Page 28 of Hunted By the Dragon Alien

He opened the door behind her and pushed them both inside. The stateroom was small, but it was quiet and, more importantly,private. Takkian glanced around to assess the room. It had a wide bed along one wall, a small metal table bolted to the floor, and a single overhead light. There was enough room for the two of them to move around without brushing shoulders, though with his wings, it still felt cramped.

Sevas scanned the room, trying to stifle a yawn. Despite her playful tone, he could see the weariness in her posture.

Takkian closed the door behind her, then turned to face her fully. For the first time, he was alone with Sevas. He scanned her face. Her bruises were fading, but they still marred her otherwise strong, beautiful features. She’d been through so much, and yet she stood there, defiant and unbroken.

“How are you holding up?” he asked, his voice quieter than it needed to be.

Sevas tilted her head, offering a faint smile. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t exhausted, but…” She moved past him to the bed. “We made it out. That’s what matters.”

“We did.” He watched her move around, inspecting the room. “I’ve always known you were strong, Sevas. But today… You carried all of us. Kept us together.”

She looked at him. “And you…turned into a literal dragon to save me.” Her voice rose with what sounded like awe. “Takkian, you did something I didn’t even think was possible. You became something more, something unstoppable. You didn’t just save me—you saved all of us.”

Takkian felt a flicker of heat rise in his chest. It wasn’t the raging fire of the dragon, but a subtle warmth. “It wasn’t a choice,” he said, his voice rough. “There was no scenario where I could let them hurt you, Sevas. The moment they announced the match, something inside me… It just snapped.”

“You didn’t just fight for me.” She watched him intently, her red eyes unwavering. “You burned everything for us to escape. That’s not something anyone does lightly. Thank you.”

Her words sank into him, pressing against emotions he’d tried to keep buried. He reached out, brushing a strand of her hair away from her face. “With Ulo, Bruil, and your help. We wouldn’t be here without all of us working together,” he murmured. “What I did… It was instinct. You are my mate, Sevas. I couldn’t let them take you from me.”

Her lips parted slightly. Her breath caught as she leaned into his touch. “Your mate,” she breathed. “I like the sound of that.” The space between them grew heavy with meaning, charged with electricity. Her hand slid down his wrist, tracing the ridges of his scales, and she gave a faint, breathless laugh. “What does this mean for us? Out there, in the quadrant?”

Takkian’s gaze darkened as he pulled her closer. “We’ll find out,” he said in a low rumble. “This ship, the stars, the unknown ahead… Whatever comes, we face it side by side.”

Sevas let out a shaky laugh, her fingers tightening around his. “Side by side. I like the sound of that.” Her voice steadied, warming with determination. “Then promise me something, Takkian.”

His wings flexed slightly as he locked eyes with hers. “Anything.”

Her hand moved to his chest, pressing lightly against the steady rhythm of his heart. “Promise you won’t ever leave me behind,” she said. Her eyes glimmered with rare vulnerability. “No matter what happens, no matter where we go, we stay together.”

Takkian’s chest tightened under her touch. He placed his hand over hers. His fingers gently curling over her smaller ones, sealing the connection between them. “I swear it, Sevas. Nothing in this universe could pull me away from you.”

Her lips curved into a soft smile. “Good,” she murmured. “Because I’m not sure I could do this without you.” She paused. Her gaze dropped to his chest. “You might not believe it, but back in that pit…knowing you were with me made me braver.”

One of his legs slid out from the blanket and wrapped around the back of her legs to pull her closer. “Then we make each other stronger,” he rumbled. “And together, no one gets to dictate our fate but us.”

The weight of everything they’d been through hovered in the air, and yet, it was dwarfed by the raw pull drawing them closer. He felt her fingers curl against the hard planes of his chest as his heart thundered in his ears.

Takkian cupped the side of her face. His fingers grazed her jawline with the utmost gentleness. His hand, roughened by countless arena battles, had no business touching something so fine, but she leaned into his touch as if she craved it. His thumb brushed over her cheek, committing the texture of her skin to memory. Their breaths mingled, warm and uneven, as he leaned in and captured her mouth in a kiss. Sensations exploded through him—hunger. Need. Possession.

Sevas melted against him. He felt her fingers tangle in his hair, pulling him closer as their bodies pressed together. She was not fragile. She was fierce—a warrior female who was now woven into his soul. He could feel her strength as she leaned into his embrace.

Takkian growled softly against her lips, knowing it could go no farther. With a sigh of frustration and regret, he broke the kiss.

Their breaths mingled in the charged air. Sevas’ forehead rested lightly against his. Her dark red eyes shimmered with an emotion he had never quite encountered before. He struggled to articulate the overwhelming possessiveness he felt and the way she seemed to bring light to the shadows of his existence.

“You’ve changed me, Sevas,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “For cycles, I thought I was nothing but a weapon, a tool for survival. But with you, I feel alive. I feel…free.”

She cupped the side of his face, her thumb brushing over his cheekbone, sending a jolt of warmth through him. “And you’ve made me feel the same. I didn’t think I’d ever feel like this. That I’d find someone like you.”

For a moment, Takkian tightened his arms around her, holding her against him. The world could shatter around them and he would not let her go. He exhaled slowly, nuzzling his nose gently against her neck, savoring the warmth of her skin against his. He retreated just enough to meet her gaze. “Then we hold on to this.” His voice was rough with lingering passion. “No matter what’s ahead.”

“Deal,” she said with a faint, tired smile grazing her lips.

In that moment, an unspoken promise passed between them, heavy with meaning and understanding. The weight of their journey, the uncertainty of the future, and the exhaustion of survival pressed against him like a warm but heavy blanket, reminding him of everything they had faced and still had yet to confront.

Takkian glanced toward the bed, noting the weariness etched in the lines of her face, the shadows darkening her features. “Come,” he said. “Rest. You need it.”

“Youneed it,” she replied, but she didn’t argue. He could see the fatigue as surely as she felt it.

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