Chapter 3: DRAK
Drak finished his shower and swiped his hand over the wall panel. The water vanished, replaced by a blast of warm air from the vents that dried his skin in seconds.
He couldn't stop thinking about the female he had found. Her skin was so soft and fair, and her hair was a strange, vibrant yellow, reminiscent of the Losarig plants his mother had loved so much. But it was her eyes—those fascinating, pale blue orbs—that haunted him. He felt a sharp surge of arousal every time he pictured her small, delicate body. She was so different from the females of Dargox. He wondered if the rest of her was just as different; he hoped so, because from the moment he had seen her in that cage, a single word had claimed his mind: MINE.
She had to be his.
He finished dressing, ready to return to duty and report to central command. They had successfully decimated another Lars pirate ship—scum that thrived on enslaving other species. He strode toward the bridge, eager to finish his report so he could return to his female.
My female? Sun Gods, what if she doesn't want me? The thought was unacceptable. He would use every means at his disposal to convince her.
"Archi Drak, are you listening?"
The voice of the High Leader of Dargox crackled from the massive transmission screen, snapping Drak out of his thoughts. "Report your status."
"We intercepted and destroyed another Lars vessel, Havyn Bach," Drak reported, his voice slipping into a professional tone. "They were carrying two females. The Lars are a cowardly race of traffickers, now facing extinction because their own females are bred only for battle."
"Poor Reitons... so timid and skittish," the Leader mused.
"Timid, yes. But they aren't Reitons."
"Explain."
"They are females, Havyn Bach, but not from this galaxy. Our scanners show the Lars were returning from the Seventh Galaxy."
"Impossible. Their technology is too obsolete to survive the wormholes that far out."
"Desperation is a powerful motivator," Drak countered. "We've learned they are facing a population collapse. They are trying to save their species from disappearing."
"You aren't suggesting...?"
"It's highly likely. They were hunting for females to breed."
"Are these females compatible with them?"
Drak gave a brief description of Karen, emphasizing how incredibly different she was from any species they knew. "It makes little sense. A Lars could easily kill a creature that fragile during the mating process. We haven't identified their home world yet."
"Find out," his father commanded. "We must return these creatures to their home."
"We are only a week away from Dargox, Havyn Bach," Drak said, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice. He couldn't lose her now. He felt the bond in every fiber of his being. "Going to the Seventh Galaxy would take a month-long round trip. I suggest we bring them to our planet first. We can provide them with safety while we gather intelligence on their world."
The High Leader sighed. "You're right. I've had a long day. Bring them home. We will provide protection and care for them on Dargox. Submit a detailed report on their physiology immediately."
"Right away, Havyn Bach."
As Drak prepared to end the feed, his father's expression softened. "Drak... be careful."
"Always. Don't worry." Drak offered a rare smile before the screen went dark. He turned to Vassi, his second-in-command and closest friend. "Forward the battle logs to the Council."
"On it, Archi Drak."
Drak left the bridge, his strides long and purposeful. He took the lift down to the healing wing, stopping before a secured door guarded by Bex, one of his finest warriors.
"Bex. Report on the female," Drak said, his expression hardening.
"Unlike your female, this one hasn't stopped screaming," Bex replied. He tapped his ear. "Thanks to the new linguistic upload Gexton added to my device, I can actually understand her."
Drak's eyes narrowed. "Why did Gexton give you the translation patch without my authorization?"
"Because you ordered me to guard her, Archi. And since I don't plan on letting her go, I needed to know what she was saying... even if she won't let anyone get close enough to implant a translator in her own ear."
"Have you tried?"
Bex shook his head.
"You will," Drak ordered. The warrior didn't look thrilled, but no one disobeyed an Archi. "And what is she saying?"
"She's demanding to see the other female," Bex said, raising an eyebrow.
"Very well." Drak placed a heavy hand on Bex's shoulder. "Stay with her. Do not leave her side. This ship is full of males who haven't seen a female in cycles. I only trust you, Vassi, and Gexton to guard them. Understand?"
"Completely. She won't be harmed."
"Good. I'm going to see Gexton." Drak knew his men wouldn't intentionally hurt the females, but the temptation of their presence was a dangerous thing for celibate warriors.
He walked to the end of the corridor and swiped the panel. The door hissed open. Inside, Gexton was hunched over his Conec terminal, his back turned to the bed where Karen lay.