Page 5 of Pursued By the Dragon Alien

Razion studied her reaction, watching the way her breathing evened out, the way her fingers curled and uncurled—like she was testing her own skin, relearning the feeling of freedom.

For some reason, the sight pleased him more than it should have. “See?” he said. “Free.”

She lifted her gaze to his. “Free is such an unclear word. Are you leaving me to rot on this ship or taking me somewhere, Captain?”

Razion smirked. “That depends. Do you have somewhere you want to go?”

For the first time, her expression wavered.She didn’t.She didn’t say it, but he saw it in her eyes, in the flicker of worry and vulnerability.

“Then,” he said, stepping back, his voice lighter, teasing, “you’re coming with us.”

Lilas snorted, crossing her arms. “Great. Traded one kidnapping for another. Truly, my luck is unmatched.”

Razion chuckled, low and appreciative. “I suppose it was that mouth of yours that provoked Gribna into giving you that bruise on your cheek.”

She shrugged one shoulder. “What can I say? I bring out the best in people.”

Stars, but he liked her already.

THREE

Lilas

Razion was too good-looking to be trustworthy. That was Lilas’ first thought as she followed him out of the gilded cell that had been her room. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and moved with the easy, unhurried confidence of someone who knew he was in control. Like nothing and no one could rattle him. His gold scales shimmered in the dim lighting, catching on the flex of his arms beneath the fitted sleeves of his well-worn vest. He had the kind of body that spoke of power—not just strength, but precision. The way his muscles shifted beneath his clothes, taut and fluid, reminded her of a predator tracking its prey.

Then there was his face. He had the kind of jawline that looked like it had taken its fair share of hits, with faint shadows in the hollows beneath his defined cheekbones. A mouth that quirked at the corner like he was always on the edge of amusement—or trouble. His nose was straight, a little too perfect, but it was his eyes that unsettled her the most. Gray, storm-cloud dark, and way too observant. It wasn’t just that theylooked at her—it was the way theysawher, like he was peeling back every layer to find whatever secrets she was trying to keep.

She didn’t like that.

She also didn’t have a choice.

Her bare feet were silent against the polished floor as she kept pace with him. The ship was eerily silent and the fading smell of burned metal was proof that whatever fight had happened, it was over.

They rounded a corner, and her gaze landed on the very dead Gribna, sprawled on the floor of a large, fancy chamber. The sight of those bloated boils made her mouth curl. “For someone so rich, you’d think he could afford a doctor to fix that mess on his skin,” she muttered.

Razion glanced at her with something like amusement. “The boils? They’re a sign of peak health for his species.”

Lilas blinked. Stared at him. Then looked at Gribna again. “You’re telling me,” she said, slowly, “that the dripping, rancid pustules were intentional?”

Razion shrugged. “Not intentional, but ideal. The more boils, the stronger the genetic line. Females of his kind think that’s attractive.”

Lilas let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. “Well. That explains why he thought I should be grateful for his attention.”

Razion’s smirk deepened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he gestured for her to keep moving. She did, but not without one last glance at Gribna’s corpse. Disgust rippled through her, but beneath it, there was relief.

One less monster in the galaxy. She could live with that.

Lilas followed Razion through the ship’s corridors, her bare feet cool against the sleek floors. The ship smelled of scorched metal and ozone, the aftermath of the battle still hanging in the air.

She exhaled, relieved. “So, what happened to Gribna’s crew?” she asked carefully. “Because I remember guards. And Gribna had these robots with pincers for hands.”

“Neutralized,” Razion said easily. “Would you like to hear the details?”

Lilas shook her head, satisfied with his answer. Her wrists still felt grimy from Gribna’s hold on them earlier, and her skin still remembered the pain caused by those cuffs. Whatever had happened to the rest of his crew, she wasn’t about to lose sleep over it.

They stepped through a neatly burned hole in the side of the cabin and into a short, white chamber that ended in a sleek door. Razion pressed a panel, and the door slid open to reveal the interior of another ship. Sleeker. Darker. Less flashy than Gribna’s monstrosity, which made her feel slightly better about her situation.

He finally turned to face her fully, arms crossed over his chest. “You planning to run?”

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