Anger replaced the blood coursing through my veins. Were it not for Tasha’s benefit, I would have shifted and torched that worm of a man alive. Albert’s audacious attempts to berate and belittle Tasha, who had been nothing but professionally generous to him despite his increasingly impertinent behavior, awakened the dragon in me, and every instinct I had warred against my rational brain to destroy him.

Even after his insubordinate behavior and his impudent attitude, his blatant machinations and attempts to use her, she still treated him with professional courtesy. I had been who Tasha needed me to be in that moment, but leaving her in the tent, my own emotions roared to the fore.

I wasn’t sure where Albert had run off to and I wanted desperately to hunt him down, but I knew I needed to warn my brothers and cool my own ire, or I risked giving away the uncomfortable secret I was harboring from Tasha.

I walked through the camp, encountering Pavar by the thermogenerator.

“Pavar,” I said in a hushed tone.

He looked up, roused from deep thought. “Is something wrong?”

“Not yet,” I said cryptically, not sure who might be listening.

Alert, Pavar nodded and jumped to his feet. We quickly moved to gather our brothers. Rather than meeting in one of our tents, we walked out into the otherworldly glow of the underbrush at the edge of the swamp.

We all scanned the area, careful not to be seen or heard and huddled close.

Voice lowered, I spoke first. “I’m sorry to drag you out of bed, but it’s urgent. You all need to be aware that Tasha has drawn a line with Albert, and he must either drastically improve his behavior or he is fired. Given the resentment he harbors against her already and the fact that she did a pretty thorough job dressing him down, I fear he may retaliate.”

“Where is he now?” Karun asked.

“I don’t know. He stormed off after Tasha delivered the ultimatum.”

Pavar said, “Good for her. He needed to be whipped into line. I don’t know how she tolerated it this long.”

I replied, “Tasha is extremely talented, qualified, and deserving of her job, but she was never assured of it. Up until the moment she was named to replace her father, she and everyone else believed Albert would succeed him as CEO. I think some part of her felt sympathy for his disappointment. That translated into a leniency toward him that allowed his recalcitrant behavior to grow out of control.”

Zaruv nodded. “I imagine if, by some unimaginable circumstance, Mulkaro had been passed over and I had been named to succeed father, I would likely feel similarly to Tasha.”

“If only that was the case…” Pavar sighed and quietly we all agreed.

Mulkaro was our oldest brother and the rightful heir, but he lacked the leadership qualities and charisma that Zaruv had in abundance. More than that, he did not possess the capacity for compassion that defined a true king. Had Zaruv ascended, I had no doubt we would never have been exiled in the first place.

“Well, it’s not the case, so let us not dwell when there are clearly more pressing things to discuss,” Zaruv responded.

“I find it somewhat surprising that Tasha decided now, after tolerating things thus far, to put her foot down with Albert,” Karun said, looking at me expectantly.

Obliged, I answered, “Well, there was an argument. Albert accused Tasha of being disloyal after… after finding us in a compromising situation.”

“Oh really?” Pavar smirked.

I ignored him and persisted, “Tasha made it clear to Albert that she was aware of his scheming and that he would have no chance of succeeding at using her to gain control of the company.”

“Ah, and the old chap didn’t take that well, I’m sure,” Pavar concluded.

“No. Frankly, had I not been there, I am certain he would have struck Tasha… or worse,” I said, my voice darkened with anger.

“Well, this is definitely a problem,” Zaruv said. “But we can’t spare any more time. Already two of our pods have been scavenged. Between the acid and the human opportunists, we must race to locate and repair what is left of the ship.”

Karun added, “It has been six weeks since our arrival on Vaxivia. If the Infernians were already traveling toward Dragselia when they shot us down, there is a significant chance they have already arrived in Vahakun… There may be nothing for us to return to.”

A hush fell over the four of us again as we all digested the possible destruction our home, our family. We might have been exiled, but we were still Dragselians, and, in our hearts, we all yearned for the grassy plains and open, endless, cerulean skies of our homeland.

Pavar was the first to break the silence. “Well, considering their cowardice, it is unlikely the Infernians would launch an outright attack. Far likelier and truer to their previous tactics, they will attempt to infiltrate and incite some kind of rebellion or similar instability.”

“That is what the demon Seragnan suggested was the case,” Zaruv agreed. “It didn’t sound like they intended a quick, full-force assault.” His expression turned dark. “Even if they have succeeded and have wrested control from Mulkaro, we must return. If there is something of Dragselia left to defend, whether she is in ashes and crumbling or in full splendor, we cannot abandon her or our people.”

He sounded like the king he should have been.

Zaruv looked to me. “Have you told Tasha yet? We will need her on board once we finish recovering the ship remnants.”

I suddenly felt the weight of my deception again. “No… I’ve been waiting for the appropriate time, but it hasn’t come up.”

Karun looked at me intently. “You care for her.”

“I’m afraid it’s more than that,” I finally acknowledged.

Pavar looked surprised. “You too? By god, you all choose the worst possible time to fall in love! I knew I was superior to you all in sense and good looks, and now I have confirmation.”

“Well, the fact that you alone haven’t found yourself a woman would seem to disprove the ‘good looks’ aspect of your assertion,” Karun countered.

“Enough bickering,” Zaruv said as Pavar opened his mouth. “Ragal, she needs to know. If you care for her, love her, whatever there is between you, she needs to know.”

“I know… it’s just… I don’t want her to think this has all been some elaborate scheme to use her.”

“If you continue to keep this from her, it is just that. If you don’t trust her and manipulate her with lies, are you any better than Albert?” Zaruv asked.

“The difference is I love her,” I shot back, feeling the shock of finally saying it aloud.

“If you love her, then give her the opportunity to love you in return. You, not the identity you fabricated.”

He was right. I could not be offended by the comparison when I had behaved little better than Albert. I had set out with every intention of seducing her, winning her favor, and gaining her assistance. Everything that had blossomed after didn’t negate the gravity of my deceit. If anything, the depth of the emotions involved made it worse.

Zaruv placed a hand on my shoulder. “She will forgive you, I am sure of it. Human women are quite remarkable in their resilience and empathy,” he said, smiling.

Karun added, “She can’t forgive what she doesn’t know. You need to tell her the truth, and you need to tell it to her before we finish collecting the pieces of the ship.”

“I know and I will,” I said, raking my hands through my hair as I contemplated the hard, uncomfortable conversation.

Pavar spoke, “Well, while you’re figuring out how to beg forgiveness from your woman, we need to finish locating the ship, especially if Albert sets out to impede us.”

Karun looked out at the glowing silvery aura above the swamp. “We should scout tonight. There is light enough, to be sure. At least one of us should go, and they should go in dragon form. The others should make sure Albert doesn’t cause any trouble in camp.”

“An excellent idea,” Zaruv said. “Karun, you should scout. Shifted, your form will blend in best with the swamp. Pavar and I will monitor the camp, and Ragal, you should use this opportunity to speak to Tasha.”

As he spoke those last words, I heard a sound from the underbrush. I turned instantly, seeking the source of the sound.

“Albert?” Zaruv asked quietly.

“I’m not sure…” I said, reaching out with my senses. The garlic odor of the phosphorus-rich swamp dampened any scents, and the glowing, vibrant foliage was difficult to see through.

I waited, tensed, ready for an attack, but nothing came.

“Perhaps your guilty conscience is getting the best of you?” Zaruv finally said.

“I’ll leave you all to settle this. There is no more time to waste. I’m going to scout,” said Karun as he shifted and flew silently through the night toward the swamp.

And then I heard the sound again, this time more pronounced. Concerned that it was Albert, I shifted and rose to the air for a better vantage point. But I found nothing.