“And only nearly disaster for us,” I mutter.
I give Dyoti and Dyris a wave over to us.
“Where did Deus go?” Dyris asks.
“Deus does what he does,” Dalox grumbles. “He has his own sector here. Presumably he has gone back there. What his brother will make of it, I do not know.”
Dalox activates a console on the wall as the Sarkarnii mill around, some taking up residence in the cushioned pit. Dalox eyes them balefully.
“The sooner we get this over with, the sooner they can be elsewhere,” I point out.
“I will advise my warriors to call a clan meeting,” Dalox says. “Once I know it is going ahead, we’ll attend. That is me, my mate, and you.” He nods at the two Sarkarnii. “Providing you are authorized to speak on behalf of the females.”
“We can speak as well as any of the others,” Dyris says.
“Then it is settled.” Dalox nods.
“I’ll stay here,” I say. He gives me a sharp look. “It makes sense. We shouldn’t just abandon everyone the moment we get here. It’s disorientating enough just being here. I’m a familiar face, and the last thing you want is a sudden appearance ofeveryone,” I point out. “And you can keep me updated via this.” I tap the console. “If it’s settled, I can arrange for everyone to go to the surface.”
Dalox rumbles deep in his chest.
“I do not want to be without you,” he says.
“I’ll be right here.” I put my hand on his broad chest. “I’m not going anywhere, and this is the safest place for me anyway.”
Dalox huffs out a perfect smoke ring.
“I will return for you, my mate. And then I will dance for you, to show all of Vorostor you are mine.”
DALOX
The two females are quiet as we rise up to my sector. The doors open, and as I have requested, there is a cohort waiting.
“I have found females,” I growl at them. “Any warrior who does not keep his eyes front at all times will lose them. Understand?”
Every single pair of eyes snaps to the front. “Understood, Lord Dalox,” they reply.
We move swiftly through my sector to the neutral zone. On entering, there is a series of explosions, and the females partially shift to their Sarkarnii forms.
“Do not be concerned,” I advise them. “It is the warlord, Dante, testing his weaponry.”
“Of course it is,” the taller of the two female says.
“Males,” the shorter one hisses. “They never change.”
If I thought our warriors would have a difficult time avoiding envenomation, I am certain of it now. With my guard cohort ahead of us, I escort the females through the neutral sector to the clan hall. The area in front of it is, thankfully, free of any other Sarkarnii.
“Wait here for me,” I tell my guards. “Let no one in but the warlords.”
“Yes, Lord Dalox.”
The two females follow me into the hall. I remain ahead of them, ready to deal with any new males, but the individual guard rooms are empty, so I am able to take my charges through to the main chamber, and I place them both in an anteroom as I wait.
Dexx is the first to arrive. He glowers at me for a moment before scenting the air.
“Where is your mate?” he asks.
“Do you bring your mate to every clan meeting?” I growl back.
