I nod, not wishing to trust my voice again.
“You are to be our witness.”
“Darax?” Kerra is beside her mate. He looks huge and scaly next to her tiny form.
Is that how Dante looks next to me?
“Are you sure Rosie has to testify? She’s been through a lot.”
“She will need to confirm what happened within my sector,” Darax says. “Because it happened here, I will not be involved in the final judgement.”
“What’s going to happen to Dante?” I hear myself say.
“If he’s lucky, he’ll be banished for a short while, to consider his position.”
“And if not?”
“If Dalox decides to make an example of him…” Darax shrugs. “He’s good at punishments. I wouldn’t want to hazard a guess.”
“Good.” Maggie snorts.
My stomach squirms. I should be wanting all of this. I should be as angry as Maggie. But I’ve lost everything once, and the last thing I want is for this situation to result in anyone else losing what they have.
Even Dante, the one creature I should be livid at. And the one creature who, for whatever reason, I don’t want to end up hurt.
DANTE
This plan has not come together.
I’m still in the cell. It’s clear Dart hasn’t managed to put anything in my food. My head is a jumble of optics, all firing in different directions, which is not going to be good for the upcoming trial.
Dalox needs my sector and my crew. I thought he needed me, but given the way the old warlord has been recently, my reliance on his patronage is going to be tested.
But Dalox will let me off. He always does.
I do not regret sinking my fangs into the soft, sweet flesh of the little female. The noise she made as I bit down echoes in my head, my cock pushing from its sheath, leaking everywhere until I manage it over and over again.
I need this trial to be over so I can claim my female and retreat to my sector. So I can breed with her, sheathe myself in her, pleasure her, and give her my hoard. She deserves everything I have.
She should be worshipped.
My Rosalie. My mate.
“Nev’s sake, Dante. Put your cock away,” Darax growls from outside.
“Female,” I snarl.
“Yeah, the reason you’re going on trial,” he huffs.
The door slides open, and I lift my head, scenting the air for any trace of her. Darax grabs me round my neck and pulls me out of the cell. He glares. I release a stream of smoke at him. He shoves his arm out to hold me further away.
I could fight him. Darax is a good fighter, and he’s always fun to fight, but I want my female more than I want to fight with him today.
“You’re a disgrace, Dante,” he says.
“I aim to please.”
He releases me, and I use my hand to steady myself against the wall, not allowing my gaze to leave him.
