by S. E. Smith
Asim heard Riley’s voice calling out to Vox in the background. He needed to keep this as quiet as possible. It wasn’t easy when he practically had Vox howling with delight at the thought of Pearl meeting a grievous end.
“Vox, Roam wants you to help with the egg coloring. I need to feed Sacha and change Pearl,” Riley called in the background.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Vox replied before he leaned closer to the vidcom. “I have to say, I expected you to kill Pearl a lot sooner. You two have been mated for what – almost three years now? I was ready to do the job myself on the first day I met her,” he said in a hushed tone so Riley couldn’t hear him.
“No, I have not killed my mate. I love her. This has nothing to do with killing anyone or hiding dead bodies,” Asim growled in frustration.
Vox’s expression drooped a little before he looked hopeful again. “Please tell me that you at least ate the damn chicken, then! That crazy feathered beast loves to get in the house and lay eggs when Tina and Viper visit. Roam’s been hiding them under my pillow for me. I didn’t find the last one until it was too late,” he said.
“I have not killed Pearl or eaten Ruby! They are both still alive and healthy. In fact, Pearl should be there any minute. I just want you to take something out and leave it in the woods,” Asim snapped before he remembered to lower his voice. “Jabir brought back some eggs from Earth. I want you to take them away and leave them in the forest. I’m hoping that they don’t hatch; but if they do, I’m hoping a predator will get them before they grow too large.”
“Eggs? Just boil them and eat them,” Vox replied with a disappointed expression.
“I can’t! I told you, they are Jabir’s eggs,” Asim growled.
Vox shrugged. “We eat Ruby’s eggs all the time, so what is the big deal?” he asked.
“This is the big deal!” Asim growled and held up Jabir’s picture book of dinosaurs. “If they hatch, all the dragonlings will want one. Do you want this running around your house?” he demanded.
Vox leaned forward and whistled under his breath. “I know Amber and Jade would love one, but I have enough teeth and poop in my house between Roam and the twins, I don’t need any more at the moment,” he said, shaking his head. “Are you sure they are these creatures?”
“I am pretty sure they are. Each of the eggs are big, green, and heavy just like the ones in this picture,” Asim replied, cupping his hands to demonstrate. “I can’t take the chance that they will hatch and eat Jabir or harm my mate.”
“I can understand that, but why don’t you get rid of them? Why do you want me to do it?” Vox asked with a frown.
“Daddy! I’s coloring the eggs on my own!” Roam yelled.
“That’s nice. I’ll be right there. Make sure you save a few for me,” Vox called over his shoulder.
“Lady Ariel made me promise years ago that I would not harm any creature that was brought to the retreat. I can’t break my word. I also can’t ask Mandra because Ariel and Jabir would be upset. If I upset them, then Pearl will get mad. I don’t want to make my mate unhappy with me,” Asim explained.
“I’m always making Pearl mad. It isn’t all that bad,” Vox grinned. “Pearl says I have a natural talent for irritating people.”
Asim bit back the groan threatening to escape. Pearl was right – Vox did have a natural talent for irritating others. He had three days to set his plan in action. He just hoped none of the eggs hatched before he, Mandra, and Ariel arrived at the palace.
“Pearl and I will babysit the younglings for you and Riley for a week if you’ll do this,” Asim finally broke down, resorting to bribery.
“A whole week? All three of them?” Vox asked, a grin slowly growing on his face at the thought of having his mate alone for a week. “What do you want me to do?”
Present Day:
“Hiding eggs? What does this have to do with the wooden creature and your mate fighting with you in battle?” Brogan asked in disgust, interrupting Asim.
“Perhaps the creatures hatched and attacked the Sarafin king and ate him. The Sarafin waged war and the creatures ate them as well,” Barrack suggested.
Brogan nodded. “Possible… but what about Pearl? Where does she fit into the battle?” he asked.
“The creatures did not eat Vox. They did hatch though,” Asim interjected with an exasperated sigh.
“You aren’t going to go into more dirty dragon sex, are you? I have to tell you that the image of you and Pearl having hot sex together is not one I am enjoying,” Barrack admitted.
“I second that,” Brogan murmured.
They started to snicker but bit it back when Asim stood up and glared at them. They glanced at each other, trying to hide their amused expressions. Asim shook his head in warning.
“I’m ready to Taser your asses myself,” Asim growled.
Barrack raised his hands in surrender. “We apologize, old warrior. Continue on with your grand tale of…”
“Dirty dragon sex,” Brogan interjected under his breath.
“Of the great battle your mate won,” Barrack continued, trying not to laugh.
Asim groaned and ran his hands down his face. He never should have shared that. Pearl would kill him and the Twin Dragons if she knew.
“She did more than win the battle, she saved my life,” Asim grudgingly continued. “I will skip the details of what happened while trying to hide the eggs and continue with what happened after they hatched… and the trouble they brought with them.”
12
One month before:
No, you’ve already eaten,” Asim rebuked the juvenile emu with a shake of his head. “I’ll need to build a higher fence if they keep growing.”
Pearl chuckled. “Paul said they grow fast and he wasn’t lying,” she chuckled. “Oh, my, they’re in the water again.”
“Three and a half months old and they are already a pain in my backside,” Asim growled.
“You know you love them,” Pearl teased, rubbing the head of one of the emus.
“They love you. They follow you around like that damn chicken of Tina’s follows her. I swear there is something wrong with the creatures on your world,” Asim grumbled.
“Well, I’m not the only one they bonded with,” Pearl chuckled, watching another emu tilt its head to look up at Asim.
“Can we play ball with them?” Roam called out.
“Yes, but make sure Pokey is with you,” Pearl replied.
“When will their parents return?” Asim asked.
Pearl turned back and gave her mate a knowing look. “We’ve still found time,” she teased.
“For our dragons, but what about for us?” Asim asked.
“There’s nothing to say we can’t enjoy a little starlight romance as well,” Pearl chuckled.
The sound of giggles told Asim that Roam and Jabir were listening to them – and understanding the innuendoes lacing their grownup conversation. A pained expression crossed his face, pulling more giggles from the boys. He looked at Pearl and raised an eyebrow that spoke volumes.
“My mommy and daddy is always talkings like that,” Roam whispered to Jabir.
Jabir glanced back and forth between Asim and Pearl with a frown. “My daddy makes the same faces. He looks like he has gas.”
“This is what happens when you volunteer us as babysitters,” Asim pointed out.
“Alright, boys, let’s go play catch,” Pearl laughed, turning away from her mate.
Asim shook his head and watched Pearl round up the boys and the birds. The six emus followed Pearl with almost the same devotion as the two boys. Pokey split in two so that each boy would have protection in case the birds became too rough. He turned and frowned when he felt his dragon stir and stiffen.
What is it? Asim asked, carefully surveying the landscape.
Not sure. I feel something, his dragon warily stated.
A storm, perhaps? Asim asked.
Maybe, his dragon replied.
I’d better ma
ke sure everything is secure just in case, he said.
“Hans, what do you see?”
“Credits… and a lot of them,” Hans replied. “I’m glad we heard about this place. I’ve never seen animals like this. We should be able to get a lot for them on the black market.”
“When are we going in, Zeb?” a third man asked, kneeling on one knee and staring at the structures below.
“Tonight,” Zeb responded, spitting on the ground.
“That’s an old warrior. He’ll put up a nasty fight,” Hans said, lowering the vision magnifier in his hand.
“Crag can handle him,” Zeb stated with a shrug.
“It won’t be easy. These dragon-shifters are a mean species. They’ve got that golden thing, too,” Hans cautioned.
Zeb turned to look at Crag. A large man called a Drugunulite, he could turn his body to almost solid rock. The dragon might scorch him, but he couldn’t turn him to ash. One strike of Crag’s fist and the dragon would feel it.
“He’s old. I can take him. You kill him; you kill the golden beast. I’ve seen it happen before,” Crag said.
“What about the woman?” Hans asked, lifting the vision magnifier to his eyes again.
“We take her. She seems to know how to handle the feathered creatures and she’s different. I heard she don’t come from this world. We find out where she comes from and we have a whole new world to collect from,” Zeb said, spitting again.
“I heard on Madaris that these warriors would pay huge credits to find a woman who could be their true mate. Even that old dragon found one! We locate the planet, take a bunch of the women, and sell them off to the highest bidder,” Crag added, rising to his feet.
“They look weak,” Hans commented, focusing on the white-haired female watching the two little boys play. “What about the kids?”
“Leave them. They are worthless. If they survive on their own, more power to them,” Zeb replied. “I’ve been watching them while I was waiting for both of you to arrive. The old dragon has been coming out alone after dark to check on things. Crag, you take him out while Hans grabs the woman. I’ll round up the beasts. We’ll be in and out in less than an hour. No one will know we were even on the planet,” Zeb instructed.
“Stupid beasts can’t even figure out how to pick up a ball. This should be easy,” Hans reflected, watching the feathered creatures jump and dance around the ball after one of the boys threw it.
Pearl looked up when Asim walked into the kitchen. His hair was damp from his shower and his vest was open. She glanced over at the boys playing on the floor with Pokey.
“You know you drive me crazy when you wear your vest like this,” she said, walking over to run her hand over his stomach.
Asim wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against him. The smile on her lips grew when she felt his body react to her touch. Even after three years, she loved that she could still turn him on with only a touch.
“I’m not the only one who can get excited,” Asim said with a sniff.
“Stop or the boys will know what is going on,” Pearl warned, glancing over her shoulder.
Asim shook his head. “They are wrestling now,” he chuckled.
Sure enough, the boys had shifted, Roam into his tiger cub and Jabir into his dragon form. They were wrestling with each other and with Pokey. Their parents were supposed to be back late tomorrow morning. He loved being with the boys, but he also enjoyed giving them back – for lascivious reasons, of course.
“I’m going to check on the animals. The Grombots were trying to release the emus earlier. I need to make sure they haven’t discovered how to undo the new locks I installed,” Asim said, grabbing her hand that was sliding up his chest and pressing her fingers to his lips. “Tonight, after they are in bed?”
“If Pokey doesn’t mind babysitting duty,” Pearl murmured.
“I’m hungry,” Jabir suddenly said from behind them.
“Me, too!” Roam agreed, rubbing a hand across his nose. “I think I got some symbiot up my nose. Wanna see me snort it out?”
“Yew! That’s gross. Can I try?” Jabir exclaimed.
“Lovely. I don’t remember the girls being like this,” Pearl dryly commented.
“It is a boy thing,” Asim chuckled. “I will be back shortly.”
“That’s right, abandon me to the symbiot snorters,” Pearl teased.
Asim’s eyes darkened and the tiny flames she loved burned in his eyes. He still held her right hand, but she had her left one free. Leaning into him, Pearl slowly met him halfway when he bent to kiss her. She slid her free hand down between them, sliding it across his groin.
Asim pulled back to gaze down at her. Yep, the flames were much brighter now. A small, secretive smile curved her lips and she stroked him again.
“You are playing with fire, Pearl,” Asim warned.
“I’ll be playing with something else later,” she retorted before pulling away when Jabir grumbled that he was hungry again. “I’ll have dinner done by the time you get back.”
“Let them play. I’m hoping it tires them out so they go to bed early tonight,” Asim chuckled.
Pearl released a sigh when he pressed another hot kiss to her lips before smacking her on the ass. She glanced at the boys, but they decided they were more interested in playing with the dozens of toy trucks the symbiot created for them. She would owe Pokey something special for distracting the boys.
Warmth filled her and she could feel the symbiot’s amusement. She snorted and shook her head. Just what she needed, help from a living metal sex coach – not!
“I think I can handle that part of my life on my own,” she murmured under her breath.
Honestly, she felt younger than she did when she was young. She didn’t know if it was because she no longer worried about Riley and Tina, the fact that dragons lived a lot longer, or just being happy, but she wasn’t about to ignore the gift she had been given. Hell, if she wanted to think of herself as being sexy, and Asim thought she was too, who was she to argue? She had a few words for anyone who tried to tell her differently.
Humming under her breath, she walked into the kitchen and began preparing their evening meal. She opened the drawer, and pulled out two knives – one for cutting the vegetables and one for cutting the fresh bread. After placing them on the counter, she walked over to the refrigerator. She loved the replicator, but tonight, she wanted to prepare dinner the old-fashioned way. It helped keep her hands busy while her mind enjoyed other things – like removing Asim’s clothing.
Asim shifted into his dragon, flew over the ranch, and nimbly touched down outside the barn where the emus were – or should have been. A growl of frustration escaped him when he saw the opened door of the barn. In the doorway, he could see one of the Grombots hanging by two of its arms, grinning at him.
“Curizan spit! Not again,” he sighed. “I swear if it is the last thing I do, I’m going to design a lock that you can’t undo!”
The Grombot blinked and tilted its head. Before he reached the opening, it disappeared. While the creatures normally moved so slowly that it was almost agonizing to watch, they were actually capable of moving extremely fast. As much as he hated it, he was going to need Pokey’s help to round up all the beasts. Shaking his head, he pulled free the communicator that he wore at his waist.
“Let me guess, they got loose again,” Pearl answered.
“Yes. I need Pokey. Both of the Grombots are loose and it looks like they released the emus as well,” he said, staring into the empty barn.
“He’s on his way,” Pearl chuckled. “I’ll postpone dinner for a little while.”
“No, go ahead and feed the boys. It shouldn’t take long. I can warm up something,” he said.
“If you need help, let me know. The boys would love to play tag with the emus,” she offered.
“If I can’t get them, I will call you,” he promised.
“We’re here if you need us. You know I love you. Good luck,” Pearl replied wi
th a sigh.
“I love you, too. I will contact you once I am finished,” he replied, hanging up.
Asim decided he’d better try to repair the locking mechanism on the Grombots’ cage first. Otherwise, it would be senseless trying to catch any of them now because they would just escape again. Grumbling under his breath, he wondered what else could go wrong tonight.
Danger!
Lost in thought, he didn’t hear his dragon’s warning until it was too late. When he walked into the barn, someone punched him in the jaw. The blow knocked him several meters backwards. His head snapped back and darkness descended around him. He didn’t even feel it when his body hit the ground.
13
That was easier than I thought,” Crag grunted.
“For the dragon-shifter – now we have to capture the feathered creatures that escaped,” Zeb snapped.
“What about his symbiot?” Crag asked, turning to look at Zeb.
“It won’t attack us if it thinks we will kill him. Contain it in the back room; then tie the old dragon up,” Zeb instructed.
“Why don’t I just kill him now?” Crag demanded, looking down at Asim’s inert body.
Zeb frowned and shook his head. “The creature will attack us before he dies. The only way to get away is to contain it until we are ready to leave. Once we have the woman, it won’t come after us or attack us – especially if we kill the warrior.”
“Whatever you say,” Crag said with a shrug.
Zeb jerked his head toward the building. “Pull him into the barn,” he ordered.
Crag reached down and gripped the collar of Asim’s vest. He walked into the barn, dragging Asim behind him. Once he was almost to the back, he dropped Asim and turned to wait.
They didn’t have long. The symbiot burst through the door. Zeb studied the enraged creature. He had seen how deadly they could be on several of the Spaceports. He pointed his blaster at Asim.
