I look over the food dispenser. “I found it in this sector and it is functioning. How is that cheating?”
“You found it in this sector.” Maggie looks around her, her movements far more exaggerated than they need to be. “Thissector?”
“Some of this area was inhabited once.”
“Then why are we roughing it in a cave?”
“The areas where there is tech are not safe.”
“That could literally mean anything. I’d take warm and dry over dripping and windswept any day.” Maggie glares at me.
I cock my head on one side. “My sector is warm and dry, plus there are plenty of functioning food dispensers along with an entire kitchen at your disposal.”
“I do not belong to you, Driok. You don’t get to drag me off to your sector by my hair.”
“I would never do any such thing,” I growl. “If any male has done this to you, tell me who, and I will ensure he does notwalk again.” I look over her hair. It seems unaffected by such a barbaric act. “No doubt you will have envenomated the male who did such a thing.”
Maggie opens her mouth, shuts it, and then opens it again. Then she holds up a finger. Shuts her mouth, drops her hand by her side.
Could this be some sort of mating dance humans do?
“Yes, I would have envenomated any male who got that close,” she says, her mouth twitching. “That’s what I do. I envenomate males.”
“You didn’t envenomate me.” I find myself grinning at her.
“Rookie mistake,” she grumbles. “Anyway how do we get this thing to work?” she adds as my brow creases at the word which doesn’t translate.
“All Sarkarnii food dispensers have built-in power sources,” I respond with a swell of pride. “This one is no different.”
I punch in the relevant codes to provide a protein rich and nutritious meal for my mate. The dispenser makes a grinding sound for a few moments and then ceases functioning.
“Well, thishasbeen interesting,” Maggie says, collecting her coat from a nearby rock. “But if you don’t mind, I’m going to go now.”
She takes a pace away from the cave, but I have her, caged against the rough wall, her sweet, lush body pressed between me and the stone.
“I cannot let you go.”
“You will.” She glares at me, but there’s something in her eyes, something which makes me back away instantly.
I do not wish to be envenomated.
“I mean, you should give me the chance to prove myself to you, my mate,” I say, unsure of exactly where the words are coming from. “I am Driok, Sarkarnii warlord, a member of theHigh Bask and descendant of the great General Draxx. I am a good choice for a mate.”
Maggie’s shoulders drop slightly and she pushes away from the rock face.
“Okay, so let’s say I’m open to youproving yourself,” she says. “Without envenomating you…today,” she adds. “You’re going to have to do better than this”—Maggie sweeps her arm at the cave and the food dispenser—“this barbarian act, because I’m not buying it.”
“You do not have to purchase any of this,” I respond. “I have it all for you, for free.”
“What do I get if I do actually purchase? Is it better than a draughty cave and a lump of metal which makes funny noises?”
“And what would you use for credits?” I lean against the food dispenser, which rocks slightly, putting me off balance, but I recover easily.
“Credits?”
“For your purchases.” My fangs extend.
Maggie narrows her eyes. As far as I am aware, the females who we have found in our midst do not have access to jewels or credits. Although I have, clearly, been away for some time. Perhaps she does have something to offer.
