Hunted by the Dragon Alien (Zarux Dragon Brides #3)

Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

Takkian

Takkian blinked against the bright lights of the ship. Confusion had washed over him as he tried to piece together where he was and what had happened. The gentle hum of the ship’s power center vibrated beneath him. A soft weight pressed against his arm. It had taken him a moment for everything to come into focus. He was grateful for the weightlessness. It offered some relief from the soreness in every part of his body.

His naked body. Except for the blanket from his bunk, he had no clothes.

He listened as Sevas explained what had happened and how they’d escaped. He remembered being the dragon— that was forever etched into his memory. And abruptly growing into a larger creature explained why he was nude. His pants were tight enough to begin with. They were a shredded pile of rags on the arena floor, now. Or incinerated, by him.

But he had no memories after returning to his typical form. Sevas said that Ulo had wrapped him in a blanket and carried him. Bruil operated the vessel they’d escaped in. And Sevas was here, strapped into the seat beside him. They hadn’t left him there. They hadn’t abandoned him, even though he must have been a burden in his unconscious state. His chest tightened with a feeling he couldn’t name. There was gratitude, wonder, but also something that felt an awful lot like hope.

“Sevas,” he croaked, his throat dry and scratchy.

She smiled at him. Her dark red eyes shone with relief. She leaned closer and tucked the blanket snugly around him. “You scared us, Takkian. You scared me .”

He shifted, still wrapped in the warmth of her presence. The events of the arena were terrible to remember. The moments of chaos clashed in his mind—the fight, the transformation, and then…darkness. The taste of fire and determination was still sharp in his memory, but so was fear. Fear that he would lose control. Fear that he would hurt her. “I’m…completely me again?”

“Yes.” Her smile widened. “Some of your scars are smaller and a few are gone. I guess the transformation process is healing to your body.”

He frowned. “I earned those scars.”

“You’ll earn more of them before all this is over,” said Bruil from his chair. “Don’t worry.”

Sevas leaned in, her eyes bright. “You transformed! I’ve never seen anything like it. You became a dragon. I mean, it was terrifying and fantastic at the same time. And if you hadn’t, we wouldn’t have made it out of there.”

His mind raced as he processed her words. “I didn’t want to,” he admitted, the weight of vulnerability gnawing at him. “I—I fought it initially. I’d never gone through that before.”

“I’m glad you did.” She reached out, playfully poking his chest. “That fire comes in handy during high-risk escapes. I didn’t think I’d make it out of there.”

Takkian winced slightly at the reminder. “I made it too hot,” he said roughly. “I’m so sorry. I’d end myself before I knowingly hurt you. You’re…everything, Sevas.”

Sevas tilted her head, her expression softening. “No one has ever said that to me before. I feel the same way about you.”

He nodded, pieces falling into place. His heart swelled at the thought of this incredible female at his side. Takkian exhaled, considering the possibility of a future he’d previously written off as impossible. “We’re actually out.” He let the moment sink in, though a steady pulse of urgency throbbed beneath his contentment. They weren’t entirely safe yet.

“Yes,” Sevas said. “But we need a plan and we must send out a message. Ulo has family—if we can contact them, they might help us get out of this quadrant. We can’t stay here any longer than necessary.”

“Agreed.” Takkian stretched, still feeling the fatigue from transforming, but driven by the adrenaline of their escape. He turned his attention to the cockpit, where Bruil remained at the console, studying the navigation interface with a furrowed brow.

“Bruil,” Takkian called through his raw throat. “What’s our next move?”

Bruil straightened and turned. His scarred face was set in determined lines. “I was just about to run through a training simulation,” he said, patting the control panel. “This vessel is equipped with fold technology, which I need to learn before we attempt it. It was brand new and rare, back when I fought for Zarux, but it’s a common component of ships, now, it seems.”

“What is fold technology?” he asked.

“It’s a way of traveling far distances in a very short time.” Bruil rubbed a hand over his face. “As far as I recall, it anchors to a location somewhere else and creates a rift of sorts. It folds space and delivers the ship to the other location within moments. I’m not sure I explained that well, since I’m not even sure how it works.”

“You explained it well, Bruil,” Ulo said. “I’ve been on ships that fold . My father said it takes a lot of energy and the ship needs time to recharge after doing it, but it is common on ships now.”

“Wow,” Sevas said. “That’s incredible. And this ship can do that?”

“It appears so,” Bruil responded. “But before we think of doing that, we need to send out a signal or message to the Dokkol about Ulo.”

“Let’s do it,” she replied. “We need to reach them.”

“I know the long-distance frequency my people use most,” Ulo said, then hesitated. “And there’s a secret distress signal that only other Dokkol can recognize.”

“You’ll be sharing this secret, I hope,” Bruil said in his usual gruffness. “And I’ll promptly forget it. I want you to get home, lad.”

Takkian watched as Ulo awkwardly crossed the short distance to the front of the ship. He had to crouch and brace hands and feet on the ceiling and floor to maneuver in weightlessness without crashing into anything. He explained to Bruil what to do and the older Zaruxian input what Ulo gave him.

But Takkian couldn’t pull his gaze away from Sevas for long. She seemed to get more beautiful every time he looked at her. It was all he could do to not pull her into his arms, kiss her, and blubber on about how much he adored her. He was a hardened warrior, for fek’s sake. He’d won final matches in that arena. He’d fought without mercy more times than he wanted to think about. But here he was, gazing lovingly at an alien female who had somehow become his whole world.

“I’m inputting the signal now. Message transmission sent,” Bruil said, then glanced back at Takkian. “Let’s hope they receive it soon. We can’t stay in one place too long.”

“They’ll respond,” Takkian said, dragging his gaze from Sevas. “We’ll get Ulo home.”

Bruil’s gaze moved over him and Sevas. The look on his face told Takkian that Bruil had something to say about the two of them but wasn’t ready to say it, yet. That was fine with Takkian. If the older male had an objection to his bond with Sevas, he didn’t want to hear it, anyway.

“The power cells are charged,” Bruil said. “If Ulo’s people are close, we can get him to safety before the Axis realize we’ve gone.”

Takkian cast a glance at Ulo, who hovered against the side wall of the ship, trying to not fill the entire cabin with his size. Whoever owned this ship before them was smaller than Ulo.

Bruil looked back to his console. “We need to find a safe place to hide until we receive a reply. Someplace where we’ll avoid detection.”

“What about a gas planet?” Ulo suggested. “I saw one on the navigation chart. My people take cover in the thick gas atmospheres of them when our freighters are pursued. The one I saw was close enough to get to at the highest speed setting and should provide cover.”

“Good idea, Ulo,” Bruil said, checking the charts. “It’s mostly gas, according to these readings. We can slip into its atmosphere and use the clouds as camouflage.” Bruil adjusted the ship’s course. “I’ll set us on a direct approach.”

The ship shuddered slightly as Bruil engaged the thrusters and they powered forward.

Takkian rubbed a hand over his face, more exhausted than he recalled ever being. Rest was desperately needed, not just for him, but for all four of them. Bruil stared out of the viewport with a dazed expression. Ulo’s eyes kept falling closed, and Sevas just looked worn out. She was covered in soot and dirt. He fingered the burned ends of her yellow hair. “Ah, fek ,” he ground out. “I burned your hair.”

She made a face. “You destroyed an arena and you’re worried about my hair.”

He furrowed his brow, thinking of her stricken face as she told him to stop his fire. “Did I hurt you?”

“No. And I like my hair short,” she said, turning her head back and forth as her hair swung around her shoulders. She looked up at Bruil and Ulo. “Do we know if these ships carry rations?” she asked, her voice tired but hopeful as she pressed a hand to her belly. “We all need food and water.”

“There should be a replicator,” Ulo replied. “Let me check.”

Takkian watched as Ulo moved about the ship. His massive fingers deftly checked over the array of devices. The ship hummed along, pushing toward the gas planet that loomed on the navigation chart.

“Found it.” Ulo grinned. Confidence shone through his earlier uncertainty. “I’ve never used this model before, but they’re all the same. I’ll make us something.”

“Thank you, Ulo.” Sevas’ expression shifted to one of relief.

Takkian could see the exhaustion creeping back into her features. She had fought hard and endured so much, but now she was spent.

“Protein pellets should be easy to program,” Ulo said, concentrating on the replicator’s interface. “And they are moisture rich, too. I’ll make enough for all of us.” His fingers moved over the controls.

Takkian turned his gaze toward Sevas, who was watching Ulo with a mix of gratitude and fatigue. He knew she had more strength in her than she let on, but the toll of their escape and her first fight weighed heavily on her. “Once we get to that planet, we’ll lie low for a while. Plan our next steps.”

She smiled wearily. “That sounds wonderful.”

“Almost done.” A series of beeps and whirrs came from the replicator, followed by the soft hiss of the compartment opening up. Ulo grabbed the tray, lifting it to reveal small, circular protein pellets that smelled surprisingly decent. “Here we go.” His enthusiasm brought a faint smile to Sevas’ lips.

“Good job, Ulo,” Takkian said, taking a few off the tray as Sevas did the same. “We’ll need this energy if we’re going to keep moving.”

Sevas leaned into the seat, breaking a pellet in two and popping one half in her mouth. She closed her eyes and chewed slowly. “This is more delicious than it should be.”

Ulo chuckled. “It’s as basic a nutrient compound as it gets.”

“Still better than that tasteless goop they gave us at the arena,” she muttered around chewing. “Even the settlement’s food was better than that.”

They all took a moment to eat in silence. Takkian savored each bite, feeling the weight of their circumstances shift with every swallow. Sevas was right—it was better than the foul rations doled out to the fighters in the arena. It tasted good because they chose to eat this. It wasn’t forced on them. And when they were done, they wouldn’t be herded back to a cell.

As they finished, Ulo glanced around, a hint of worry etching his brow. “What happens if they find us?”

“Then we do what we’ve done so far,” Takkian replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “We fight. We survive. But let’s avoid unnecessary risks. We need to steer clear of confrontations, if possible.”

“Exactly,” Sevas added, stealing a glance towards the front, where Bruil fiddled with the controls as he ate. “Takkian’s right, but you’ll be home before long. Don’t worry about us, Ulo.”

Before Takkian could respond, Bruil turned in his seat, his sharp yellow eyes intense. “We’ll be entering the planet’s atmosphere soon. Brace yourselves. It’ll be bumpy, and I can’t say how well this ship will handle the turbulence.”

“Understood,” Takkian said, still feeling the weight of responsibility settling over him. He sensed the stress. The faint hum of the ship turned into a rush of sounds as they descended. He turned his attention back to Sevas, who looked like she was ready to be done with all things bumpy and turbulent.

“Hang in there,” he whispered, leaning in closer.

The ship dove into the swirling, vivid layers of the gas giant’s atmosphere. Outside the viewport, the darkness of space gave way to a kaleidoscope of turbulent, shifting clouds. Streaks of gold, crimson, and violet coiled and twisted like living flames, broken only by flashes of electrical storms crackling through the dense layers. The deep hum of the ship’s engines shifted, vibrating with a strained urgency as Bruil adjusted their flight path.

“Hold on!” Bruil barked. The ship jolted violently, and everyone grabbed something to secure themselves, even though everyone but Ulo was strapped in. The only reason he wasn’t was because he was too big for any of the seats or straps.

Sevas gripped her seat’s armrests. Her knuckles strained against the metal as the ship shuddered under the atmospheric pressure. “Is it supposed to feel like we’re being shaken apart?” she asked, her voice rising above the growl of the engines.

Bruil didn’t look back. “That’s normal. It will stabilize.”

As he promised, the turbulence eased. The violent shaking subsided under Bruil’s steady hands. The ship came to a stop in the dense atmosphere, shrouded in thick clouds of swirling gas. The colors outside the viewport shifted from wild chaos to a muted palette of deep amber and blue-gray hues, like an endless ocean of smoke. The rhythmic thrum of the ship softened.

“We’re good,” Bruil announced, exhaling deeply as he turned back and eyed his passengers. “Thrusters are shut down, and all but essential systems are in standby. We’re holding steady.”

Sevas let out a shaky breath. Her grip on the seat loosened and Takkian watched her peer around Bruil’s head to gaze out the viewport. Outside, the ship appeared to be cloaked in a colorful, swirling abyss. “We’re…drifting?” she asked, her voice quieter now. “And we’re hidden?”

“We are,” Bruil confirmed, leaning back in his seat. “The ship is suspended in the gas layers. We’re invisible to most scanning systems. It’d take a lucky break for anyone to find us here.”

Takkian stretched. His muscles were tight and fek , he was tired. The moment of calm, floating in the thick gas clouds, felt surreal after the chaos they had endured. They were safe. Hidden, for now.

Bruil finished locking the systems, giving a slow nod of approval as he leaned back in his seat. “According to the ship layout, there are four small staterooms in the upper deck. We should break off and rest.”

“Agreed,” Takkian said. He unclipped himself and pushed out of the seat and tied the blanket around his waist, then turned to check on Sevas. She released herself from the straps as well and gave him a small, tired smile.

“I’ll stay here,” Ulo rumbled, his voice soft yet firm. “I’m too big for those small quarters. I’ll sleep in the main cabin. It’s spacious enough.” He gestured to a spot near the replicator. “Right here looks good.”

Takkian placed a hand on Ulo’s rocky shoulder. “Shout if you hear or see anything, but get some rest, too. You’ve earned it.”

Ulo nodded and settled as well as he could, wedging his massive form between the wall and a set of seats. He looked at ease, finally, which gave Takkian some measure of relief.

Bruil stood and stretched, yawning audibly. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in a room.” He gave a pointed look to Takkian and Sevas. “Make sure you rest . No use for all our planning if you’re both dead on your feet.”

Takkian smirked faintly as the older Zaruxian pushed off and floated to the ladder leading to the upper level.

“Well,” Sevas said, brushing her hair back and stepping closer to Takkian, her voice light but laced with exhaustion, “I guess we should head up, too.”

“I guess we should,” he replied, floating to the upper opening. Up there, a short, narrow corridor held four doors. He saw Bruil shut the door to the farthest one. “Which one do you want?” he asked Sevas.

Her gaze was dark and soft. “Whichever one you’re in.”

Her words thudded through him. “Sevas, you don’t have to—”

“I won’t be parted from you, Takkian.” Her hand was soft on his arm. “Unless you want to be alone.”

He braced them both against the closest door. Handles ran the length of the corridor from the ceiling and he braced them both with one hand and slid an arm around her waist with the other. “No. I don’t.”

“Then any room is fine,” she said, not breaking eye contact.

He opened the door behind her and pushed them both inside. The stateroom was small, but it was quiet and, more importantly, private . Takkian glanced around to assess the room. It had a wide bed along one wall, a small metal table bolted to the floor, and a single overhead light. There was enough room for the two of them to move around without brushing shoulders, though with his wings, it still felt cramped.

Sevas scanned the room, trying to stifle a yawn. Despite her playful tone, he could see the weariness in her posture.

Takkian closed the door behind her, then turned to face her fully. For the first time, he was alone with Sevas. He scanned her face. Her bruises were fading, but they still marred her otherwise strong, beautiful features. She’d been through so much, and yet she stood there, defiant and unbroken.

“How are you holding up?” he asked, his voice quieter than it needed to be.

Sevas tilted her head, offering a faint smile. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t exhausted, but…” She moved past him to the bed. “We made it out. That’s what matters.”

“We did.” He watched her move around, inspecting the room. “I’ve always known you were strong, Sevas. But today… You carried all of us. Kept us together.”

She looked at him. “And you…turned into a literal dragon to save me.” Her voice rose with what sounded like awe. “Takkian, you did something I didn’t even think was possible. You became something more, something unstoppable. You didn’t just save me—you saved all of us.”

Takkian felt a flicker of heat rise in his chest. It wasn’t the raging fire of the dragon, but a subtle warmth. “It wasn’t a choice,” he said, his voice rough. “There was no scenario where I could let them hurt you, Sevas. The moment they announced the match, something inside me… It just snapped.”

“You didn’t just fight for me.” She watched him intently, her red eyes unwavering. “You burned everything for us to escape. That’s not something anyone does lightly. Thank you.”

Her words sank into him, pressing against emotions he’d tried to keep buried. He reached out, brushing a strand of her hair away from her face. “With Ulo, Bruil, and your help. We wouldn’t be here without all of us working together,” he murmured. “What I did… It was instinct. You are my mate, Sevas. I couldn’t let them take you from me.”

Her lips parted slightly. Her breath caught as she leaned into his touch. “Your mate,” she breathed. “I like the sound of that.” The space between them grew heavy with meaning, charged with electricity. Her hand slid down his wrist, tracing the ridges of his scales, and she gave a faint, breathless laugh. “What does this mean for us? Out there, in the quadrant?”

Takkian’s gaze darkened as he pulled her closer. “We’ll find out,” he said in a low rumble. “This ship, the stars, the unknown ahead… Whatever comes, we face it side by side.”

Sevas let out a shaky laugh, her fingers tightening around his. “Side by side. I like the sound of that.” Her voice steadied, warming with determination. “Then promise me something, Takkian.”

His wings flexed slightly as he locked eyes with hers. “Anything.”

Her hand moved to his chest, pressing lightly against the steady rhythm of his heart. “Promise you won’t ever leave me behind,” she said. Her eyes glimmered with rare vulnerability. “No matter what happens, no matter where we go, we stay together.”

Takkian’s chest tightened under her touch. He placed his hand over hers. His fingers gently curling over her smaller ones, sealing the connection between them. “I swear it, Sevas. Nothing in this universe could pull me away from you.”

Her lips curved into a soft smile. “Good,” she murmured. “Because I’m not sure I could do this without you.” She paused. Her gaze dropped to his chest. “You might not believe it, but back in that pit…knowing you were with me made me braver.”

One of his legs slid out from the blanket and wrapped around the back of her legs to pull her closer. “Then we make each other stronger,” he rumbled. “And together, no one gets to dictate our fate but us.”

The weight of everything they’d been through hovered in the air, and yet, it was dwarfed by the raw pull drawing them closer. He felt her fingers curl against the hard planes of his chest as his heart thundered in his ears.

Takkian cupped the side of her face. His fingers grazed her jawline with the utmost gentleness. His hand, roughened by countless arena battles, had no business touching something so fine, but she leaned into his touch as if she craved it. His thumb brushed over her cheek, committing the texture of her skin to memory. Their breaths mingled, warm and uneven, as he leaned in and captured her mouth in a kiss. Sensations exploded through him—hunger. Need. Possession.

Sevas melted against him. He felt her fingers tangle in his hair, pulling him closer as their bodies pressed together. She was not fragile. She was fierce—a warrior female who was now woven into his soul. He could feel her strength as she leaned into his embrace.

Takkian growled softly against her lips, knowing it could go no farther. With a sigh of frustration and regret, he broke the kiss.

Their breaths mingled in the charged air. Sevas’ forehead rested lightly against his. Her dark red eyes shimmered with an emotion he had never quite encountered before. He struggled to articulate the overwhelming possessiveness he felt and the way she seemed to bring light to the shadows of his existence.

“You’ve changed me, Sevas,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “For cycles, I thought I was nothing but a weapon, a tool for survival. But with you, I feel alive. I feel…free.”

She cupped the side of his face, her thumb brushing over his cheekbone, sending a jolt of warmth through him. “And you’ve made me feel the same. I didn’t think I’d ever feel like this. That I’d find someone like you.”

For a moment, Takkian tightened his arms around her, holding her against him. The world could shatter around them and he would not let her go. He exhaled slowly, nuzzling his nose gently against her neck, savoring the warmth of her skin against his. He retreated just enough to meet her gaze. “Then we hold on to this.” His voice was rough with lingering passion. “No matter what’s ahead.”

“Deal,” she said with a faint, tired smile grazing her lips.

In that moment, an unspoken promise passed between them, heavy with meaning and understanding. The weight of their journey, the uncertainty of the future, and the exhaustion of survival pressed against him like a warm but heavy blanket, reminding him of everything they had faced and still had yet to confront.

Takkian glanced toward the bed, noting the weariness etched in the lines of her face, the shadows darkening her features. “Come,” he said. “Rest. You need it.”

“ You need it,” she replied, but she didn’t argue. He could see the fatigue as surely as she felt it.

In the depths of his mind, a sense of urgency lingered—a reminder that they were still not safe, still hunted by those who sought to control them. But with Sevas by his side, he found solace. With her by his side, he could burn down far more than one Axis-run arena to protect what was his.