“You are still here, little ember,” he rasps, his voice deeper and more full of rocks through lack of use.
“I’m still here. Biding my time,” I respond.
Deus stretches out, sits up, and notices his tail. He stares at it. The tip twitches and he flinches.
“I did not have a tail last night.”
“Probably something to do with the dragon.”
“Draa-gohn?”
“It’s what we call your Sarkarnii forms back on my planet.”
“Humans have Sarkarnii on their planet?”
“No, we have mystical creatures called dragons. Sarkarnii look a bit like them.”
“Hmmm,” Deus rumbles, still inspecting his tail. “Maybe you did have Sarkarnii once.”
He leaves his tail and scratches at the back of his neck, the claws rasping over his scales as he brings them down over his chest and then down again towards his waistband.
“I am right here, you know,” I say, and fortunately the hand halts its progress.
“I need to shed,” he growls.
“I can see.” I look over the slightly papery surface of his scales. I’ve seen similar on other Sarkarnii. “Maybe you should use your aquium?”
“Aquium?” Deus growls.
“I’ve heard my friends say it helps their Sarkarnii mates.”
Deus’s eyes burn at me. I wonder if I’ve said the wrong thing somehow.
Maybe not mentioning mates to a Sarkarnii who wanted his back so much he turned traitor to his own brother?
Sometimes I am really dense.
“Aquium,” he growls. “You will assist me.”
“Yes. No. I won’t be doing that.” I fold my arms. “Not in my job description as your captive.”
“If you don’t want me to be growly for another nova-week, you will assist me,” Deus says.
I fold my arms. “No.”
He fires out a cloud of smoke in frustration.
“If you would aid me, I would be most grateful,” he says through gritted teeth. “I have not shed in a long time. It is likely to be difficult for me.”
“I am not getting naked with you in an aquium,” I respond.
“You do not need to be…nekkid.” Deus’s brow is drawn together once more.
“I mean I won’t be taking my clothing off.”
Do I see his eyes flare? I think I’m imagining it as once again the glower is back.
“Then you will get wet,” he says.
