Page 62 of Possessed By the Dragon Alien
The Terian females emerged in a tight group, their unique, brilliant hair gleamed in Zarux’s sun. These weren’t the broken captives the Axis had tried to make them. They were warriors who had helped bring down an empire.
Nena saw him and broke into a run. Her green eyes locked on his. Even in his massive dragon form, he could see the slight smile that curved her lips. She knew him, recognized him despite his altered shape. Madrian had a moment of fear that she would be afraid of him, that he might accidentally hurt her, that he would be stuck as a dragon for good. Smoke wafted from his nostrils. He began to pace back, away from her approach.
Nena wasn’t having any of that. She reached him and placed one delicate hand on his scaled snout. Her touch sent something like an electrical charge through him.
“I knew you would come back to me,” she said softly. “Even if you had to tear down the sky to do it.”
He wanted to reply. Wanted to speak to her, but his mouth wasn’t made for words. Instead he closed his eyes and loweredhis head, pressing gently into her hand with a sound like a purr. Around them, the other Terian females were reuniting with their mates. The sound of their voices filled the air. It was a counterpoint to the deeper rumble of the males’ responses. But Madrian had eyes only for Nena, drinking in the sight of her like a male dying of thirst.
His transformation began with a whole-body shudder. He wished he could say the process was easier in reverse—less painful, more natural, but it wasn’t. His dragon consciousness folded back into the deeper parts of his mind, ready to emerge again when needed, but no longer driving his actions.
It was the physical transformation that he could have skipped. His smaller, two-legged body reasserted itself with as much pain as the dragon had. Wings and scales shrank back to their normal size. His elongated snout contracted back into the face he was used to. He didn’t know how long it took, but the dragon was gone. For a fraction of apik, he stood naked among the ruins of the Axis capital, completely himself and utterly exposed. Then, he collapsed. Exhausted. Drained. Finished, for now.
The last thing he remembered was the feeling of soft hands on his face and his head resting on a warm lap.
And words whispering messages of love and courage and dreams.
It was sometime later that they stood in what used to be the council chambers. The place where horrible choices had been made. Where Madrian had sat and cast votes that destroyed worlds and enslaved entire species. He felt alien and uncomfortable in the space. The walls were scarred and the tablethe Twelve had sat around lay in pieces. Rebels had ransacked it and destroyed everything destroyable. He wished he could have been there to help. Apparently recovering from being a dragon required time and rest. An annoying thing to require in the aftermath of battle.
“Well,” Cyprian said, stretching his red-scaled form as he grinned at them all. “That was remarkably satisfying.”
“It was,” Ellion said. “First, we secure the planet. Process the surrenders. Begin establishing order.”
Madrian nodded. Since waking up in the plaza, woozy and tired, and covered in a blanket with Nena by his side, he’d been thinking about the logistics of occupying the planet. But underneath the planning and analysis, a deep satisfaction settled in his chest. “Zarux is ours,” he said, then winced. “But Teria will need to be rejuvenated to be habitable. The Axis was not kind to that planet’s resources.”
Turi was the one who spoke up first. “We will bring it back to life.” She raised her chin. “If anyone can grow things in harsh conditions, it’s Terians.”
Ellion ran a hand down his mate’s blue hair. “This is true. I saw it season after season at the settlements.” He turned to all of them. “The Axis is finished. A few scattered loyalist forces might continue fighting for a while, but without Central and without the mystique of invincibility, they will crumble. All but two members of the Twelve have been secured, and those will be apprehended soon. Rien and Vedd are pursuing them.”
Stavian sniffed, tugging Cerani close. “It will be chaos for a while. There will be conflicts and territorial disputes and all the messy complications that come with…this.” He shrugged. “But at least it’s not imposed order. Some of the outer Axis territories might need some help. The DeLink Mine authorities will want to keep control of thebasiancrystals and their prisoner workers. I’ll deal with that.”
“Hmm.” Sevas ran a hand over Takkian’s thick forearm. “Same with the arenas, auctions, and entertainment sectors.” She looked at Cyprian. “The brothels will need new management or to be shut down.”
“Already ahead of you,” Cyprian replied. “Siku and Viparia will be informing all Axis brothels thatcourtiasno longer work for them.”
Fivra looked up at him. “Are you saying that those two are going to take over the brothels?”
“They’re going to close some, probably, and make sure that allcourtiasare free to do what, and, ehwho, they please, at others.” He smirked at his own joke. “Not all directors were as benevolent as I was.”
Lilas rolled her eyes. “And what about Settlement 112-1? Are we going to round up all thosefekkersand bring them to Teria?” She crossed her arms. “I’m sorry, but I don’t want to see those people again. They’re cruel and brutal, and the riests can rot for all I care.”
Finally Nena spoke, and everyone listened. “We can’t abandon those at the settlements. We must bring our people back to their homeworld, just as the Zaruxians will return to theirs. Terians had cruelty pushed into them over many,manymig-cycles. Our culture, society, and customs were torn away and replaced with scarcity, desperation, and hopelessness. It will take time, but future generations will build a new Terian society.”
Lilas cocked her head. “What about Niratt? Or the bondmates we were supposed to be bonded to? You think they will relinquish the power they have over the females in the settlements?”
“Yes.” Nena smiled at her with a twinkle in her eyes. “They will have to.”
“Theywilllearn a new way of living,” Madrian said. “If I can, they can.” He cleared his throat. “However, I hope I never encounter thatfekker, Niratt. My patience is nonexistent with males who harmed my mate.”
“You’re not alone,” Sevas added. “I’d like to give him a—”
Nena cut them off with a laugh. “Stop. This is a new beginning. Terian females will choose their mates. Everyone learns to read, is free to leave, and can choose their own destiny.” She leaned against Madrian’s arm, sending a tremble through his form. “I’ve chosen mine. From here on, I’m only looking forward.”
“As am I.” From the doorway came a figure that made them all fall silent. Bruil’s bronze scales caught the light filtering through the damaged ceiling, making him seem to glow as he entered the chamber. His limping steps were measured, deliberate, as if he was afraid the ground beneath his feet might disappear. This was, after all, the first time he had walked on the surface of Zarux since the Axis had driven their people from power.
Madrian watched the elder’s face. He’d only known Bruil for a short time. He hadn’t gotten to know him well enough to form an opinion about the old fighter, but seeing the emotions on his weathered face made his throat tight and raw. Bruil’s gaze moved over the wrecked council room. When he reached the center, where they stood gathered, his eyes were bright with unshed tears.
“I never thought…” Bruil’s voice cracked, and Takkian laid a hand on his shoulder. It was the most outward show of comfort or affection Madrian had ever seen from the arena warrior. “I never thought I would see this. To stand here again, on land once ruled by your mother.”
