’s life is at stake, and you haggle like a market vendor?”
Smug bastard. I want to punch him. It makes perfect sense for Zunix to get clarification. I’d do the same thing myself.
Zunix gives no sign of backing down. “I will not support you blindly in matters of capital punishment,” he says. “I will not harm Liorax, Olivia, or the other human women.”
Dariux’s smile grows, and I’m convinced my two rescuers have walked into a trap. “Those are reasonable limits. Do I have your word?”
“Yes,” Liorax says shortly. Zunix hesitates, then he too inclines his head in agreement.
“Good.” Dariux kneels next to me and unwraps the blood-soaked bandage. I avert my head from the wound before I catch a glimpse of the bone, and notice Liorax and Zunix staring at me with respect. “That’s quite a break,” Dariux says, his voice sharp. “You’ve been very brave, human.”
Years of training, buddy. Years and years of training.
“You must not move,” Dariux warns me. “If you jerk away, the med-kit will malfunction and heal the break badly. Brace yourself. This will hurt.”
No shit. The med-kit lights up, glowing an eerie blue, and as it hovers over my leg, it feels like someone’s holding a blowtorch to my skin. I grip the nearest hand—Liorax—and do my best to hold still. This is my gom jabbar.
Zunix’s fingers stroke my forehead, the touch strangely comforting. How long has it been since I allowed a man to get close to me? Too long. For far too many years, my first duty has been to the agency.
Now I’m on an alien planet, and two pairs of Draekons both want to mate with me. When it rains, it pours.
“Only another minute, Olivia.” Liorax’s voice is soothing. Funny guy, Liorax. Earlier, he gave Dariux a translator without demanding something in return. He definitely doesn’t like me, but he’s still doing the decent thing.
I can’t quite understand these men. They’re full of maddening contradictions. Whenever I think I’ve pigeonholed them, they do something that throws me.
It’s been less than a day, Liv. What do you expect?
The burning sensation abates. “It’s done,” Dariux announces.