Chapter 10 Rosalie
ROSALIE
Idrum my fingers against the bulkhead. Dalox took a long time, in my mind, to come to a conclusion over what is happening with Dante, and we’ve finally been called back to the clan chamber in the neutral sector.
My nails ring out a chime on the bare metal.
I’m reminded, looking at them, of the claws on a Sarkarnii, and for a moment my mind wanders to how they manage them when…
“You can go in,” the big Sarkarnii guard says, keeping his eyes about a foot above my head.
All of the Sarkarnii have been very careful to give me the widest berth they can, almost as if being bitten by Dante makes me some sort of outcast.
And I expect it probably does, given the way he behaved before when Dalox tried to take hold of me. I don’t imagine any Sarkarnii wants to be on the receiving end of a Dante in rut.
Whilst I have a vague idea of what a Sarkarnii rut is, given two of my friends have been on the receiving end of such a thing and both have the burgeoning baby bumps to show for it, I still don’t really understand what it is.
How much it should matter is entirely moot. Either I’m going to experience it, or I’m not.
The door in front of me slides open and I enter the huge chamber.
A fog, or more like smoke, fills the ceiling up above us and down on the floor of the chamber, Dante is sitting on a bench, his shoulders hunched over as if he’s been punched in those delicious abs of his.
It’s difficult to tell with the myriad of colored scales, but I’m sure he has fresh injuries.
He’s also surrounded by guards, all toting huge ray guns.
He looks up the second I enter, but another Sarkarnii beside him, one I don’t recognize, places his hand on Dante’s shoulder. He shrugs it away and forces himself to his feet, swaying slightly.
Obviously I’ve heard what my friends have said about Dante and his crew.
Their partying is considered almost legendary among the Sarkarnii.
I’ve weighed up what would be worse, him blaming his behavior on an intoxicant or on the more vague wasn’t himself, and it’s only just come up in favor of the former rather than the latter, but ultimately so close as not to matter much.
Yet, when he smiles up at me, my heart seems to turn over in my chest, severely against the wishes of my brain. I can’t let a fanged smile, no matter how genuine it seems, affect me.
Dante’s eyes don’t leave me, even as the door on the other side of the chamber opens and Dalox strides in, followed by the other warlords. Dante doesn’t move a muscle. He is like a statue, focussed entirely on me.
Dalox throws himself into his throne-like chair, Sarkarnii-spreading in a way only the Sarkarnii can take up space.
“Dante.” He growls the feral warlord’s name which reverberates around the chamber.
“You broke the accords. You went against everything we’ve set up here to avoid bloodshed between clans and warlords.
You expressed no sorrow at having gone against everything we worked hard to obtain.
” He growls again, and then he leans forward.
“But Darax says you are in rut. Rutting is not something any of us can control, and from what he says, this is your first rut, is it not?”
Dante says nothing. He’s still staring at me, his beautiful eyes unblinking, his long dark hair, falling like silk around his handsome face.
“It is. I left Kaeh-Leks before I became of age,” Dante says in a voice which is smooth and clear, belying my earlier belief he was, again, intoxicated. “As you are aware, my ship carried fewer female crew than yours, or any of the warlords.”
Dalox looks over at Dexx who nods in agreement. He returns his sharp gaze to Dante and then leans back in his chair, tapping his claws on the arm, each one going deep into the metal with a dull thud.
“I have considered my position and yours. I cannot be sure you are in rut, despite what Darax says. I have therefore determined the female can stay with you for a nova-month. If she will accept you in this time, if your rut is run, then you may keep her, should she wish to stay, and I will take no further action.” He leans forward again.
“But if none of this is true, if she envenomates you, then you will feel my full wrath,” Dalox rasps.
“And you and your crew will be banished from Vorostor.”
“Wait! No!” I call out, getting to my feet.
Dalox ignores me as he might ignore a buzzing fly.
“I hear there is a barren moon circling Hathatsor which might be suitable,” Driok says with a grin.
Dalox ignores him too, thankfully.
“This is my decision, Dante. What do you say?”
“I want a chance to prove myself to the female,” he says, still not averting his gaze.
The female?
“Then she will reside with you,” Dalox intones. “This session is closed.”
“Wait!” I call out again, but he’s already on his feet, his tail lashing behind him as he releases a stream of smoke, exiting without a backwards glance at me.
Instead, I have Dante beside me as the chamber empties.
“Are you going to take me to see more explosions?” I growl at him.
“Only if you want to.” He pants slightly, as if he’s been running a long way. “I know how much you like them.”
I blink at him for a moment. That is absolutely not what I remember at all. I recall throwing myself on the ground in order to get away. But from the way Dante is looking at me, I don’t think he has a similar recollection.
“I know what Dalox has said, but I will not take you away if you don’t want to go,” Dante says.
“That might be the case, but you also heard him say if I don’t do this, he’ll banish you and your crew.”
“He did,” Dante says. “And it is a risk I’m willing to take.”
“But not me.” I exhort, raising my eyes to the ceiling, my heart pounding with the weight of Dalox’s decision. “The last thing I want is your crew being banished.” I glare at him. “I won’t have that on my conscience.”
“Then come with me.” Dante holds out a huge hand, the dark onyx tips of his claws just visible.
I walk past him, towards the exit to the chamber.
“I want to make this entirely clear,” I say over my shoulder. “I am doing what Dalox says because I want to keep the peace and not result in banishment for anyone. I am not doing this for you. Once the month is up, I’m leaving, no matter what.”