“Eluni may already have something in progress,” he replies. “Now, tell me what the hellhatchanaimeans.”
I chuckle. “You and Cinuska have some serious tension.”
“Jorusk… I swear…”
“It loosely means egg crazy. It means she wants hatchlings with you.”
Fieri’s mouth hangs open. “You’re teasing me.”
“Oh, my gosh, old man. You should see your face,” I snort.
He scowls at me. “Does she really?”
“Yes.” Deep down, I think she does.
“But Iamtoo old.”
“Not for Drathious,” I reply. “We are fertile for many decades. And you don’t look your age.”
Fieri looks around at nothing in particular. “Does that have something to do with calling meisikasin?”
I choke on a laugh. “Did she say that to you?”
“When we were done helping the patients of the cargo transport attack.”
“That’s basically saying she thinks you’re spicy.”
“Spicy?”
“Hot and pissy, like most popular Drath males.”
The ramp unlocks with a mechanical noise and lowers.
“Better get on that. You’re running out of time,” I pester.
Fieri elbows me in the side. “Shut up. I never had time. That is not my purpose in this life. And Iamold.”
“Not old enough to deter her.”
“Whatever.” Fieri silently fumes.
I forget our conversation when I see Brynna standing at the top of her ramp in a fire-red dress made of shimmering scales. She’s brushed out her long, dark hair, and it falls down her back in a feathery sheet.
She inhales deeply, and I see the hint of an orange vein crawl up her neck. Brynna lifts her eyes to mine, and I see a wisp of a flame in them.
I hike up the ramp and offer her a hand. She takes it.
“Gorgeous. But…your neck.”
She dips her head. “Osiris gave me another dose…in anticipation. It is…already affecting me.”
Taking her by the back of her neck, I draw her lips within a hot breath of mine before I finally grab a shred of sanity again. I want to pick her up and take her now, feel her soft skin glide over mine in a dance that would make even Fieri blush.
My inferno pouts inside my skin suit when I shove it down to walk her down the ramp and escort her through the hall toward the formal dining facility. We are here for a purpose.
I will have Brynna for dessert later.
Fieri stays close and quiet as we ride the elevator to the top floor, where we walk out into a vast restaurant that’s been built since I was last here. It looks up at the stars.
