LYDIA
I stare down at my comm, the mobile phone-like device all the humans in the Sarkarnii settlement on their planet, Vorostor, have.
Maggie has just sent something super crude to the group chat. I’d have thought finally settling down with her mate, the big, dark, and dangerous Sarkarnii warlord Driok and, with a baby on the way, she might have also decided to tone it down.
Some hope.
Maggie even threatened to send me all the photos she’s taken with her comm of Sarkarnii bottoms. In the end, I think she might have deleted them and replaced them with photos of Driok’s bottom. Or at least, I have my fingers crossed this happened and I no longer need to fear them.
I try not to look at all the bare bottoms on display everywhere I go on this alien planet. Depending on where I’m living, many of these alien warriors, who can turn into dragons, eschew pants. Especially in Dante’s sector. I feel like I need to go around blindfolded half the time.
Fortunately, for the time being, I’m staying with my friend Kerra and her Sarkarnii mate Darax, and his warriors tend to wear pants.
I still get exposed to a lot of scaly skin and washboard abs (these alien males are acres of perfectly sculpted muscle which would make the Ancient Greeks weep), but I can avoid the buttocks if I wish. Darax’s sector is probably a little too fancy for me. But I find the other warlords scary, or rather scarier, given they are large and can turn into dragons whenever they like, and as much as I love my friends who have matched with each terrifying warlord, I can’t quite bring myself to live with them.
And as the only human female who hasn’t found a Sarkarnii, I have to live somewhere, so my choice is Darax, who doesn’t make my bowels do the fandango whenever he’s nearby.
Another glance at my comm sees Scarlett telling Maggie off. Rosalie is laughing at them all, and Gillian, our most recent addition, is attempting to make peace. All within the confines of the chat. A normal day for us.
Kerra opens a private chat with me.
Kerra
Hey hun, what are you planning today?
Nothing much. If I can find a pool without Sarkarnii in it, I might have a dip.
Kerra
Sounds great.
You could join me?
Kerra
I absolutely would love to, but the little one is being difficult and Darax needs to attend to warlord stuff so I can’t leave him with the baby.
Kerra has the cutest little Sarkarnii baby. They call them sarkarnlings, and she’s pregnant again. It would seem Sarkarnii and humans are infinitely compatible, especially as all my fellow humans are in a similar position to Kerra.
The thought makes me shudder. I can’t imagine ever being a mum. I know I’d be useless at it.
Kerra
But how about you join us for dinner rather than hiding away in your quarters?
I bristle a little at the suggestion I hide anywhere. I mean, I do, but I don’t want it pointed out.
That sounds nice. I’d like that.
Kerra
It’s a date! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!
She closes the chat window.
Like I’d ever do anything Kerra wouldn’t do. She’s adventure personified, whereas I identify as a mouse. A really, really small mouse.
I wish it was different, especially as being small and unnoticed hasn’t exactly helped me in life. I’d love to be as strong as Kerra or Rosalie or Maggie. I’m not even going to mention Gillian. She showed me a few of her mixed martial arts moves,and I was so scared I burst into tears. She’s so strong and I am…not.
