Page 36 of Pursued By the Dragon Alien

“A young Rokkol merchant,” Krask said. “Juvenile. Was a prisoner at the Slarik Arena before it was destroyed. He was freed by one of the Zaruxians and one of the Terians.”

Razion’s pulse beat hard in his throat. He crossed the room in two steps, planting both hands on the console as he leveled Krask with a hard stare. “Hesawthem?”

“More than that,” Krask said. “Says they fought alongside him. Got him out before the place went up in flames.”

Razion exhaled sharply. If that was true, then the Zaruxians weren’t just tearing through Axis strongholds—they were liberating people. That wasn’t just rebellion. That was war.

Cozax tapped a few commands, bringing up a map of local trade routes. “The young male is part of a merchant family that’s doing business on a quieter outpost right now. They’re keeping their heads down after the escape. It’s off the major Axis surveillance grids, but still close enough to core routes that merchants cycle through. If we move fast, we can get there before word spreads.”

Razion pushed off the console and straightened, his mind already shifting into strategy. “Set the course.”

Vedd whistled low. “Risky. If this Rokkol is broadcasting his story to everyone willing to listen, we won’t be the only ones interested.”

“He’s not, which is why we’re getting to him now,” Krask said. “No public records show him back in trade hubs. He’s moving like someone who doesn’t trust the fact that he made it out alive. I got the information through a trusted source. It wasnotfree.”

Razion nodded. “Fine.” He turned to Cozax. “How long until we reach the outpost?”

“Four cycles if we push the thrusters and use the space fold device,” Cozax said. “It’ll cut the time considerably.”

“Do it.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw, turning back toward the central console. His reflection stared back at him in the polished surface of the control panels—gold scales and storm-gray eyes, narrowed in determination. Troubled. Yes, he looked like dread and hope were having a fight on his face.

But this was a tangible lead. If this merchant had seen a Zaruxian and fought beside him, then Razion needed to know everything. Who they were. How they got there. And what thefekhad led them to part ways after the battle.

And if this Terian had been alongside them…

He thought of Lilas, of the way her whole body had gone rigid when Hurik mentioned the auctioned Terians. If one of her friends had escaped too, he needed to find out.

“Captain.” Krask cleared his throat. He shifted his stance slightly. “One more thing.”

Razion lifted a brow. “What?”

Krask crossed his arms. His expression remained unreadable, but there was a tension there that Razion recognized. “Your…involvement with the Terian.”

Razion’s jaw flexed. He should’ve seen this coming. “What about it?”

Vedd, of course, didn’t hide his amusement. His dark eyes gleamed as he leaned back in his seat. “Oh? Is this the part where we pretend we didn’t figure that out cycles ago?”

Razion raised one brow. “I wasn’t hiding it.”

“No, just conveniently not saying anything,” Vedd said with a smirk. “Very subtle.”

Krask didn’t react to Vedd’s teasing. His gaze remained locked on Razion, waiting for his answer.

Razion rolled his shoulders, deciding not to make a bigger thing out of it than it was. “Lilas and I are involved,” he said bluntly. “It doesn’t change anything.”

“That remains to be seen,” Krask muttered.

Razion held his gaze, letting the unspoken challenge settle between them. “She’s part of this ship now, Krask. She’s proven herself. If this is an issue for you, say it outright.”

Krask’s nostrils flared but he didn’t argue. He had his concerns—Razion knew that. But the first mate also knew better than to push a fight he wasn’t going to win.

Cozax was the first to break the silence. “It hasn’t affected your judgment, so it’s your business,” she said. “We’ve been running together too long for me to question your personal life. Plus, I like her.”

Vedd shrugged. “I’ve brought far more questionable individuals onto this ship, so I won’t say a word.”

“Yes, you have,” Krask said crisply. He looked like he wanted to argue but knew there was no point. “If she becomes a liability—”

“She won’t,” Razion interrupted.

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