“You have enough.”
“If I did, I wouldn’t be asking for another.”
“What do you need another scout ship for?” Driok is back, his hand around my throat, his face close to mine so I can count the scales on his nose. “When all you do is manufacture narcotics for your idiotic crew to consume and attempt to sell them to the rest of us in order to put us in the same stupor as you.”
“It works though, doesn’t it?” I grin at him as he squeezes at my neck, which doesn’t have much feeling.
“Dalox indulges you far too much,” Driok growls. “The mere fact you were not punished for your infraction but instead handed a mate, is evidence he is soft on you.”
I lift my shoulders, making no effort to get out of his grip.
“Dalox does what he does. And if it doesn’t work out, then my crew and I are banished.” I study his face. “Have you ever attempted to take a mate or be with a female? It isn’t easy.”
“You rut for her,” he snarls. “I can smell it.”
“Rutting isn’t enough,” I respond. “Females require more than just a rut. They needkizzing, and they need to be listened to.”
Driok snorts, and his hand drops away as his warriors crumple to the floor. I clear my throat, and both my warriors spring up beside me.
“Whatever it is you want, Driok, this is not the way to get it.” I stare at him, this time my hand around his throat, holding him upright. “We have far more experience than you will ever know.”
“What have you done?” he chokes out.
I shake my head. “Only what you tried to do to me.” I motion my warriors forward, and they reveal the small canister of paraxio which has steadily been releasing its gas.
“I want that scout ship, Driok, if you want the co-ordinates,” I growl, releasing his neck to grip his chin. “And I would recommend you don’t try anything like this again because you will always lose.”
I let him go, and he drops to his knees, clearly having more resistance than his warriors.
“Give them the antidote.”
My warriors do the rounds with the drops they force between the lips of each of Driok’s guard before returning to me with the remaining antidote. I put the bottle between Driok’s lips and give him a dose.
The clan chamber is filled with groans as the paraxio leaves their system. A decent set of headaches all round.
After all, it kept us from descending into feral madness for all these nova years on Vorostor.
“You have my demands,” I say to Driok. “A trade is a trade. Let me know when you’re ready to meet them.”
He growls under his breath as the antidote takes hold.
“Take the ale-wine,” I order my warriors. “As a little gift for all the trouble Driok has caused.”
“You will regret this, Dante,” Driok manages.
“I don’t think so. I think I’ll get my scout ship, and you’ll get what you want. It’s a win all round.” I grin as Driok and his warriors stagger out.
I beckon to my warriors, who lift the barrel of ale-wine and the remaining platters of food. After all, if Driok is going to be generous, why not partake?
Because now I have what I need to end my mutation and be a proper mate for my little flame.
Everything is coming together in a plan I didn’t even dream up but simply dropped into my lap.
ROSALIE
Dante has been quiet, for him, since he came back from meeting with one of the other warlords. He played with the children for a while, then he crawled on his belly to me, making them laugh wildly, before he kissed me and whispered in my ear he had to speak to some of his crew.
With all the kids safely ensconced doing their lessons in their own quarters, with a couple of warriors in attendance, I returned to my quarters to find my comm device blowing up with the group chat.
