Page 37 of Fated to the Dragon Warlord

Rosalie releases my arm and gives me a little shove, causing me to unbalance and fall against Darax. I hear her laughter as he catches me.

“Did the femaledeliberatelypush you?” Darax growls.

“Yes, she did.” I seethe, contemplating setting Darax on her for all of a nano-second. “But she did it on purpose so you’d catch me.”

“Interesting,” Darax says. “She threw you at me?”

“Not exactly,”

“She threw you at me to see what would happen.” Darax smokes, and a light dances in his eyes. “Your female is clever.”

“She is annoying and will be getting a kick in the pants later,” I grumble without malice.

“I like her,” Darax says.

The bristling, awful feeling floods my body again, a jealousy so deep it rots my bones.

“I like you more,” he adds.

“I’m not speaking to you right now,” I huff.

“You are.”

“No, I am not.”

Darax furrows his brow, completely confused. “This is talking,” he says.

“Once you decide to tell me the truth, about everything, then we’ll talk.” I pry myself free of his arms, even though I’d quite like to stay there. “And once you make a decision what we are to you. Until then, leave me and my friends alone.”

I walk off down the passage, following the sounds of delight which are echoing in my direction. I reach the second doorway and risk a glance back at Darax.

He has gone.

Of course he has gone. I push everyone away with my inability to trust them. Rosalie had no choice because we were stuck together, but up until alien abduction, my lack of social skills has ensured my life was pretty lonely.

I shove all the jealousy, all the confusion which wars within me, back down inside. I’m not going to let any of this change myaim, which is to be sure Rosalie, and now the other ladies, are safe.

And having seen what I have seen of the Sarkarnii so far, I’m beginning to doubt our safety lies here.

KERRA

Okay, the aquium is impressive, I admit it. The pool is large enough and deep enough to take a couple of the Sakarnii when they are in their dragon forms, but it’s also more than functional.

The walls glitter with something which almost looks like scales. They catch the light in places, creating an almost disco ball effect. The water is crystal clear, warm, and inviting. Maggie and Scarlett are already in the pool, whilst Rosalie and Lydia are missing.

“Where are the others?” I ask, fear rising within me.

“There’s a place to get changed over there.” Maggie sends a shower of water in my direction as she points to a smooth, rounded bulkhead.

As she does, Rosalie and Lydia reappear in their costumes, and Rosalie takes a running jump into the water, bombing Maggie and Scarlett who shriek with laughter. Lydia shakes her head and sits on the edge, dangling her feet into the pool.

“Are you coming in or what?” Rosalie shouts at me.

“There are water jets,” Scarlett calls out.

“Kerra doesn’t need waterjets,” Rosalie says. “She’s had the real thing.”

Gales of filthy laughter follow her comment, and I choose to ignore it. The water looks incredibly inviting for so many reasons. I nip around the bulkhead and into a place which smells strongly of males. There is clothing hanging up on pegs which come organically out of the wall, and it’s clear this is a Sarkarnii locker room, of sorts. The place they hang their pants, should they happen to be wearing them at the time.

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