Page 22 of Possessed By the Dragon Alien
“Tonight. During sleep cycle. Quick and quiet.”
That was all he needed to hear. Dragon fire surged up Madrian’s throat. He slammed a hand on the console. “Turn it off.”
Rien stopped the recording. “It’s quite clear,” she said. “Taghi and Valkos orchestrated this. Had Nena brought here deliberately to test your loyalty.”
“And planned to kill her.” His wings trembled with fury. The need to shift—which he’dneverexperienced before—clawed at his chest. He’d wondered if it was true, that Zaruxians could change their form entirely. It was only mentioned once in the scant information he had on his species. But now, he knew it was real, as the need to embrace his dragon form and burn them all to ash, burned like hot coals under his ribs.
“Yes.” Rien’s expression was grim. “And now they plan to eliminate her,” she agreed.
“They can try.” Heat rolled through his chest. The urge to shift, to embrace his true form, pressed against his skin, but this was not the time. Not the place. He took a deep, fortifying breath. “But first, I want to know why. What is this connection between Zaruxians and Terians that has them so afraid?”
“I’ve been researching that.” Rien pulled up a series of files on her screen. “There are references in ancient archives about an alliance between Zarux and Teria. The planets orbited each other, and the species developed a symbiotic relationship.The Terians enhanced Zaruxian dragon fire, while Zaruxians protected Terian settlements.”
“How did I not know this?” Madrian asked, scanning the ancient text. “I have complete access to the Axis databases.”
“Because someone erased it all,” Rien said. “I found these records in old archives from conquered worlds. The Axis purged their own data of any mention of the connection between your species.”
Madrian’s wings rustled with agitation. “What else have they hidden from me?”
“Much.” Rien pulled up another file. “The Zaruxian people weren’t just defeated by the Axis. They were systematically destroyed because of this bond with the Terians. Together, your species were too powerful.”
“Tell me everything you know.” The words came out as a growl.
“When bonded to Terians, Zaruxian dragons could channel immense power. Your fire became strong enough to melt stone, to reshape reality itself.” She gestured to the screen. “The Axis couldn’t defeat you through force. So they separated you. They declared war on Zarux and exiled the surviving Terians to a penal colony where their lives would be much shorter than on their home planet, causing future generations to quickly forget their past and their true nature.”
Madrian’s blood ran cold. “Penal Colony 5-11B…”
“The descendants of the last Terians.”
“Fek.” Pieces were falling into place.
Rien tilted her head. “Are you sure you want to know this?”
“Yes.” His attention snapped back to her. “How many Zaruxians survived?”
“Records indicate a small number did escape, some were captured and imprisoned, and a clutch of hatchlings was taken by the Axis when the Zaruxian queen surrendered. Sourcesindicate that those hatchlings were hers. She made their survival part of the conditions of surrender.” Rien’s pale eyes met his. “Based on your age, you would be one of them.”
The truth of it rang through him like a bell. All his life serving the empire that had destroyed his people. That had stolen him as a child and twisted him into their tool.
“The queen.” Hismother. “What happened to her?”
Rien shrugged. “She was executed. The Axis kept their word, but raised those hatchlings to be agents of the Axis. Or tried to. Two did not stay in the system as intended.”
Those other hatchlings… They had to be his brothers. Right there, under his nose his whole life.
“The other Zaruxians who’ve rebelled,” he said. “They must have discovered this too.”
“It’s likely, yes. And now that they’ve found their Terian mates, their true power is returning.” Rien’s fingers moved over the console. “The Axis fear you’ll be next. That’s why they brought Nena here. To see if you were susceptible to the bond, giving them reason to weaken you before you became too powerful.”
“And they proved I am exactly who I was meant to be.” His voice roughened.
“The council will move against you both soon. They already have their scientists developing weapons to use against dragon form.”
“Let them come.” Dragon fire scalded his throat. “I will not let them take her from me,” he said, thinking of Nena’s eyes before he left, unafraid and unwavering in their trust. “Where are the others now? The Zaruxians who have rebelled?”
“Unknown. But I’ve heard there’s an Axis subset of scientists who have developed a weapon to use against the Zaruxian dragon form. It’s not perfect, but it weakens them.” Rien pressedher fingertips together. “I’m guessing they will use it against you, if presented with an opportunity.”
“Or they’ll force me into one of their memory-erasing surgeries.” He gritted his teeth. “I always voted against that, but was overruled. Found it barbaric.”
