Page 38 of Pursued By the Dragon Alien

Lilas’ heart clenched at the sound of her friend’s name spoken so casually. “Sevas. She’s…okay then?”

Ulo’s expression softened. “She was when I saw her last. She was so kind to me. We arrived at the arena on the same transport and were put in the same cell.”

Lilas pressed her lips together to keep from asking too many questions at once. Sevas was alive. There was verifiable proof. She squeezed her hands into fists to steady herself.

Razion leaned against the booth. “Thank you for meeting with us. As Vedd told you, we want to know what happened at the arena,” he said. “Everything you remember.”

Ulo’s expression darkened slightly as he glanced at his family. His parents were still busy, but they were listening—it was clear in the way their sharp eyes flicked toward him before returning to their work. He exhaled, then nodded once. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll tell you what I know.”

He folded his arms across his chest, the grooves in his rocklike skin catching the dim light overhead. “I was a prisoner at the Slarik Arena,” he said. “Taken from a convoy raid. They put us in the pit, expected us to fight for entertainment. It was so terrifying.” His mouth pulled tight. “But the mechs don’t give you choices. The Axis ran the place,” Ulo continued. “They owned the fighters, placed bets, set up the matches. It was supposed to be a game, but it was a death trap.” His gaze flicked toward Razion. “If not for Takkian, I wouldn’t have survived.”

Razion stiffened slightly. “Takkian?”

Ulo nodded. “He was like you. Zaruxian. Looked different, though—scales were green, and he had a lot more scars. But when I first saw you, I thought—” He shook his head. “For a second, I thought he’d come back. You have very similar eyes.”

“That’s because he’s likely my brother,” Razion explained calmly, but as Lilas glanced at him, she saw the tight set of his jaw and the twitch of his wings.

“Oh, wow,” Ulo said, rocking on his heels. “That’s amazing. Takkian would be so happy to know he had a brother.”

“So Takkian wasn’t an Axis agent?” Razion asked.

Ulo exhaled. “Oh, no. Takkian hated the Axis so much. He was forced to fight and was stronger than the others. He won every time we were there and he took care of Bruil.”

“Who’s Bruil?” Lilas asked, trying to keep up.

Ulo leaned forward slightly. “He was in our cell with us. Takkian looked out for him. He was older and his fighting days were over. Takkian made sure he wasn’t sent to a ‘final’ match.” He lowered his voice. “A death match.”

“Wait. There weretwoZaruxians in that cell with you?” Razion’s voice was clipped.

Ulo nodded. “Bruil was a little grumpy sometimes, but he taught me how to fight. He was important to Takkian, and when we, uh, borrowed a ship to escape in, Bruil flew it. Said he learned how to in the war.”

Lilas saw Razion’s fingers flex. “An elder. I didn’t think anyone survived the war that destroyed my people.”

Lilas felt her pulse in her fingertips. “And Sevas?” she asked carefully. “Was she forced to fight, too?”

Ulo’s expression softened. “Yes, and she won the one match she was put in. She got hurt, but Takkian took good care of her. He and Sevas… I’m not an expert on that or anything, but they kissed and stuff.”

Kissed and stuff. Lilas shared a quick, amused glance with Razion. “How did you all escape?” she pressed.

Ulo glanced at Razion, then back at her. His expression grew grim. “They made Takkian fight Sevas,” he said. “Forced them into the pit together. She didn’t stand a chance against him. He was supposed to kill her.”

“Oh, no.” Lilas’ heart slammed against her ribs. Her nails bit into her palms. “How did she survive?”

Ulo exhaled sharply, his heavy shoulders rising. “Well, Takkian changed.”

Lilas blinked. “What?”

“Takkian,” Ulo said slowly, like he needed her to understand, “shifted. Not like his stance or how a soldier changes their grip on a weapon. Hebecamesomething else.” He lifted his massive hands, pressed his palms outward, mimicking an explosion. “I didn’t see it happen. I was back in the cell with Bruil. All I know is, they were taken from the cell together, and they came crashing through the wall, busting everyone out. Takkian wasn’t himself anymore—he wassomething bigger. A beast. A dragon.”His black eyes gleamed in the dim outpost lighting. “I saw it with my own eyes. You don’t forget something like that. And then he turned back into his usual form and passed out.” He stood straighter and puffed out his chest. “I carried him through the arena to the ship.”

Lilas’ stomach twisted. She shifted closer to Razion, half expecting him to scoff, to call it an exaggeration, a prisoner’s misremembered chaos.

But Razion was *staring*. His expression was unreadable, but his body had gone rigid. “Dragon,” he murmured.

Ulo nodded. “It was chaos. The whole place was just torn apart. The chaos gave us all a chance to escape.” A flicker of something solemn crossed his features. “I don’t know if everyone made it out. But those of us who did? We owe our lives to him and Sevas.”

She shot Razion a look. He was still staring at Ulo, his jaw clenched so tight she thought it might snap. “You really saw this?” he asked. “You’re certain?”

Ulo raised his rocky jaw. “I know what I saw,” he said. “And Rokkols have excellent memories. We don’t forget anything.”

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