As we flew back, high over the snaking lines of the crags, the wind rushed past us in cleansing gusts. My fear, my uncertainty, all felt like they washed away. It was an incredible rush, flying with a pack of dragons.

I looked over at Karun as he held on to Zaruv’s mighty bronze back. He had nearly died defending us from those monstrous Infernians, and still, when I cried, he had tried to comfort me. A lump formed in my throat and I felt a surge of love.

His eyes, previously closed, opened and looked back at me, reflecting the emotions swirling inside me. I didn’t think I would entirely get over the awe of being so incredibly connected, but one thing I did know was that I would risk anything to protect it.

When we landed, Jennifer rushed to Karun’s aid. She attended to him and to the minor abrasions I had incurred as well as the wounds on my back that were still healing.

“I’m so glad they got to you in time. We have all been so worried,” she said, looking teary eyed.

I hugged her tightly, surprising her and myself. “Thank you, Jen. If you hadn’t tried EEing me, we wouldn’t have called out, the Infernians would have found us, and I don’t want to think of how that would have ended.”

Breaking our embrace, I asked, “How bad are Karun’s injuries?”

She winced. “Well, they’re not great. He’s got a broken humerus, several broken ribs, a perforated lung, massive blood loss, a dissected artery, he lost a couple of toes . . .” My stomach felt like it was dropping through my feet.

“He’s in pain, that’s certain, but he seems to be in good spirits, which always helps to speed healing. I hear that you might have something to do with that?” She smiled.

Before I could answer, Hardin and Zaruv came in, wanting to ready everyone for departure. I didn’t want to move Karun so suddenly, but he was eager to get on our way.

As we loaded into the rovers, I took up the rear space with him and let Ragal drive my rover. He reached out from the cot where he was resting and regenerating and held my hand.

“You’re sure you’re okay to travel right now?”

He smiled. “I have you keeping guard over me. Surely, I’m the safest I could be.”

We rode across the plains, weaving around the crags and making unbelievable time. Ragal was a masterful driver, and I was grateful for the rest.

The suns were setting when we finally arrived outside the great shining walls of Steel City. Having been there only once before, the place was mysterious and a little dangerous.

Steel City had originally been planned as the transport and flight station for Vaxivia’s wealthy vacationers, as well as the base for the head operators. It was to be the grand entryway to a lost paradise.

There was some infrastructure, sleek and beautiful, that had been put into place before Vaxivia’s prospects had been abandoned, but much of the city was left looking somewhat skeletal, taken over by the real pioneers of our planet. It was a striking contrast between elegance and ruggedness.

The city had been the hub for a lot of the criminal activity that had plagued Vaxivia. However, over the last few years, thanks to the efforts of their current leader, Charles Janeway, and militia efforts across several sectors, it was once again a center for trade and development.

Hardin ran up the chain of command and negotiated an audience with Janeway. I hadn’t met the man before, so when we were finally ushered into his quarters inside an unassuming warehouse in the heart of Steel City, I was a little nervous.

His muscular frame didn’t fill the doorway as he entered, but his presence was every bit as striking. He was shorter than Karun and his brothers, but then, most were. With his short salt and pepper hair, heavily worn fatigues, and serious eyes, he looked like someone who didn’t mess around.

The smooth ebony perfection of his skin was marred by one long ropy scar that ran from the underside of his jaw all the way up to his eye, stopping just half an inch from the outside corner.

The room we had been ushered into, after descending into the underbelly of the warehouse, was anointed with minimal embellishments save for the large polished steel table in the middle encircled by a medley of chairs. We seated ourselves, but for Pavar, who had been transferring Seragnan to Janeway’s guards.

Karun had recovered somewhat during the ride, enough to walk, at least. His arm was in a sling while the bones healed, and he walked somewhat awkwardly, avoiding weight on the foot that had lost toes.

Janeway entered from the far side of the room with several other armed men.

Coming to the head of the table, he took Zaruv’s hand first. “Welcome to Steel City. I’m Charles Janeway.”

“Mayor Janeway, you mean,” Hardin cut in. The two shook hands, clearly familiar with one another.

“Zach, good to see you, but please, everyone, just call me Charles.” We went around the room, brusquely introducing ourselves.

“Thank you for seeing us,” Zaruv began as we all sat back down.

“Of course. Now, let’s dispense with the pleasantries and get to business—like the fact that I’m told we have an Infernian in our custody,” Charles said, grimacing as though the name, itself, tasted foul in his mouth.

“Are you familiar with their kind?” Zaruv asked.

Raising his chin and exposing his facial scar, he answered, “I’m more familiar than I would like to be. This isn’t their first time here on Vaxivia. About twenty years ago, I came to Vaxivia as a young man looking for a new start. I joined the militia here in Steel City, but this is a wild and rough place and our militia was little more than an extended arm for the crime lords who ran the sector.

“As a result, I spent many years in service to one, in particular. When my men and I discovered the full extent and breadth of the criminal activities we were aiding in, it became impossible for us to carry on. We rebelled against the overlords, and with time and a lot of bloodshed, we defeated them. The man I had worked for was revealed to be an Infernian. He nearly took my eye, but I took his life and the city back.”

Zaruv looked at him admiringly. “You have my respect. Infernians are cunning and not easily killed.”

“Indeed, so you’ll understand my concern. Who is this Infernian, and how did you come to capture him?”

Zaruv, Karun, and Hardin proceeded to brief Janeway and his men on the events leading up to our audience in Steel City.

“So, I don’t understand—if these Infernians simply wanted your spinal fluid, why did they shoot down your space vessel and nearly kill you? Strategically, it doesn’t make sense,” Janeway said when they had finished explaining the details.

Karun spoke up. “I have begun to question this as well. During our battle in the crag, Korael told me he had always wanted to behead a prince.”

Zaruv looked confused. “How did he know you were a prince?”

“Well, only a royal can breathe fire, but that doesn’t imply that you’re a prince. Any dragon of the royal line can do so, and our royal family has been nothing if not prolific, even if most of those children were exiled at some point,” Ragal pointed out.

“Our ship was a standard transport vessel, one of any thousands used regularly throughout the galaxy. Nothing about how or where we were travelling would have given away our position,” Karun continued.

Janeway looked uneasy. “I don’t like this. The last thing we need is another Infernian menace trying to set up shop here.” He turned to one of his men. “Bring the demon bastard in here. I don’t trust a damn word they say, but maybe you have ways of getting one to talk,” he said, directing the last part toward Zaruv.

Pavar entered, followed by two burly men who carried the bloodied Infernian by his arms between them. He was shackled, but from the looks of him, he wasn’t going anywhere.

Seragnan glared viciously around the room and then began laughing in a wicked, terrifying voice.

Janeway stood and demanded, “What are you doing here, Infernian?”

Flicking out his long, forked tongue and hissing, he sneered, “Who is this human who thinks he can question me? You’re not fit to be in my presence, you pathetic worm of a creature.”

“I cut the head off the last Infernian who thought that.”

When Seragnan said nothing, Zaruv spoke up. “Enough of your posturing, demon. If you cooperate with us, I may grant you leniency. Tell us why you tracked us? Was it not for Naga Serum?”

Seragnan spat at the term. “Ha! Naga serum is for dogs like Korael, panting in heat after your females and lusting for your mediocrity. Why should I hide who I am? We will rule this world and the next soon enough.”

Janeway looked alarmed. “There are more of you here?”

Seragnan smiled perversely, tilting his head. “Maybe, maybe not.”

Ragal piped up calmly, “He lies. His game is deception and chaos.”

“Oh, sweet prince, how wrong you are,” the demon sneered.

“You and the rest of your kind are nothing but parasites, and sooner or later, you will all fall to the flaws of your character. We have stamped you out countless times before, and we will continue to do so,” Karun said calmly.

“It is convenient that you believe that, Prince Karun. It will make it all the easier to kill you.”

“How the hell do you know his name, you nasty piece of shit?” I barked, surprising everyone and even myself with the barely contained rage I felt.

He laughed again, this time choking on his own blood.

“We know who all of you are, you senseless idiots! Do you think we just stumbled upon your ship? How is it possible that you inbred cretins ever took control of Dragselia? No matter. You won’t hold it for much longer.”

Zaruv, fed up, thundered, “Explain yourself, demon, or I’ll dispatch you right here!”

Sagging from blood loss and the considerable injuries he had sustained, the demon coughed again.

“You fools still haven’t figured it out? You’re all marked. You’re already dead. We were only the scouts. If the opportunity arose, we were to take you out, but there will be more and they will smite you from existence. Your heads will line the road to Vahakun when we have retaken what is ours.

“Even now, my kind is infiltrating Dragselia. Soon, your brother, his family, everyone you have ever known will all be dead or enslaved. Made to cower before their superiors, the true rulers of Dragselia. We survived for a millennia in the furnace of our exile home. We grew stronger, smarter, and then we waited. The time for the reaping has come at last, and we will reclaim what is ours.”

Silence fell over the room. Seeing an opportunity, the demon struck out with both feet and used the table to spring into the air, rolling out of the grasp of his guards.

Leaping, he bit at the throat of one of the men, sending a spray of the poor man’s blood around the room.

With a great roar, Pavar reached into his belt and pulled out two small blades. In the blink of an eye, he had leapt and spun, striking the demon down with his feet and severing his head in one clean movement.

Men rushed in, trying to put pressure to the dying guard’s throat.

Pavar cleaned his blades and placed them back in his belt.

Janeway looked shaken. “This can’t be real. He was lying, right?”

Worry creased Zaruv’s face, and he remained silent, contemplating.

Karun spoke up at last. “I fear he was telling the truth. Even if he wasn’t, we must prepare for what may come.” He turned to his brothers. “We must contact Mulkaro immediately. Fortifications need to be put in place. They need to know about the Infernian plot.”

Pavar looked thoughtful. “The coronation festivities are a perfect opportunity for them to infiltrate Vahakun. Security will be overwhelmed by all the travelers coming and going. It is a good time for them to strike, if that is what they are planning.”

Karun turned to Janeway. “They won’t stop with Dragselia. Infernians thirst for power. They feed off destruction and chaos. Dragselia is likely only the first step. This threat will come to Vaxivia, sooner or later.”

Zaruv finally rejoined, “We need to find our ship. We have a Comm unit on board that we can use to send a warning to the Dragselian Guard. Some of us will need to return to Dragselia. They will need our help, exiles though we may be.”

“Well, count me as volunteer number one. These bastards picked the wrong place to start their fight,” I put in.

Janeway added his agreement. Staring at the pool of blood left by his fallen lieutenant, he said, “We won’t go down quietly. What can I do? What do you need from me?”

Zaruv answered, “Your assistance in locating our ship would be much appreciated.”

“Okay, I will send you with an escort and any weapons you need. I’ll also send out a scouting party. We will need to warn all of the militias. Maybe he lied, but if there are more Infernians here, we need to be prepared.”

Hardin chimed in, “Johnson has sent word to the other Hubs in our sector, but I don’t think anyone is looking for the ship right now.”

As everyone continued with the planning, Karun pulled me back and to the side.

“You can’t be serious about leaving your commission at the Outpost.” He looked at me, concerned.

“Of course I’m serious. You said it yourself—sooner or later, if they succeed in Dragselia, they will come here too.”

“You have no idea what kind of risks will be involved in this mission. I can’t let you recklessly risk yourself for my people.”

I answered defiantly, “Are you kidding? Considering how many times both of us have almost died in the last week, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

Frustrated, he grumbled, “You’re being reckless.”

“I’m a soldier. Danger is kind of in the job description. If you didn’t want someone who was willing to take risks, you shouldn’t have stolen a soldier’s heart. I’m in this with you till the end.”

I held his hand and felt the power of our connection as I stared him down, waiting for his objection. Instead, his mouth quirked in an exasperated smile.

He kissed me then, in full view of everyone. The taste of my victory was hot and sweet.

Pulling back, he said, “All right, soldier, let’s be reckless together.”

* * *

If you missed Zaruv, book 1 of the Aliens of Dragselis series, click to read it now!