Maggie
“So then, Dalox appeared. And it turned out he’d been approached by the Paralnyi who got Driok the ship and gave him the horc.”
“What happened?” Kerra is leaning forward, her baby sleeping soundly next to her.
“Dalox commed us and said if we didn’t come and take it straight away, he’d…” I look at the baby and then at Scarlett with hers and motion covering ears. “He’d tear parts off Driok.”
Rosie lets out a snort of laughter, her stomach bulging with her pregnancy, ready to pop any time soon.
“Did you?”
“Driok told him he’d collect Horace when we got back to Vorostor.”
Lydia bursts out laughing, clapping her hands and then stopping suddenly when she thinks she’s disturbed Kerra’s little one.
Kerra laughs and shakes her head at Lydia.
“Derrox will sleep through anything, believe me,” she says, gently stroking her knuckle down the side of the sleeping baby’s face.
“I can’t quite believe we’re all in this situation. All in varying degrees of up the duff-ness,” I say. “Most of us.” I nod to Lydia.
“I’m not missing out.” She wrinkles her nose. “Happy to leave it all to you.”
Horace snuffles out from under a nearby table and chitters happily at us. “Happy. Happy,” he says and wanders off to find more crumbs.
“He is super cute though,” Lydia says.
“Apparently they get into the conduits and do untold damage,” I say. “Can’t say Horace has done anything like that…in Driok’s sector.”
“What happened to the woman you saw on the dusty planetoid?” Rosalie asks.
“As far as I’m aware, Dalox still has her,” I reply. “Because apparently…mine,” I growl.
“We should insist he brings her to us. She shouldn’t think she’s alone,” Scarlett says.
“I agree,” Kerra says.
“And who is going to put this to Dalox?” I look around my friends.
“I’ll get Dante to ask,” Rosalie says.
“What are you going to do about your dance?” Scarlett asks.
“I’m going to do what Kerra did and sneak off without one.” I laugh.
“I don’t think so,” Kerra says with a very sly grin on her face.
“What do you mean?”
“Did you really think the hero of the galaxy wouldn’t want to dance with you?” Scarlett laughs, getting up from her seat and digging down the back, pulling out something which looks suspiciously like a gown.
“And did you really think we’d all come over without our Sarkarnii?” Rosalie laughs.
“Come on, let’s get this on you.” Scarlett shakes out a stunning dress, all pale blues and greens and flowing chiffon style fabrics. “Because there’s a Sarkarnii who wants to dance for you, and I doubt very much he’ll want to be kept waiting.”
“Like all of them.” Kerra laughs.
“I…” I can’t think of a single thing to say.
“Lost for words?” Lydia says. “That has to be a first, and it would seem only Driok can manage such a herculean feat.”
Scarlett stands me up and takes me through to the bathroom where she makes me strip and put on the gown.
“Oh!” She covers her mouth with her hand.
“What’s wrong?” I look down at myself, thinking somehow I’ve ripped her creation, turning one way then the other to check.
“Maggie…you look so beautiful,” Scarlett says, her voice choked. “Sorry, it’s the bloody hormones.” She wipes at her eyes.
“Thanks…I think.” I look up at her. “As long as it’s not tucked into my knickers or something.”
“I doubt Driok would be bothered.” Scarlett laughs through her tears, sniffing wildly. “Talking of big, growly Sarkarnii, we’d better go.”
“Can’t keep him waiting, eh?”
“No, I’m starving and there’s a feast after,” Scarlett trills as she wafts out of the bathroom in front of me.
“Typical,” I mutter to myself as I follow her.
There’s a chorus of oohs and aahs as I emerge. I check once again nothing is tucked where it shouldn’t be, but it seems they all like the dress.
Hopefully Driok will.
My friends lead me out of my quarters where we are joined by Darax and Dante. For some reason, I suddenly feel very nervous when faced with the two massive warlords.
“Driok dancing for a mate.” Darax shakes his head. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“I bet you said that about Dante too,” I respond.
Darax looks over at Dante, who has his usual unhinged half grin on his face.
“No, I knew he’d bite a female before long,” Darax intones. “Whether she wanted it or not.” He folds his big arms and his tail lashes behind him.
“If you don’t mind, gents,” Scarlett says, “I need to get this one to the dance on time.”
She ushers me past the pair and through to the main atrium where the drums are already thumping and the party has, in fact, already started judging by the amount of ale wine sloshing around.
But then, Driok’s warriors deserve it. Taken by the Ulep and shoved into stasis, they have acquitted themselves with grace and bravery. An enemy which threatened the entire galaxy is vanquished, and they’re letting their hair down.
“Over there.” Scarlett nudges at me.
The crowd parts, and Driok stands over the other side of the atrium, flanked by Dexx and Dalox. The drums ease into a different beat, and around me, the thumping of feet and tails and other dragony parts increases in volume.
Scarlett and my friends have melted back into the crowd, so it is just me and Driok as he makes his way towards me, his hips swinging, his tail lashing and his wings, those awkward appendages, looking as if he is always this way.
As he completes his slow, rhythmic dance, his feet moving to the beat, his eyes never leaving me, Driok reaches out and pulls me into his arms, swinging me around as the drums notch up, the beats matching the way my heart is pounding.
“Spitfire,” Driok rumbles in my ear, cradling me in one arm while the other rests on my stomach, rounded and visible in the flowing dress.
“You are my beginning and my end. You are my shining star above. All I have is yours and yours alone. No matter where you are, I will always be there for you. Take my heart, because it is yours.”
I’m not sure I can even breathe, but he takes me in a kiss which is everything, and all around us there are cheers.
“I love you, Driok,” I murmur over his lips. “I thought love was lost to me, but I see all I had to do was cross galaxies and I would find it, in you.”
“My mate.” Driok spans out his hand. “And my family. Ancestors above, fate has been true to us both.”