No doubt they are a highly-intelligent, adaptable and resilient species. Despite their small number, they have been surviving and improving, making rapid advances and discoveries.
There is hope for them. As Pol and Kaynna slip their small hands into mine and tug me forward excitedly, determined to be the best tour guides ever, I realize that I am literally holding the future of the storm dragons in my hands.
These two youngsters are their future.
I have honestly never thought about having kids. I never even thought that I would ever have a family of my own.
But—everything has changed.
I am no longer just surviving. I have a mate, a future. And I am their future. I won't let Vorik's race die out. But I can't give birth to a whole generation of young storm dragons on my own.
I glance at all the happy, hopeful faces and reach a decision. I have to help the storm dragons find their mates. I just need to figure out how.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Cassie
About half a dozen storm dragons, including Vorik, troop out of the landing area with me and my seven-year-old tour guides. That's about a third of the whole population on Svaata.
The rest of the soldiers are back at their duties, but those who are off duty seem happy and excited to tag along.
I feel like a celebrity.
Or maybe they simply see me as an oddity. A strange, peculiar, alien woman from Earth.
Svaata is a small planet, with a small land mass. Most of it is water, and the island we are on is overgrown with dense vegetation. All around us are towering plants with circular, blue leaves.
Pol and Kaynna drag me through a shallow forest, pointing out the various plants and shrubs to me. They tell me which ones are poisonous, and which ones have medicinal properties.
“Where'd you learn all this?” I ask, highly impressed. Most seven-year-old human kids don't have this kind of knowledge.
“Pa taught us,” Kaynna answers proudly.
I turn to beam at Rhekk. “You're a very good Pa,” I tell him.
“I didn't do it alone,” Rhekk replies with a smile. “My kids effectively have twenty Pas.”
The men around him chuckle and smile affectionately and adoringly at the twins.
We emerge from the other side of the forest and stand on a stretch of pristine beach. I gasp at the breathtaking view. “This is beautiful!”
The water is so clear I can see fish swimming under the surface. The fish are long with tiny legs as well as fins. They are amphibious, I realize.
“Don't touch that spotted one,” Pol warns as a long fish with red spots slithers onto the beach. “It can sting you with its tail.”
I jump back. “Oh.”
“Pa, can we go catch some Bluetails?” Kaynna jumps up and down. “We can have them for dinner. Bluetails are delicious,” Kaynna tells me. “And Vorik knows how to cook them really well!”
“I didn't know you're a great chef,” I tease, grinning at Vorik over my shoulder.
“I can't cook that well,” he says modestly.
“I'll catch the Bluetails!” Pol hollers, running towards the water. “You go gather the herbs, Kaynna!”
“But I want to catch the Bluetails!” Kaynna cries, and takes off after her brother.
Rhekk and another soldier immediately wade into the water after the kids. The children make more splashes than progress as they bounce up and down in the water, shrieking in excitement and delight.
Their father laughs and shakes his head at them. “You're scaring all the fish away,” Rhekk tells them. “I taught you the right way to fish. You have to be really quiet, and really quick!”
Kaynna nods and moves further away from Pol, who is clearly having too much fun sucking water into his mouth and spitting it as far as he can. The men are chuckling as they hover protectively close to the children, ready to snatch them out of the water at the first sign of danger.
I watch Kaynna and Rhekk move further out to sea. Vorik sees the worried look on my face and says, “Kaynna is a strong swimmer, and Rhekk is with her. There are a dozen eyes on her and Pol. Any one of us can shift into dragon form in a heartbeat and grab them out of the water if they get into trouble.” He gives me a lopsided smile and adds, “Kids need to explore. That's how they learn.”
I nod curtly. I agree with him, I guess. What do I know about child-rearing? I don't have kids, and I don't exactly have a normal children, so what do I know about raising someone to be a confident, self-sufficient, well-adjusted person?
I have a lot to learn, not just about the storm dragons and my new home, but about...living and loving without fear.
Kaynna dives into the water suddenly. I gasp when she disappears below the surface and I lose sight of her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Cassie
I make a move towards the water but I notice that no one else seems to be panicking. Even Rhekk doesn't dive in after his little girl. He remains near the surface, watching the water calmly.
After what feels like a heart-stopping eternity, Kaynna breaks the surface and pumps her fist in the air. There is a large Bluetail in her mouth.
As she and Rhekk swim for shore, I see that the fish is impaled on one of Kaynna's fangs.
“Can Pol and Kaynna shift into dragon form?” I turn to ask Vorik.
“Not yet,” Vorik answers, smiling proudly at Kaynna. “Their first shift should happen when they hit puberty.”
Rapturous applause greet Kaynna and Rhekk when they wade in. Kaynna is holding the fish up like a trophy, and I notice that her fangs have retracted.
“I win!” she yells to her brother.
Pol grins and walks towards Kaynna with one hand behind his back. “Maybe,” he says slyly.
“Maybe?” Kaynna snorts, and narrows her eyes at her twin. “What do you have behind your back?”
“This!” Pol announces smugly and holds up a large, crab-like crustacean with a purple shell.
Kaynna gasps. “You caught a Brall! How...”
“I. Win.” Pol jerks his thumb at himself.
“Pa!” Kaynna wails, rounding on Rhekk.
“You both win,” Rhekk says. “In fact, we all win. We're going to have a feast tonight!”
Kaynna and Pol run up to me and present me with their catch. “This is for you,” they say together.
“Thank you! You kids are amazing. I have never caught any of my food before,” I say, eyeing the squirming crustacean in Pol's grip warily. The Brall swivels its eye stalks towards me and snaps gigantic pincers angrily in my face.
The children giggle when I scuttle away and hide behind Vorik. “You just have to hold it like this. By the tail.” Pol grins and offers his bad-tempered catch to me.
I shake my head.
“Pol, Kaynna, leave Cassie alone.” Rhekk strides up and steers his mischievous children away. “Come on, let's see what else we can catch. The guys on kitchen duty will be thrilled!”
“Let's have a race!” Kaynna suggests excitedly. She runs to the men and starts tugging a few of them towards her. “I want Xon, Wazzri and Taevan on my team!”
Pol starts to object but his sister refuses to relinquish her chosen teammates.
“They're very competitive,” I observe.
“You have no idea,” Rhekk answers. When the twins both point at him, Rhekk holds up his palms and say, “Nope. I'm not on anyone's team. I'm the referee.”
“I want Vorik!” Pol shouts.
Vorik takes my hand and holds up our joined hands to Pol. “If I join your team, so does Cassie,” Vorik says. “We're together.”
Pol cants his head at us. “Okay. That's fair. Kaynna is a girl, so I should have a girl on my team.” He eyes Vorik sternly. “She won't slow you down, right?”
“No,” Vorik replies straight-faced. “In fact, Cassie is a very fast learner. She learned to speak our language in just one day.”
Pol nods at me. “Okay, you'll do. Vorik is a great teacher, so you're going to be
just fine, Cassie.”
I am speechless. A seven-year-old just assured me that I'll be fine. I guess Vorik and his guys do know a thing or two about raising confident, assertive children.
“Are you ready, teams?” Rhekk hollers.
A cheer goes up as Pol and Kaynna stand in front of their teams and get ready to sprint towards the water.
I clasp Vorik's huge hand tightly. “Don't let go of me,” I whisper. “I...I've never done this before.
He squeezes my hand. “I won't let go. I promise.” His eyes gleam. “Now, let's fish!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Cassie
I have never eaten so much seafood before. The Bluetails and Bralls are delicious. Vorik and the guys marinate the seafood in herbs and spices and cook them in three different ways.
We are just sitting around chatting after a huge seafood feast. We are deep within the mountain, and the cavernous interior is well lit by electric lights. The men have carved out a cooking and dining area in that enormous cave which is just behind the docking area for their spaceships.
I can hear the powerful generators humming in the background. I look around the place, struck by the fact that I am sitting in a cave filled with some of the most advanced technology in the universe.
Some of their machines, computers and equipment are so complicated I have no idea at all what they do. And yet, the interior of the cave is rough and spartan, with tables and chairs that are barely more than large chunks of rock and wood.
They could do with some interior decoration. Maybe I can help them with that...
“The fragrant herbs and spices can be found growing freely in the surrounding forest,” Kaynna is saying. I shake myself out of my musings and focus on her.
She snuggles up to me and says, “I'll teach you to identify the edible plants. Maybe tomorrow, we can go pick some flowers to make necklaces and bracelets.” She looks at me, her eyes bright and hopeful.
“Okay. Let's do that,” I smile.
His entire face glows with joy and excitement. “It's so nice to have another girl here. I always wished I had a twin sister, instead of a twin brother. Pol is so annoying! Do you have a brother?”
“No.”
“A sister?”
I shake my head. “I don't have any family.”
Kaynna frowns. “That's sad. Pol and I lost our Ma. But we have Pa, and he says our Ma loved us very much.”
“And you have so many storm dragon uncles,” I add.
“And now, we have you,” she says happily.
My heart and throat constrict at her heartfelt words. “Yes, you do,” I whisper at last. “You have me.”
On impulse, I reach out and give her a fierce hug. Pol sees his sister wrapping her arms around me and immediately rushes over to lay claim to me. “Hey, Cassie is on my team. The winning team,” Pol says emphatically as he glowers at Kaynna.
“You know something?” I say quickly. “I think the three of us will make one hell of a team. You and Kaynna are so quick and skilful, and I am a pretty fast learner, if I may say so myself. I believe that if the three of us are on the same team, we'll win, like, all the time.”
The twins smirk at each other. “Yeah. And if we get you, we get Vorik too! So, you're right, we will win all the races!”
I teach them to give me a high five and a low five. Giggling, they run off to show Rhekk their new moves.
I turn to see Vorik gazing at me with a soft, tender smile. He laces his fingers through mine and bring my hand to his lips.
Throughout the meal, Vorik has been making sure my plate is filled and encouraging me to join in the conversation with his comrades. He doesn't butt in or interrupt when I am interacting with the twins or speaking with some of the men. He is protective, but he isn't possessive or territorial. His men know that I belong to Vorik, and they are respectful and welcoming to me. Vorik trusts his men. They're his family, his people, and now, they are mine too. And Vorik trusts me. He wants me to get to know his men and form my own friendships with them.
This is your home, Cassie.
Svaata is a beautiful planet. Its seas are teeming with life and the lush forest are filled with exotic plants and fruit trees.
“Let's go,” Vorik says softly when he sees me stifling a yawn. “You're tired.”
“But...shouldn't we help…?”
“We have a duty roster. Teams that have just returned to Svaata are off duty for two days,” he says with a wink. “And you—are our special guest tonight.”
When Vorik brushes his lips over the tip of my ear, a delicious shiver courses through my body. “I want to be alone with you now,” he murmurs.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Vorik
I ignore the bawdy jokes and comments from the men as I steer Cassie away from the noisy dining area. The guys learned how to make a fermented drink from some of the weeds growing in the forest. And over time, they added more herbs and ingredients to make the brew even stronger. We named this very potent brew Teeto, after Teett who was the one who discovered those colorful weeds when he was out hunting.
Tonight, we opened a barrel of Teeto in Cassie's honor. We finished the whole barrel, and some of the guys are now sprawled on the ground. Others are singing too loudly, and laughing at jokes which they have heard a million times before.
Cassie had to down three bowls of water after she took a tiny sip of Teeto. “Wow, strong stuff,” she choked out, pushing away her cup of Teeto. “Thanks, but no more for me. I'm fine, I'm fine, don't worry.” Her face looked like it was on fire, and it was quite some time before she went back to her usual shade.
Cassie is almost as resilient as a storm dragon. Almost. I know that it is partly because she has my blood in her body. My blood has enabled her to adapt to Svaata's atmosphere.
But Cassie is still human. I never thought my mate would be a human female. In fact, I never even allowed myself to hope that I would one day find my fated mate.
I walk Cassie to the exit at the back of the cave and press my palm to the side panel. The reinforced door slides open and we stroll out into a clearing in the jungle. Cassie turns to see the door close soundlessly behind us.
“Wow, good camouflage,” she says. “I can't even see where the door is now. It looks like it's part of the rock.”
As I lead her through the forest, she marvels at the vivid shrubs and flowers growing in abundance all around her. The three purple moons in the sky illuminate our path clearly, and some of the leaves glow neon in the violet moonlight.
“Vorik, where are we going?” Cassie asks at last.
“Home.”
“Huh? But I thought...”
I chuckle. “We don't live in that cave. That's where we dock our spaceships, eat our meals and do our work.”
“By work, you mean spy on other worlds and intercept their transmission,” Cassie says drolly. “You've been spying on Earth for quite some time, listening, watching and learning.”
“Our work is very important. We learn from others. But we don't just copy their technology. We modify and improve them, and make them suitable for our purposes,” I mock huff at her.
As we continue walking, Cassie pokes me in the shoulder and says, “So where are we going again? Are we there yet?” She hiccups repeatedly and breaks into fits of giggles. I suspect that she is only now feeling the effects of that little sip of Teeto.
I put my arm around her and guide her out of the forest. The beach on this side of the island is pristine and peaceful. The water shimmers gently, reflecting the violet moons and stars.
Cassie leans her head on my shoulder as we stroll towards the row of houses at the far end of the beach.
“That's your house.” She points at the corner house.
“Yes.” I share with her my memories of building those houses with my men. We chopped down the tallest, sturdiest trees and used them to build our homes.
She starts counting the houses but gives up halfway. “You guys don't live togeth
er?” she asks.
I shake my head. “When we are on the spaceship, we have to spend many days and nights together in an enclosed space. And we already work and eat together almost every day.” I point to the houses. “Some of the younger guys don't mind living in the same house. They seem to prefer it.”
“This is pretty amazing,” Cassie says, looking admiringly at the houses. “And this beach...is beautiful. Just how many beaches do you have?”
“Four,” I answer.
Cassie nods and mumbles something about exploring every nook and cranny of Svaata.
I step up to my house and press my palm to the sensor in the door frame to unlock the door.
“We're home.” I hold the door open for her. “This is our home, Cassie.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Cassie
I follow Vorik into the house and gasp. From the outside, it looks like a simple wooden cabin, but the inside is a different story altogether.
The interior of the house reminds me of the inside of the spaceship. The walls are smooth and metallic, and the interior is surprisingly spacious. A partition separates the sleeping area from Vorik's work area. A long work table that is cluttered with electronic equipment sits on one side of the house. Behind the partition is a large, neat bed and wash area.
Soft, muted lights flick on the moment we step into the house. “Sensors,” Vorik explains. “And the walls are soundproof. Some of the guys can get really loud when they're having a party. And they can party the whole night long.”
“Don't you ever have a party here?” I tease.
“No,” Vorik says solemnly. “If I'm not resting, I'm working.”
I glance at the images and numbers flickering across the various devices on his work table. “I can see that,” I mumble.
Vorik pulls me into his arms and walks me backwards towards the bed. “Shouldn't you be working now?” I whisper, nipping his jaw playfully.
Vorik: A Scifi Storm Dragon Romance Page 7
