Page 43 of Chosen By the Dragon Alien

“Ifweare not broken, they are not broken,” Ellion said firmly. His tone was soft but unyielding, as though he, too, wrestled with the weight of his resolve. “I lived it, Cyprian. I did things…unspeakable things because of the Axis’ grip on me. And yet here I stand, scarred but whole. The Zaruxian fire is more resilient than you know. It burns even when doused, waiting for the spark to reignite.”

Cyprian’s hands flexed. His joints ached from the trauma of his recent transformation. “And this spark—you’re convinced it has something to do with…mates.”

Ellion inclined his head slightly. “I am.” His eyes flicked briefly to Fivra before settling back on Cyprian. “In all my cycles under the Axis, I was conditioned to be a hunter, a guardian,an enforcer—but not a partner. The bond I share with Turi was surprising. It fractured the Axis’ hold on me. Something deep within us responds to our mate’s presence in a way the Axis cannot suppress.” He paused, his voice growing softer, touched with regret. “It was Turi’s courage, her unwavering fire, that reignited my own.”

Cyprian turned to Fivra, his gaze softening. His mate. Every word Ellion spoke struck a chord so resonant it almost physically hurt. “You’re saying…they can’t control us, as long as we’re bonded?”

Ellion nodded, stepping closer again. “We’re stronger when we’re bonded. It weakens their ability to manipulate us. Through our mates, we reclaim pieces stolen from us—our autonomy, our instincts, even our memories. The Axis fears this bond because it disrupts their control more effectively than any weapon. They’ve underestimated it, declaring it a biological anomaly rather than a rebellion born from the soul.” His voice lowered. “The fire we carry is ours to share. It strengthens not just us, but those we’re bound to.”

Cyprian’s gaze returned to Fivra. Her beautiful eyes watched him with a mixture of hope and worry. His heart swelled with gratitude—and no small amount of terror. Everything Ellion said made sense when he looked at her. She hadn’t just saved him from loneliness or given him a reason to fight. She had shattered the darkness within him, redefined the very core of his existence.

He took her hand in his. “You saved me, Fivra,” he murmured. “Not just today, not just now—always.”

Her lips quivered with a faint smile, eyes glistening, though she said nothing. She didn’t need to.

Ellion cleared his throat, giving them a moment before continuing, his purple wings shifting ever so slightly. “I’ve made it my mission to find the others. To free them. To share what we’ve uncovered. But I cannot do this alone. You, Cyprian, andyour mate—you have both seen the depths of the Axis’ cruelty. You have felt it.” His gaze intensified. “Help me find them, and together, we could learn what happened to our people. We could be the spark that sets others free.”

Cyprian stared at Ellion. The weight of the request pressed heavy against his chest. Part of him just wanted to hide away in a corner of the galaxy with Fivra, put everything behind them, and just be together. But Ellion’s words offered a path Cyprian hadn’t considered—one fraught with danger, sacrifice, and uncertainty. And yet, it also held something he hadn’t dared to hope for: purpose. The idea of finding others, of shattering the Axis’ control over his kind, was a worthy goal. It was certainly more meaningful than anything he’d done in his life thus far.

But there was Fivra. His mate, his heart. She had already endured so much because of him. How could he ask her to do this? His hand tightened around hers as he turned to her, searching her face. “Fivra…this isn’t just about me. This fight would be ours, and I won’t choose it for you. What do you want?”

“I want to find my missing friends.” Her voice was steady. “What the Axis did to me, to you, to all of us—it’s wrong. And if joining Ellion means stopping them from doing to others what they’ve done to us, then…I’m in, Cyprian. Always.”

Her words brought a fierce warmth to his chest. She had always been strong, but this was a new side of Fivra. He turned back to Ellion, his jaw set. His dragon fire rippled just below the surface. “We’ll join you,” he said firmly. “But this isn’t blind loyalty. We make decisions together.”

Ellion’s lips tightened into something that almost resembled a smile. It wasn’t broad, but it carried with it a weight of gratitude, as though he had expected resistance but found an ally instead. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he replied. “You are not soldiers, Cyprian. Neither you nor your mate. But you are a force the Axis cannot comprehend. And that’s why we will win.”

TWENTY-ONE

Fivra

Kaelen’s hidden outpost was nestled within the jagged terrain of a rogue planet. It stretched out across the uneven rock like a web. The planet’s surface was a patchwork of glowing veins—minerals or gases that snaked through its crust in fiery ribbons of gold, red, and blue. Jagged peaks and ravines crisscrossed the landscape. The outpost itself blended into this chaotic beauty. Its structures were carved into the rocky terrain. Some buildings dug deep within the cliffs, while others molded into the land as if they were natural formations.

“Wow, Kaelen,” Fivra said. “This is like a city.”

Kaelen crossed his arms. His sharp golden eyes gazed through the viewport of the fortress ship’s command center. “I never said I wasn’t good at hiding,” he replied with a grin. “Ravak Outpost isn’t just hidden—it’s a fortress. The outpost’s cloak extends deep into the planet’s crust. Even if the Axis managed to get ships within scanning range, all they’d detect is rock and mineral deposits. They could scan this planet for centuries and never detect us.”

“Good thing, too,” Turi added from her spot near the corner, where she leaned casually against a wall. Her distinctive green eyes glinted with humor. Reuniting with Turi had been like another homecoming. She and her friend had spent cycles catching up and sharing stories while Cyprian recovered. Turi had stared openmouthed when Fivra told her about living at Erovik. For two females from a farming community, their lives had taken surprising turns. “Otherwise, I doubt you’d be enjoying reunions and offers of rebellion.” Turi winked at Fivra.

Ellion closed his hands behind his back as he observed the outpost, his sharp silver gaze studying its every detail. “It’s impressive.” His voice was calm but carried a weight of approval that Fivra suspected didn’t come easily.

Cyprian stood silently beside her. His strength had returned and his wounds had healed during the four cycles it had taken them to reach Kaelen’s home. The ship they’d lost on the moon was still there, for now, but Kaelen had sent a recovery crew to retrieve it. He liked that ship.

Ellion’s fortress descended beneath a series of jagged overhangs that concealed the outpost from above. He had a small crew of beings called Hecrons, who were large and had fur that trailed from their head, down their spine, and who piloted the behemoth ship with ease.

Fivra caught glimpses of towers rising from the rock, each adorned with beacons that pulsed with soft amber glows. Beneath those subtle warnings were rows of defensive turrets tucked discreetly into the rock. Their barrels gleamed faintly under the planet’s flickering light. Fivra couldn’t help but feel a mixture of awe and relief. This wasn’t just a hidden sanctuary—it was a stronghold, fortified and formidable. For the first time in what felt like ages, she allowed herself a sliver of hope.

The fortress landed on the outpost’s primary docking bay, a cavernous space carved into the side of a cliff. The walls werereinforced with a patchwork of metal plating and rock. Glowing veins of the planet’s minerals provided an eerie ambience. The docking bay teemed with life—beings of all shapes, sizes, and species moved about with purpose. Some carried crates stamped with markings Fivra didn’t recognize, others tinkered with small vessels suspended midair by magnetic fields. The sounds of a typical docking bay filled the air, punctuated by the sharp hiss of steam vents and the occasional clatter of tools.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” Kaelen declared as the Hecrons powered down the ship’s engines. “Ravak Outpost. Not much to look at on the outside, but it’s what’s below the surface that counts.”

Ellion moved toward the ship’s hatch with his characteristically measured steps, his purple wings shifting slightly. “If we’re to make allies here, we must tread carefully,” he said, his voice even but firm. “Trust is not easily given in places like this.”

“I’ll handle the introductions,” Kaelen replied with a casual wave of his hand. “These are my people. And they’re not in the business of asking too many questions.”

Fivra followed as Kaelen led the group down the ship’s ramp and into the docking bay.

As they moved toward the exit, a figure ran through the opening in a burst of bright color. It took Fivra a moment to realize that it was a female—wild hair of every color that seemed to move like tentacles, a flowing dress of layered, multihued silks, and a long, lithe form that closed the distance between them swiftly.

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