Damon stared at his designated mate, who lay stretched out on his bed asleep. Even standing several feet away, he could inhale her flowery scent that wasn’t like any flower or plant on Zalara. It was spicier and nuttier. He’d only smelled it once. Padean had been on Earth on an assignment and brought back a plant with red-petals and thorns. It had a distinctive soft, but strong scent. She was like one of those delicate petals. He’d recognize it anywhere.

She wasn’t anything like the queen with her red hair and brown eyes. He would have never chosen her. Instead, he’d have picked a mate who resembled his queen–a slender blonde with big green eyes. Hell, who was he kidding? He didn’t want a human copy. He wanted Queen Cosima.

The door buzzed, and Captain Taog entered. He glanced at Damon’s mate. “She’s still out? She’s so petite. How much ragon gas did you use?”

Damon glared. “It wasn’t like I was measuring it, Captain. She was screaming hysterically. She didn’t give me much choice. It’s not like dragons exist on Earth.”

Taog narrowed his eyes. “I thought I gave you an order to not reveal your dragon form until you and your mate were on board the Orion.”

Damon ran his hand through his hair. “What the Fates did you want me to do? Drunken assholes were attacking her, mauling her, kissing her.”

The same blinding rage crept into his voice.

The captain raised his eyebrow. “So, you needed your dragon strength to take on puny humans?”

Pride strangled Damon’s throat, and he winced. “No. What can I say? I lost control. I’ve never felt such blinding rage over a woman.” His hands were still shaking. “Those bastards are lucky I didn’t fry them into crispy vorkon.”

“You reacted that way because she’s your mate.”

Damon leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. Taog was wrong. His heart would always belong to Cosima.

“Inform me when she wakes.”

“You’ll hear. She’ll scream as loud as a grendor.”

Taog scowled. “Our survival lies with the human females. If we cannot mate with them and reproduce, then we’ll die as a race. If we die, they die.”

Damon ran his trembling hand through his hair. “Don’t you think I know this, Captain?”

“Apparently not, since you sprayed her with enough gas that would knock out a zeekar.” He exited as quickly as he entered.

Damon hung his head. Why did The Fates rest with him first? After all, he was only a guard, while Taog was the captain of the Orion. Taog was a Dominan Dragon and possessed far superior skills than a mere Bravian.

“Ow, my aching head.”

He stared at his mate, who watched him with wary eyes. He expected her to go into hysterics, but she remained unusually calm–something he found intriguing.

She put the back of her hand on her forehead. “Where am I?”

Her soft voice was weary and her face pale.

A lump of guilt formed in his gut. He should have been more careful. Zalarians were supposed to protect their mates. No wonder Taog had looked at him as if he was a failure.

“Where am I?” she repeated, but this time her voice was stronger.

Damon wasn’t looking forward to playing three-hundred-one questions, but he’d little choice in the matter. As her mate, it was his duty.

“You’re on board the S.A. Orion.”

She dropped her hand and frowned. “I’m on what?”

Trying to be patient, he said, “You’re on board the Star Alliance Orion, which is part of the space fleet of the United Planet Confederation.”

“You’re kidding, right? I think you’ve watched too many Star Trek episodes.” She narrowed her blood-shot eyes. Unfortunately, red, blurry eyes were a side effect from ragon gas. “So that stuff you sprayed in my face, was it a mickey?”

“I don’t know what a mickey is.”

“The date rape drug.”

He stiffened. “I don’t rape women–humanoid or non-humanoid. Especially my mate.”

She slowly sat up on her elbows. “Fiddle-dee-dee, Star Trek boy! I’m no one’s mate. You sprayed something up my nose that made me hallucinate.”

He lifted his eyebrow. “Why do you say that?”

As she struggled to sit on the bed, her tousled red hair fell across her shoulders, and her torn shirt parted, nearly spilling out one breast. He couldn’t help but admire the fullness. She was more endowed than the queen.

Hera folded her arms across her chest. “Because I saw a dragon.”

He scratched his forehead. “So, did I spray those assholes, too?”

“What?” She frowned. “I don’t know. I have more important things to do than listen to your space nonsense.” But her voice faded slowly. She looked around his cabin, as if she might fear he was telling the truth.

“You kidnapped me, didn’t you?”

He winced. Such a strong term. “Obviously.”

“Why?”

“Because The Fates have foreseen that you’re my mate.”

“You’re as crazy as a betsy bug.” She tilted her head. “I demand that you release me.”

Pity swelled and swelled and swelled in his guilt-ridden gut. He had a tough time meeting her fierce gaze, instead looked down at his boots. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

“What?”

He jerked his head up. Her lower lip trembled. He took a step toward her, intending to comfort her, but she jumped out of bed.

She pressed her back against the wall then grabbed a yellow klepton plant off his dresser. “Stay away from me, or I’ll brain you!” Her eyes were as big as the flowers.

He put his hands in the air and took a step back. “I promise I’m not going to hurt you.” He lowered his voice.

She gasped for breath, and her eyes filled with panic. “Am I a prisoner?”

“No.”

“Then you’re going to release me?”

“We just went over that–no, I’m not. What I meant is you’re not confined to my quarters. You can go anywhere on the ship.”

She leaned her head against the wall. “Great, I’m kidnapped by a man with only one oar in the water.” Her shaky voice hinted that she was about to go into another hysterical fit.

He cleared his voice. “Would you like me to show you the ship?”

“Like I have a choice.” She narrowed her eyes. “Just so you know, you’re going to be locked up forever once I get out of here. Who are you, anyway?”

He put his hand on his chest and slightly bowed. “I am Damon of the Bravian Dragons. And your name is?”

He already knew it but asked out of politeness.

“Hera Athans. And your last name is?”

“That’s right you humans have last names. We do not.”

She put her hand on either side of her temples, as if she had a headache. “I reckon I must be tripping.” She dropped her arms to her side. “Why do you keep acting like you’re not from Earth? It’s annoying.”

“Because I’m not. I came from the planet Zalara, and I’m a Zalarian.”

You’re an alien?”

He smiled. “I could easily refer to you as the alien.”

“Whatever. I’m not the one who is delusional nor am I a kidnapper. Besides, I have never heard of the planet Zalara.”

“No, you wouldn’t have, would you? Zalara’s a thousand light years from Earth, and we have a shield that prevents you from seeing us.”

She swayed slightly. “This mumbo jumbo space jargon is making my head spin.”

“Are you still dizzy? Do you need to lie down?” He gently put his hand on her shoulder to steady her. An electric jolt shot up his arm as radioactive as a solar flare. He grimaced and immediately yanked his hand back.

“Ow.” She jerked away and grabbed her shoulder. “You shocked me.”

“I’m sorry. That’s strange.” He examined his unblemished hand, but surprisingly, it didn’t hurt. Warmth slowly spread through him like a hot shower thawing his chilled skin. “That’s not ever happened before.”

“I doubt that.”

He studied her. “Are you hurt?”

“No.” Her voice softened, losing its edge. She pulled her hair up and twisted it into a knot. “I just feel like the temperature shot up a hundred degrees in here.”

Strange. They both felt the same sensation. It could be a coincidence. Or was it?

She stopped rubbing her shoulder. “What is a Bravian Dragon anyway?”

“We are the guards of the Zalarians. My assignment is to guard the Queen.”

She tilted her head back. “I must be having a weird dream.”

“You’re not. I’ll prove it to you this is real.” He stretched out his arm. “Take my hand.”

She eyed it suspiciously.

“I promise I won’t hurt you.”

She smirked. “Not going to zap me again?”

“I don’t go around zapping women, if that’s what you mean. That was the first time that happened to me, too.”

“Maybe.” She glanced down. “Oh, my God. My shirt’s torn.” She grabbed the ends of her torn shirt and pulled them together tight.

“I know.”

She gave him an accusatory look that prickled his honor.

He stiffened. “I didn’t molest you, if that’s what you’re wondering. When I brought you on board, the zipper on my jacket got caught on your blouse, and it tore.”

She glared. “You couldn’t at least cover me with a blanket?”

Heat flushed over his face, and he lowered his arm. “I…guess… I…”

“Was overcome with lust?”

“No!” He stormed over to his closet and ripped out a shirt.

She gasped. “How did you do that?”

He scowled. “Do what?”

“Open the wall.”

“When I approached the closet, it sensed me and opened. Here.” He gave her the black shirt, which would be three times too big for her.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she hugged it to her breasts. “This is like falling into some sci-fi movie.”

She slipped the shirt on, which smothered her small frame.

He walked over to the door. “Shall we?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

Once again, the door buzzed. Several men walked by and stared curiously, but none of them said a word.

She sneered. “More kidnappers?”

“No, they’re just part of the crew.”

“More like pirates.”

She took a step and stumbled. He caught her. Another sizzle shocked him, but not as strongly. He glanced at her and could tell she felt it too, but neither said anything.

“Are you all right?” He nodded at his bed. “Maybe you still need rest.”

She tilted her chin. “No, I’m fine. I was just a little woozy.”

“I promise I won’t let you fall.”

She smiled and allowed him to escort her into the softly lit corridor. He looped his arm through hers. She hesitantly put her hand on his forearm and permitted him to maneuver down the hall. Their soft footsteps echoed on the metallic floor.

“This is so strange.” She looked around. “There’s no windows or doors, just smooth aluminum walls.”

“The walls are made out of titanium. Actually, the entire ship is. Windows and doors are here, but they don’t open unless we wish it.”

“So, if I wish a door or window to open, it will?”

“To be honest, I don’t know. The ship has never been programmed for humans.”

She shook her head. “Something out of a space movie.”

“Well, it’s a space ship. There are fifty men on board.”

“You don’t believe in women’s lib.”

“All of our women are dead.” His voice came out sharper than he intended.

He stared straight ahead, not wanting to remember that day. The day all of the women–young and old–disintegrated into a pile of dust.

“Dead? You mean just on this ship?”

He shook his head. “Not just here, but on Zalara. Killed by a dioxide torpedo.” He couldn’t hide the sorrow in his heart. “Our shields went up too late. We thought we had the power to save Earth and Zalara.”

She stopped. “You were protecting Earth?”

“It’s our sworn duty to the United Planet Confederation to protect the innocent, especially Earth.”

“But I thought you had a queen?”

“We do. Queen Cosima was on a mission with our king when we were attacked. If she’d been there, she would have perished.” His heart grappled with fear–fear of his beautiful queen turning into ashes.

“Who would do such a thing?”

“The Kamtrinians. Our deadly enemy.” He paused. “And yours. They detest humanoids and want to wipe out all of us. If it weren’t for the Confederation, we’d all be dead. But my people are in danger of being extinct unless we reproduce. Earth women are the only ones that closely resemble Zalarian women. If this doesn’t happen, our race will die, and the Kamtrinians will invade Earth.”

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Unfortunately, I am.”

She trembled beneath his touch. “It’s not every day I hear that every female on Earth almost turned into burnt ash. Can I sit down for a minute?”

“Of course. The break room isn’t far.”

“So, if I don’t mate with you and have a baby, then Earth could be destroyed?”

“Yes.”

She looked remarkably calm–her breath and skin color were both normal, and her eyes bright. He’d thought she’d go into hysterics or a fit of rage.

She cast him a sly look. “You’re not pulling my leg, are you?”

Such a curious question. “Why would I pull your leg?”

“Never mind. It’s an Earth expression.”

“Oh. I’m not happy with The Fates’ decision either, but neither of us have a choice.”

She sucked in her breath. “I don’t believe that. There are always choices.” She gave him a hard stare. “So, you’re in love with someone else?”

He wasn’t ready to go down this path. “In the break room, there’s a picture window where you can view Zalara. We’re almost home.”

“Okay.”

She swayed, and her legs collapsed. He caught her and lifted her off her feet. She laid her head on his chest. Fluttering swelled in his gut, but then pressure built up against his ribs, as if something was trying to escape. Just as suddenly as it began, it disappeared. Beneath the smell of beer and fried foods, he detected a sweet feminine scent that stirred a desire deep within him. He needed to touch her, as if his life depended on it. Something he’d never experienced, even around his beautiful Cosima.

She put her hand on her forehead. “Sorry. I guess all of this has been overwhelming.”

He smiled. “It’s quite all right.”

“I can walk now.”

He gently put her on her feet but stayed close in case she collapsed again. He rested his hand on her lower back, then maneuvered her toward the break room. When the door opened, she gasped.

He nearly walked into her. Crewmen gathered around tables, enjoying their evening meal and drinking their favorite spirits. Damon inhaled the smell of roasted meats and vegetables, teasing his appetite. The clinking of silverware and loud voices slowly died.

Men gawked at Hera. She’d been the first woman they’d seen in a long, long, long time. Damon wished he would have given her something more suitable to wear than his shirt. She looked like she’d been warming his bed.

She didn’t seem to notice. Some of them looked at her with open appreciation. Damon curled his upper lip, and most of them turned back to their conversations.

Except for Anonghos.

“Welcome, beautiful.” He lifted a pint of golden mear and nodded at Hera, giving her one of his dashing smiles.

She blushed ten shades of red.

“Hello,” she whispered in a husky voice that sent Damon’s desire furiously pumping.

“Hera, this is Anonghos. Our chief security officer and my best friend. He’s also a Bravian dragon.”

Anonghos got out of the chair and slightly bowed. “I hope Damon is treating you well. He tends to have a sour disposition, even around beautiful women such as yourself.”

She looked briefly up at Damon, then turned her back on him, giving him the cold shoulder. “He’s been full of surprises all right.”

Damon stood straighter and scowled.

“If I can be any of assistance–” Anonghos picked up Hera’s delicate hand and kissed it. “Just let me know.”

Hera stared at him with the same love-sick look every woman displayed after they met his charm. “Thank you,” she murmured.

Damon growled softly, his nostrils flaring. He clenched his hands and pressed his arms to his side, afraid he’d plow his fist into Angonghos’s handsome face.

Anonghos lifted his eyebrow, then arched his back and laughed heartily. He shook his head and returned to his seat.

Damon broke out in a steamy dragon sweat, and he avoided the curious glances. Only a few days ago, he’d been grumbling that he’d never care about a human, no matter how beautiful. But after touching Hera briefly, his words came back to haunt him.

Ignoring the men and Anonghos’s soft laughter, he escorted Hera to a chair nearest the window. Neither spoke as they approached Zalara with its many colors of blue, green, white, and red.

“Zalara is beautiful. Great balls of fire, you have two suns!”

“We also have three moons.”

“Zalara looks almost like Earth, but your land masses are different shapes than ours.”

“You have more oceans than we do, but we have larger rain forests. Would you like something to eat or drink?”

“How about a shot of whiskey?”

“Do you think that wise? You’ve almost fainted a couple of times.”

She rolled her eyes. “As if you have any whiskey on board this ship.”

“If you’ll excuse me.”

He went over to the food adaptor. Within a minute, he had not only a shot of whiskey for his little mate, but also what the humans called a hamburger. She needed protein.

When he sat the food and drink in front of her, she shoved her chair back. “What is that?”

“The whiskey you wanted. You looked pale and need some protein. Do you not like hamburgers?”

“Don’t tell me you have cows on the Orion?”

He chuckled. “No, we don’t.”

She inspected the whiskey and hamburger as if she was afraid the food would attack her.

“The food adaptor read my thoughts, then it reproduced them. I know it’s difficult for you to understand, but it is able to take atoms and molecules floating in the air and form the food. I swear it’s genuine–try it.”

She moistened her lips as she picked up the shot glass. She sniffed, then a slow smile spread across her face. “Here goes nothing.” She tossed it back in one gulp. Her eyes slightly watered, then she slammed the glass down. “You weren’t kidding. That was the smoothest whiskey I’ve ever had.”

He smiled. This wasn’t a frail female.

She picked up the hamburger and hesitantly took a small bite, then another.

“You like it?” he asked.

“Absolutely.”

“I’m glad. Just let me know of anything you desire, and I can fetch it for you.”

“Is this something mates do for each other on Zalara?”

“I don’t know about the others, but I do.”

She stopped eating and studied him. He squirmed under her shy stare.

Something moved out of the corner of his eye. A one-man Bravian spaceship flew toward the eastern sun at hypo speed.

“What’s that?” Hera asked.

“It’s a Bravian ship.”

“Why is it heading toward the sun?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. Blosto is ten times hotter than Closto. Whoever’s flying that ship will burn up in seconds.”

Conversations died, and men crowded around them. Blosto’s angry flames flashed and exploded fiercely, as if to warn the one-man ship to stay away, but the ship defiantly held its course. It’s silver hull slowly turned red from the fiery heat.

“Red alert. Red alert. Battle stations.”

Taog’s strong voice echoed through the ship.

Men raced out of the break room, heading to their assignments. Damon grabbed Hera’s hand and lifted her into his arms. She trembled and wrapped her arms around his neck. He could feel her rapid heartbeat. Every fiery impulse inside him magnified into a fierce protectiveness. He raced to the bridge, determined to save her.

On board the Orion, he was part of the security unit, but he wasn’t going to his station. Not until he knew Hera’s life wasn’t in danger.