Page 53 of Pursued By the Dragon Alien

Razion’s jaw flexed. This was instantly interesting.

Vahkos continued, his voice smooth, even. “When you catch up with the Zaruxians and Terians, you will deliver a message: Cease searching for the remaining brothers and Terian females.” His black eyes glinted. “Or we will find renewed interest in those properties.”

Silence rang through the docking bay.

Cozax tensed beside him. Vedd’s hands curled into fists at his sides.

Razion didn’t blink. “And if they refuse?”

Vahkos tilted his head. “That would be…unfortunate.” He gestured toward the viewport, where the dark hulking mass of his ship loomed. “We have been…lenient.” His voice turned cold. “If these people continue down this path, we will erase them, the settlements. Every living thing that has ever assisted them.”

Dragon fire burned in Razion’s throat as pressure built in his body. This was the closest he’d ever felt to his body shifting into something else. Another form he’d never known.

The Axis would burn everything.

His wings flexed, his fingers dug into his palms. He met Vahkos’ unfeeling gaze, searing with every ounce of hatred curdling in his gut.

“You’re overreaching, Vahkos.” Razion’s voice came out calm, even. Controlled fury layered beneath every word. “You say the Axis has more lucrative priorities. If that were true, you wouldn’t be here, making threats.”

Vahkos didn’t blink. His smooth, cold features remained perfectly still, betraying nothing. “That is where you are mistaken, Captain. We make threats when they become necessary.”

Razion’s hands flexed at his sides. He could rip this bastard apart piece by piece if it came to it. If not for Lilas trapped on the surrounded Zaruxian ship, he might have already done just that.

The council member clasped his hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly. “You are correct in one regard,” Vahkos continued. “We do not particularly care about your scattered little rebellion. Let the Terian farm settlements manage themselves. They produce nothing of value anymore. The Axis does not waste resources on outdated investments.” He steppedforward, just enough to invade Razion’s space. “However, that does not mean we will allow your people—Zaruxians and Terians alike—to unite into something…problematic.”

Razion didn’t react. He could feel Vedd and Cozax beside him, waiting for a signal. Watching his every reaction.

Vahkos smiled, slow and deliberate. “Deliver the message, Captain. Tell them to stand down.” His voice dipped just slightly. “Or we will take action.”

Razion exhaled slowly, burning the moment into his mind.Thiswas the Axis. Their rule. Their arrogance. They destroyed and discarded as they pleased, treating civilizations like broken machinery—useless once stripped of their value.

But they weren’t gods. And they had vulnerabilities.

A cold smirk curved Razion’s lips. “You call this a warning.” His wings spread, drawing Vahkos’ attention for half a second. “I call it fear.”

Vahkos’ dark eyes narrowed. “Careful, Captain.”

Razion stepped forward, matching his calculated tone with one of his own. “No,yoube careful.” His voice was low, a slow storm rolling under the surface. “Because if you lay a single hand on Lilas, on any of them, I will burn your entire fleet to the ground.”

The words came out quiet, lethal. A promise.

Vahkos tilted his head. “Bold.” His expression remained infuriatingly unaffected. “But bravado alone does not win wars, Captain. Strategy does. Resources. Power.” His cold, black eyes gleamed. “And we have far more of all three than you.”

Razion didn’t flinch. He had spent cycles fighting, raiding, learning how to dismantle the Axis’ influence piece by piece. He knew how they operated, how they weighed risk against reward. They didn’t eliminate threats—theyabsorbedthem, redistributed them. Unless, of course, they couldn’t be controlled.

Like the Zaruxians.

Like the Terians.

Likehim.

“If you truly had all the strategy, and resources, and power,” Razion said, “you wouldn’t be here, delivering your empty warnings.” His lip curled. “You’d already have flattened the settlements and been done with it.”

Vahkos regarded him silently for a long moment. Then, with a slow breath, he straightened his uniform cuffs. “It seems you think yourself fortunate enough to still be standing, Captain,” he said. “I’m inclined to let that illusion persist for a little while longer.”

He turned toward his accompanying guards, nodding sharply. Without another word, they moved back toward the docked Axis transport. As they ascended the ramp, Vahkos paused at the threshold, glancing back at Razion. “Deliver the message,” he said. “Consider your next actions carefully. There will not be another warning.”

The ramp sealed shut behind him, and within seconds, the Axis ship detached from the Darkslip, vanishing back toward the warship.

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