Page 15 of Hunted By the Dragon Alien

The honesty in the boy’s tone made Takkian pity him, but he didn’t let it show. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on Ulo. The handlers had chosen a popular, but ill-matched opponent. Deliberate, no doubt—perhaps Birksip had made a misstep and this fight, and humiliation, had been a punishment. Or the handlers were getting tired of him. It made sense. Ulo’s performance showcased his apparent strength, which gave the crowd a story to bite into—a newcomer with untapped potential. Efficient. Unfeeling. Manipulative. He hated it.

Sevas had eased over the edge of the bed and reached Ulo’s side. Her smaller hand rested against his massive arm, her touch light. “You did what you had to do,” she said softly. Her fingers brushed over the smooth stonelike texture of his arm. In that moment, Takkian would have given anything to have it be his arm she was stroking. “And you came back. That’s what matters.”

Energy scratched beneath Takkian’s scales as he watched her. Fragile as she appeared, Sevas had an intoxicating resilience to her—a warmth she somehow preserved even here. He shook it off, forcing himself to listen as Ulo’s wide black eyes flicked between them.

The juvenile slumped his shoulders. “I… I tried to remember what you and Bruil said,” he muttered. “About standing firm, being like a fortress. I just didn’t think I’d be so strong.”

“You are stronger than you realize,” Sevas murmured, her gaze steady on his until she turned her attention toward Takkian, eyes narrowing. “But this? This wasn’t a test of strength. It was a spectacle, wasn’t it?”

Takkian’s wings twitched faintly as he met her gaze, dark and questioning. “That’s all any of this ever is. Ulo wasn’t meant to win or lose. His opponent was chosen to give the crowd what they wanted: entertainment.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. Frustration radiated from her. “This has to stop.”

He moved in. Any excuse, really, to get closer to her. To see her pupils dilate when he came into her space. To watch her throat move in a thick swallow. “It does.” His voice dipped lower, quiet but heavy, like a storm brewing. “For more than one reason.”

It was the first time he’d hinted—even a little—that he felt something for her. And the likelihood that she even caught his meaning was low. He saw the change in her when he was in her space, but couldn’t quite tell if it was from fear or desire. Sometimes, those physical reactions were similar, but he figured she would have no problem telling him to back off with words or a shove if she didn’t want him near. And she never did.

She held his gaze, jaw tightening slightly. He’d seen that reflex before in her. The tension between them—which she clearly felt but refused to break—made his blood run hot anddragon fire burn in his throat. The refuse-to-back-down tilt of her chin, the growing awareness in her red gaze, the faint flush of anger or resolve in her cheeks… He found it compelling. Irresistible.

Bruil’s sharp laugh cut through the moment, dispelling any chance for an answer. “Well, at least the kid walked away whole.” The older fighter’s voice, dry and humorous, carried a thin, pointed edge as his yellow eyes flicked between Takkian and Sevas. “For now, anyway.”

Sevas sighed and turned back to Ulo. “You earned this moment,” she told the boy firmly. “Be proud of that. You came back, Ulo. Hold on to it.”

The juvenile nodded slowly, though his gaze remained thoughtful.

Takkian shifted, his wings flicking behind him as he spoke. “This was only the first round. There will be more matches, and the next opponent may not go down from one hit.”

His words hung in the air before Sevas finally broke the silence. “Then we make sure he doesn’t face many more opponents.” Her voice carried enough resolve to land like a challenge rather than a statement.

Takkian studied the determined lines of her face. Anger. Compassion. Strength. She had all of them in abundance, woven together too intricately to separate. Andfekif it didn’t make her magnetic—enough to draw his attention, even when he knew better. Even when acting on that pull could cost far more than he was willing to lose.

But when she met his gaze again, the fire in her dark red eyes smoldered just a little brighter. He didn’t look away. He didn’t want to. This time, he lingered. Too long. Way too long.

NINE

Sevas

Sevas stirred in the dim light of the cell. A gentle hum of exhaustion wove through her limbs. The wake cycle had pressed against her, wringing her of energy, but as the overhead lights darkened into the sleep cycle, awareness churned beneath the surface. Warmth blossomed every time she looked at Takkian. Ulo slept on the floor, curled into a ball and looking like a boulder. Bruil snored from the bottom bunk. She turned her head, and in the shadows, she found Takkian leaning against the wall. His silver eyes glinted as he glanced her way. The intensity of his gaze kindled something inside of her.

She sat up. Tension thrummed between her and Takkian, charged and electric. “You can have your bed back,” she suggested, easing to the edge. “I’m okay.”

“No,” he replied. “The bed is yours.” He didn’t move, just kept watching her, sharp and steady as a predator.

Sevas leaned over the edge. The blanket slipped down her shoulder as she shifted. “Join me, then.” The words came outwithout a single thought to why that might be a bad idea. She was inviting something that felt dangerous, but exciting.

“No,” he said again, firmly. But a muscle twitched in his jaw. His nostrils flared.

“It’s just a bunk, and it’s huge for just me. We could both use the warmth.” Her voice was low but underlined with a challenge. There was something intoxicating about making this male squirm, and he definitely was. “I’m asking you to sleep with me, Takkian.”

He blinked, clearly caught off guard. He straightened and crossed his arms. “You think that’s a good idea?”

“Doesn’t hurt to keep warm,” she replied lightly, though heat crept into her cheeks. “You’re the one who’s worried about me, right? So, let’s keep it practical.” But the thought of that big, hard body pressed up against hers made her skin tingle and…other things pulse with an interesting sensation.Arousal. That was what the elder females called it in the settlement, during the copulation talks every Terian had to endure. This was so they knew what the sex act was when they were sent off with a bondmate. Arousal, however, was not commonly discussed. It was mentioned as a rare phenomenon for females to have. Mostly, the elder females informed them of how to get their bondmate to finish the act as quickly as possible.

Butthiswas different from anything she’d heard from Auntie Ailota, the old one who spoke to her and her friend Lilas about sex. Her feelings—physical and mental—were far from obligatory.

He hesitated. “Sevas…” he began.

“Or don’t,” she said, lying back down. “I just thought—”

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