Chapter 4
DRAK
"How is she?" Drak's voice was a low rumble as he entered the med-bay. Gexton turned around, startled by his brother's sudden presence.
"She's still sleeping," Gexton replied, adjusting his tools. "I performed a thorough analysis without touching her, as you demanded. I don't have the advanced machinery here for a deep-system scan, but she is recovering well. Those pale skin lacerations are fading; they seem to be old wounds from when the Lars first took her."
Drak's chest tightened, a dangerous growl vibrating in his throat. The thought of anyone—especially those scavengers—harming what was his ignited a fire in his blood he couldn't explain.
"Calm down, brother. She's fine," Gexton said, trying to de-escalate the tension. "I've already implanted the linguistic synchronization device. She now has our language—or whatever they call communication on her world."
"I see… Who else has been synchronized?"
"Only Bex and me. Sit," Gexton commanded, picking up a portable conec. "I need to sync your translator too if you plan on actually speaking to her."
Drak sat near the healing bed, his eyes immediately drifting to the female. She looked so small, so fragile under the blanket Gexton had used to cover her.
"Why is she still asleep?" Drak asked, his gaze never leaving her face.
"I induced a temporary sleep state so the synchronization wouldn't be painful. Now, stay still."
Drak didn't need to be told twice. He remained motionless while the data transferred, but his mind was already memorizing every curve of his female's body.
"Ready," Gexton informed him. "She will understand us, and we will understand her, but only those of us with the sync-patch can communicate. I suggest we update the entire crew."
The two Dargox warriors locked eyes. The air grew heavy with unspoken challenge.
"I am taking her with me to my quarters," Drak stated flatly.
"The language data will be sent to the council; it's protocol for first contact," Gexton countered. "And no, you cannot just claim her. She is a biological specimen under medical observation."
"I can, and I will. She is not a specimen."
"NO!" Gexton's roar echoed through the cabin, but Drak was already standing.
"Are you challenging me, little brother?" Drak's fists clenched, his muscles coiling like a predator's.
"You are attracted to her! It's clouding your judgment!" Gexton shouted.
"She is mine. My companion. My property to protect. No one gets near her—not anymore." Drak approached the bed, opening the hatch with surprising gentleness. He lifted her into his arms, feeling her soft warmth against his cold armor. "Attend to the other one. Ensure she is well. And tell Bex he is forbidden from leaving her side."
"She won't let me get close," Gexton growled in frustration.
"The small one is… difficult."
"Then do your job so I can focus on my female."
Drak walked out, ignoring his brother's curses. He passed Bex in the corridor, who looked perplexed at the sight of the Captain carrying a human like a treasure. In his quarters, Drak laid her in the center of his massive bed. She looked like a tiny pearl in a dark ocean. He dimmed the lights to six percent, a small, predatory smile touching his lips. He had duties to attend to, but his bed finally felt complete.
THE OTHER CELL
Drak arrived at the other cabin to find Bex and Gexton looking exasperated.
"Open it," Drak commanded.
The second female was curled in a corner, trapped between the bed and the wall. Her eyes were wide with terror as the three giants entered.
"Where is Karen? What have you done to her?" she cried out, her voice trembling.
Karen. Drak's heart skipped. So that was her name. Karen.
He stepped forward, pointing to his ear to show the translator. The girl shrieked—a sound so high and piercing it physically pained Drak's sensitive ears. Even the stoic Bex winced, covering his head.
"Don't get close!" she sobbed. "I don't know what you want with your ears! I just know that giant alien"—she pointed a shaking finger at Bex—"is the one who kidnapped me from the ship!"
Bex growled at the term.
"He just fucking growled at me!" she wailed.
"Stop scaring her, Bex," Drak snapped. "She's calling you an 'alien'. It must be their word for the unknown."
"Enough of this," Bex muttered. He pushed past Drak, ignoring the girl's screams until he was on his knees in front of her. He didn't use force; he simply took her hands.
The girl froze, her breath hitching. Bex gently moved her hair aside, showing the device in his own ear and then pointing to hers.
"You… want me to wear that?" she whispered. Bex nodded solemnly. "Can you understand me? Is Karen okay?"
Bex nodded again.
"Does she have that thing in her ear too?" Another nod. "Shit. This is bad." She looked at Drak, then back at Bex. "Will it hurt?"
Bex shook his head and offered his hands to help her up. She hesitated, looking at Drak's face. "Do you… have fangs?"
Drak bared them in a small, honest nod. She shivered but finally let Bex lift her.
"You are the captain," she declared, looking at Drak with a strange mix of fear and realization as Bex carried her toward Gexton.
Drak sighed. He had been awake for thirty-eight hours, fighting Lars and claiming a mate. He was exhausted, but he knew exactly where he wanted to be. With a
genuine smile, he headed back to his quarters, to the bed where Karen was waiting.