“At least I didn’t wake you up with more nightmares.”
“I am here to protect you,” Dalox rumbles. “From whatever may trouble you.”
I doubt very much he can get in my head, but rather than bristling at his suggestion I need protecting, something softens in my heart. Something which likes the fact hewantsto protect me. Regardless of whether it is necessary.
The last person who fought alongside me was my mum. We supported each other until the end. I didn’t expect to ever find someone, anyone who was prepared to let me go it alone and yet always be there when I fell.
I can’t possibly expect that from a massive dragon alien who, let’s be honest, absolutely wants me for something else. I’m not entirely ruling out the idea, because, after all, Dalox is drop dead gorgeous, completely out of my league and yet entirely focussed on me.
It is kind of sexy.
But, sexy dragon man will have to wait. Getting home, back to Earth, is what I need to do.
Dalox stands and stretches. I am, momentarily, mesmerized by the fact he has no junk on show and have to quickly avert my eyes in case he thinks I’m staring. Which I am.
“Food first, then we plan for the recovery of Deus’s ship,” he rasps, as if he has a thirty a day habit.
Dalox leans in, catches my jaw, and presses a kiss to my lips. It’s a really good kiss, so much so, I don’t worry about morning mouth at all. When he finally releases me, my cheeks are aflame, and I’m hot in places I didn’t think could get hot.
“What would you like for your morning meal?” he growls, walking over to the hole in the wall where my food arrived last night.
“Um…I don’t know. Toast?”
“Toe-st,” Dalox repeats with a quick glance over his shoulder. He looks back at the hole. “Toe-st,”he says again as he stabs at a black screen above the space.
After a short clatter, he turns, carrying a tray filled with items, none of which are toast. He sets it down in the center of the pit and looks at me.
“I do not know what toe-stis, my mate. I have brought you everything I like in the morning, and perhaps you might too.”
Of course he would.
I look over the offering. It’s interesting to say the least. Eventually, I decide on something which looks a bit like bread and something which could be scrambled egg.
It is neither.
“Good?” Dalox asks, chewing happily on what has to be half a side of cow.
“Interesting,” I reply, swallowing the mouthful I have. “I probably need to check with my human friends to see what is suited to our palates.”
Dalox puffs out some smoke. “I suppose it would make sense. But nothing the food dispenser provides should be problematic to those it serves. It scans your DNA to be sure.”
“That’s…comforting.” I stare over at the food dispenser aka the box on the wall. “I’m not going to die then.”
“I will never let you die, little mate.” Dalox smokes heavily. “Not while the stars still have light and the planets still turn.”
I blink at him.
“Everything dies,” I respond.
“I know death, and I will not let it come for you,” Dalox rasps, as if this is enough.
“It doesn’t work like that, Dalox.” I get to my feet and head to the bathroom. “It can’t, no matter how much you want it to.”
The door closes behind me, and I lean on it. I’ve done more crying in the last day than I have for the last year, and yet I can’t stop the tears from falling.
If only it was possible to halt death. But I know it isn’t, no matter how much you love another person.
DALOX
