VAAN

The scent of my female tickles at the edges of my consciousness.

It teases me with what I cannot have. She is close, yet I cannot get to her. A hive of smelly, unwashed humans and their metal homes separates us. More than that, another drakoni male has moved into the territory, and that poses a problem.

I watch the human hive from high above, on the roof of a large building downwind of the hive itself. When the breeze shifts, I simply move spots until I can smell her again. Her scent is always there, a delicate hint of perfection and femininity. I can smell her sweat, the musk on her skin, and I find myself wondering what her cunt would smell like with my mouth buried in her folds.

It would be the finest of scents, I imagine.

But there is a problem—the male who has moved into the hive and walks among them on two legs. I can smell his scent overpowering everything else…and that of his mate. It is the only reason I allow him to get so close to where my mate hides. He has a female of his own. He is no threat to mine.

That's right. I have my Amy and I do not want yours. Rast's thoughts are reassuring and calm. I have told you this already.

Has he? I do not remember. Nor do I remember broadcasting my thoughts for him to pick up, but my mind is a churning, muddy mess. All I know is that my mate is there, and I cannot get to her. I lower my head, filtering in a deep breath of air and picking through the scents for hers. She is still there. Hiding. I can tear apart their buildings, dig through the hive itself until I locate her scent and steal her for my own.

You will not, Rast tells me. My mate is here and you will not endanger her.

This poses a problem. Normally I would claim such territory as mine and all in it. But this Rast has come in with his mate, and because he is there close to my mate, I cannot attack.

But if I do not attack to defend my territory, it is not my territory.

I have told you, Rast says again, that I will send your mate out to you once we have finished our business here. You cannot attack the human hive. Do not make me fight you. I will win.

His thoughts are strong as a bolt of lightning, and I know he would win. Like this, I am no good to anyone. I was strong once. Fierce.

I…wonder what my mate's cunt smells like. I lift my head, trying to pick such a scent from the air, but there is nothing. I could take the human hive apart…but there is another drakoni male there. I snarl at the realization, my muscles coiling in readiness, fire churning in my belly. Another dragon has moved into my territory…

I have a mate, the male reminds me with a weary sigh.

Who are you?

I am Rast. I have told you this a dozen times already. Impatience bleeds through his thoughts. I will help you find your mate, but you must wait. I do not want you to endanger the humans here in the hive.

You will take her, I snarl.

I will not. I have a mate. Amy. Breathe my scent and know this to be true.

I take a deep breath…and he speaks truly. He is mated, her scent mingling with his fires. I relax and settle down atop my perch again, waiting.

Waiting for my mate. Her scent lingers faint in the air. I do not know what she looks like. Perhaps I have seen her and forgotten. I try to pick through the swirling mess of my thoughts, but they give me nothing but confusion. Human hive. Mate. Interloper.

Mate.

I wonder what her cunt smells like…

There is an irritated sigh that leaks through my thoughts. Keep those images to yourself. I have a mate of my own and do not wish to hear about yours.

You have a mate?

Amy. Pick up her scent. More irritation. I have told you this.

All I want is mine, I tell him, putting ferocity into my thoughts. Let me hunt through the human hive—you can eat any of the humans I do not take as my own.

No. My mate has business here. It will be yours when we are done. Give me a day.

A…day. It sounds reasonable. I settle back down again, ignoring the flash of annoyance in the strange drakoni's thoughts.

Rast.

Yes. Rast. That is his name. I settle in to inhale my mate's scent and wonder what her cunt smells like. As I do, I see a faint light flash below, from the biggest of the human dwellings.

And my mate's scent grows ever stronger.