Page 58 of Pursued By the Dragon Alien

The space between them stretched unbearably thin.

She stopped just within reach. Close enough that he could see the rise and fall of her chest, the slight tremor in her fingers—the war happening inside of her.

And then, she whispered in a small voice that held hurt and pain and hope, “Then why did you take the meeting?”

Razion’s chest cracked open. His entire world narrowed to her.Onlyher. It had always been her. He swallowed hard and nodded. “I guess you didn’t stick around for the whole conversation.”

Lilas held his gaze for a long moment. “I thought I’d heard enough.”

His muscles were still coiled with tension, his mind still reeling from the pain in his body and the raw, open wound that her distance carved into him. “You didn’t hear the part where I told Krask he could take the meeting himself and try to get a position with the trafficker, because he wasn’t part of the Darkslip crew anymore.”

Her eyes widened. “No, I didn’t hear that part.”

He had found her. He had told her the truth. Now, he had to make her believe it. For the first time in his life, Razion had no idea how to fight this battle. But he would figure it out. For Lilas, he’d do anything. “That’s too bad. You’d have loved that part.” He winced and shut his eyes again. “Krask was so angry, he gave the Axis everything on the Darkslip.”

“Is that the other ship we saw on our scanners when you were following us?” Cyprian asked.

Razion shouldn’t have been surprised to learn that his pursuit of the Zaruxians wasn’t, in fact, a secret. “Yes. Got a visit from one of the robed ones themselves. He had a message for you.”

“What was it?” Cyprian asked.

“Can this wait just a little?” Lilas asked as her cool hand cupped his cheek. “Razion, try to stop this transformation,okay? I’ve heard that the dragon form is very large and very destructive, and we’re very happy with the furniture and decor. It would be a shame to have to replace it.”

He looked up at her, trying to understand what she was trying to tell him, and saw her lips curved in a smile. “I love you, Lilas. I’d never—”

“I know.” She cut him off by placing her other hand on his other cheek. “I heard you the first time. And the second. I could get used to hearing it.” She smiled at him and it felt as if he could breathe again. “I love you, too.”

On a groan, he yanked her against his body and into his arms. He buried his face in her neck as tears burned in his eyes and words fell from his mouth.

Fekit all, he loved this female. And he would spend every breath proving it.

To her.

To himself.

And to the universe.

TWENTY-THREE

Lilas

“Why are you still here?” Sevas demanded. “He just said he loves you.”

“Shh.” Lilas waved off her friend. “Keep your voice down.”

She, Sevas, Fivra, and Turi were huddled behind one of the thick fabric screens at the far end of the main hall. The screens were for decor only, and to make the massive space feel a little more cozy. They were Turi’s addition to the space, along with updated furniture and a replicator for snacks.

“He seems to be in pain, Lilas,” Fivra said, biting her lip. “He looks like he’s trying not to shift into his dragon form.”

Turi looked at Lilas with alarm. “If he does that, he’ll destroy this space, and possibly hurt someone.”

“He’s never shifted before.” Lilas chewed on a fingernail as she watched the five Zaruxians in the center of the room through a gap in the panels. She was hearing her friends, but not listening to them. Her attention was riveted on Razion, who clearly hadnotintended to sell her. But now that she heard proof of it and her feelings of betrayal were eliminated, shefound herself paralyzed. Her feet were like lead on the floor. Her thoughts wereeverywhere, which rendered her stuck. Unable to do anything.

“There’s a first time for everything,” Sevas muttered.

Suddenly, Ellion’s voice raised in a way that Lilas knew his words were meant for her. “You heard him. What do you want to do, Lilas?”

She also knew that his words were a judgment:He loves you, he never intended to sell you, and you should come out here and deal with your mate.

---