Olivia:

Ladies and gentlemen, let the games begin. In one corner, we have Belfox and Herrix—or the fox and the hare, as I’ve nicknamed them. Both men are tall, muscled and tattooed. Their long blond hair hangs in braids down their backs. Remember the ghost twins in the Matrix Reloaded? That’s what the two men remind me of.

In the other corner are Liorax and Zunix. If I’m being purely objective, the ghost twins are actually better looking, but something tugs me toward Liorax and Zunix.

Here’s the deal. Whatever Dariux might believe, I’m not going to pick a pair of Draekons to mate with. The whole thing is a little too ‘barefoot and pregnant’ for me, thankyouverymuch. However, I fully intend to exploit this situation to my advantage, for as long as I can.

The five of us have nothing. No clothes, except for the NASA-issued garments we’re currently wearing. Last night, we’d shared two thin sleeping mats, stripping our grubby clothes off and sleeping in our underwear.

This morning, I had no other option other than to wear the same clothing again, even though the left leg of my pants is crusted with dried blood.

And it’s not just clothes. Had I not had two sets of Draekon suitors, we would have been short of food. None of the Draekons seem to think that Bryce needs to eat. I don’t like being so dependent on their goodwill for survival.

We need to figure out what plants on this strange planet are edible, and what aren’t. Whether we can cultivate crops or not. We need to learn to hunt—shudder—and fish.

These Draekons have had sixty-five years to figure out how to survive. We have three months.

Because it’s perfectly obvious what’s going to happen at the end of that period. Dariux was vague, but I can read between the lines. The others might be technically allowed to reject their mates, but I’m pretty sure that if they do, all the goodies will come to an end.

No more free lodging. No more food. No more protection from the freaky crab-like detsena. We’ll be on our own.

I’m self-aware enough to know that I’m in shock about the prospect of never going back to Earth. If I think about the future—about spending the rest of my life on this primitive planet—I’m going to lose my mind and become a sobbing, whimpering mess.

I can’t go there. I have to leave the whining and the crying to May and Felicity. I have to concentrate on learning enough to ensure our survival.

Then there’s Step 2: Finding Viola, Harper, Ryanna, and Sofia. We flew a long way to get to this camp. How long would it take to get back to the Fehrat 1 on foot? Days, if not weeks.

Can I convince one of my suitors to make the journey to look for the others? I’m fully prepared to do whatever it takes to make that happen. If I have to put out, that’s fine. Four lives are at stake, after all.

I’m watching the proceedings in the clearing as I plan my next move. Herrix is not happy about losing. The moment he sees that Liorax has beaten him, he throws his bow down on the ground and stalks off in a huff.

He’s not the only one who is pissy about the outcome. I get the distinct sense that Dariux is just as annoyed, but he’s less obvious than Herrix.

Zunix moves purposefully to me, Liorax a half-step behind him. “Olivia.” His eyes rake over me. “You look better today.”

Charm school dropout. “That’s a very backhanded compliment,” I reply acidly.

He laughs unexpectedly, his hazel eyes dancing with merriment. “I can see why you would think that,” he acknowledges with a smile. “How’s your leg?”

“A little tender.”

“That shouldn’t happen,” Liorax frowns in concern.

“It’s not that bad,” I hurry to assure him. “Look, no bones sticking out anywhere.” I definitely don’t want to seem ungrateful, because whatever I might think about this whole mating thing, there’s no denying that I owe Liorax and Zunix.

It’s time for an appearance by Ditz-Olivia. I intend to pump Zunix and Liorax for information, and I need to convince them I’m as dumb as a bag of rocks. “Are we going on our date now?” I ask, looking up at them with wide eyes. “I don’t have anything to wear.”

Liorax exhales in irritation, but Zunix’s lips twitch. “That’s a pity,” he murmurs. “You’re going to have to manage for just a bit longer.” He looks at the crowded clearing with distaste. A couple of the Draekons are very obviously trying to eavesdrop on our conversation. Stepping closer, he inclines his head toward me. “Let’s go somewhere more secluded, Olivia.”

My insides do a funny little quiver as he draws near. “More secluded?” I stammer and immediately scold myself for my reaction. For fuck’s sake, Liv. You’re not a horny teenager. Pull yourself together. “Is that against the rules?”

“Dariux isn’t in charge here,” Zunix replies dismissively. “He just thinks he is. We aren’t going far. Just to my house.”

He leads the way, and I follow, Liorax bringing up the rear. We walk through the woods for five minutes. Our pace is leisurely, and I suspect that they’re slowing down to accommodate my tender leg.

I’m looking straight ahead, so I don’t realize we’ve reached our destination until Zunix comes to a stop and gestures to a nearby tree. “We’re here.”

So far, the Draekon treehouses have been nothing to write home about. They’re small. Kind of poky. Pretty bare-bones and minimal.

But Zunix’s treehouse is in a different league altogether. First, it’s on multiple levels, with stairs winding up the side of the tree. Second, it’s on the banks of a small lake. Third, dangling from one of the upper balconies is a canoe. I don’t care much for wildlife, but I used to row in college. I love the water.

My mouth falls open. “But everyone else…”

“Are fools,” Liorax cuts in. “Most people in camp follows Dariux’s lead, bartering for everything. He has them convinced it’s the fairest way. This, on the other hand, is a demonstration of what a little cooperation can do.”

“I don’t understand.” I’m not saying it to keep up my cover identity; I genuinely don’t get it. “Your house isn’t hidden. Everyone can see it. Why haven’t they tried to copy it?”

“I helped Zunix build this house because I knew that he would help me with mine,” Liorax replies. “Not everyone has the same level of trust.”

I think about the tiny room that we slept in. With five of us, the air had been hot and stifling. When May had a bad dream in the middle of the night and kicked out in her sleep, she’d accidentally connected with my shin. Painfully. “You could have offered us your house last night,” I accuse Zunix.

“That would have been unwise,” he replies. “Dariux is perceived to be neutral in this matter. I am not. Shall we go in?”

So the other Draekons might get in a snit if he swoops in and moves us to his fancy-ass treehouse. Men have such fragile egos. Not much different from Earth then.

We climb up the flights of stairs until we reach the top. Zunix holds his palm over the door, and it swings open.

Interesting. Every indication so far is that this is a primitive world. A prison planet. Yet the Draekons seem to have access to some technology. Dariux’s med-kit yesterday, Zunix’s palm-reading door today. What else are they hiding?

Zunix allows me to enter first. The room I walk into is large and circular, with a couch running all the way along the curved wall. It’s covered with soft cushions, and could easily seat a dozen people.

I give into temptation and sink down, belatedly remembering that I haven’t thanked them for my meal this morning. “Thank you for breakfast.”

Liorax sits down as well. “What was your favorite?”

Ah, so they were responsible for the assortment of dishes. You should pick these guys, Bryce had said. Whoever assembled this package put some thought into it. They gave you choices.

Pushing her words to the background, I reply to Liorax’s question. “The fruit. The fish was pretty great too, but I’m not used to eating seafood for breakfast.” Another thought occurs to me. “There was a lot of food. Did you really think I could eat the whole thing?”

Liorax gives me a small half-smile. “Not really. None of the others thought to feed your friend though, did they?”

I shake my head ruefully.

“I’ll take care of it,” he says grimly. “None of you will go hungry.”

“Thank you,” I mutter. Ditz-Olivia would be happy with that answer, but quite honestly, I’d really much rather learn how to survive here than be dependent on the two Draekons. No matter how gorgeous they are.

Liorax gives me a sidelong look. “If you’d like,” he says. “I can also teach you how to hunt.”

“With a bow and arrow?” I’ve got to admit, watching him hit that target had sent a thrill through me. Excellence in anything is incredibly sexy.

“If you’d like.”

I doubt I can actually bring myself to kill an animal, but I appreciate his offer nonetheless. He seems like a good guy, Liorax. The kind of guy a girl could trust and depend on. Even if he’s making it perfectly clear that he’s not interested.

Zunix settles down on the couch next to me. “Tell me, Olivia,” he asks, “what do human courting rituals look like?”

Oh boy. He’s really close to me, and he smells yummy. Like fresh air and pine trees, and something else that’s entirely male. For a second, a powerful heat washes over me, short-circuiting every thought in my head. “Well, everyone’s different,” I murmur.

His voice deepens. “What do you like, Olivia?”

My breathing quickens. What do I like? I like men who don’t treat me like a brainless twit. I like guys who see past my boobs to the person underneath.

Zunix is just asking these questions to win the contest, I remind myself.

“Well, I like flowers.” I bat my eyelashes for maximum effect. “And shoes and pretty clothes.” Perfect. I’ve brought the topic around to my clothes again. “My poor luggage.” Okay, time to add some sexy to the mix. I put my hand on Zunix’s bicep—holy crap, somebody works out—and lean forward, so that my boobs are just inches from his chest. “I’d be ever so happy if I could get my luggage back.”

Liorax snorts. Man, the guy is not charmed by me in the slightest. It rankles a little. “It can’t be done,” he says bluntly. “It took us more than a month to get to the Lowlands. Even if one of us sets out tomorrow, we’ll never arrive before the rainy season.”

“A month?” I’m aghast. “It didn’t seem that far.”

“That’s because we flew,” Zunix replies. I’m still leaning into him, still resting my hand on his arm. When I realize it, I pull back, and he doesn’t make any attempt to stop me. “To the east of us, there’s a desert. Past the desert is a mountain range, and the only safe crossing is a five-day journey south.”

“What were you doing so far away from home?”

To my surprise, Liorax actually answers the question. “Every year, men fail the Testing and are exiled to the prison planet,” he says. “But we’ve never found any of the others. We were searching for them.”

“Why?”

“Why not? Time hangs heavily here, Olivia. Looking for the others gives us a purpose. A goal.”

I seize on the thin thread of hope that his words offer. If there are other Draekons, maybe they’d have found the four missing human women. “But you think they’re here? Others?”

“I do,” Zunix replies. He’s watching me curiously, and I realize I’m acting uncharacteristically interested in something that isn’t shoes, clothes, or my manicure.

Okay, time to thrust the boobs in his face again. That’ll distract him.

I lean forward, and his eyes glaze over. “So there’s no way to get to my luggage quickly?”

Zunix’s lips curl into a smile. “One rather obvious way, Olivia,” he says. “If you complete the mating bond…”

They’ll become dragons.

I know I said I was ready to put out to ensure the safety of the other women. I shouldn’t hesitate. Zunix is basically telling me that if I mate with him, he’ll get me to Fehrat 1.

Should I do it?

Liorax cuts in before I can open my mouth and reply. “Enough.” His voice is cold, and his blue eyes glitter with anger as he rises to his feet. “I will take you back to the other women.”

What the hell just happened?

My emotions are decidedly subdued as I follow him back to Dariux’s house.

Liorax is immune to my big boobs, and I’m just a pawn to Zunix. I’ve achieved nothing this morning except a guarantee that Bryce won’t go hungry and an offer from Liorax to teach me how to hunt.

Yes, there might be a slight hope that Viola, Harper, Ryanna, and Sofia found another set of Draekons, but it’s not enough. The truth is, I’m no closer to finding the other women.

So far, Step 2 is a colossal bust.

Sigh. Hopefully, tomorrow’s two Draekons are easier to manipulate.