Dragon's Mate: A Scifi Alien Romance (Red Planet Dragons of Tajss Book 2) Read online

Jealous or no, my heart swells thinking about the way he looks at her. He adores her and she loves him too. They're perfect for each other and that makes me happy. Lying down on my pallet and closing my eyes I send out my hopes that maybe, somehow, the one for me is out there and coming. I want someone to love me like Ladon loves her.

  2 SVERRE

  I slide to a stop as internal alarms go off. The sand sinks as my wings fold tight against my back. I swish my tail back and forth keeping myself balanced. Standing on a cliff and looking ahead I see one of the old cities in the distance and I can feel the demarcation. I'm about to cross into another's territory. This is wrong. I shouldn't do this, it will lead to a confrontation.

  Crouching down I bury my hands in the hot, red sand. A breeze blows shifting the lines of the sand dunes across the distance. The shades of red vary from so light as to appear almost white to a deep maroon. Massive rocks dot the landscape as well. This is rough terrain, not conducive to fast travel and with too many hiding places for predators. And it's another Zmaj's territory.

  I remember before. Before the attacks, before my failure, when our home was the center of the galaxy. Before this territorial urge that rules us. Before when things were right. Shaking my head I push away those memories. They are the past. The past doesn't matter. Now matters. Now I must know what fell from the sky. The flash and the streak that brought back my hazy memories. It might be hope.

  A herd of bivo travels below me moving slow. They're large pack animals and seeing them makes my stomach rumble. I could hunt and take one which would give me plenty of extra food for this journey but I'm sure I'm not the only one who saw the flash and streak across the sky. Anyone else could be on their way. I have to see what fell myself. I have to know first before I let any others scavenge. If it is visitors from off our planet I'm the best to find them. The others are too far gone into bijass, the regression. They didn't believe me when I told them it would happen after the devastation. They laughed but I was right. We've regressed back to our primitive roots.

  After the devastation there were so few of us left we gathered together. No females survived and it was apparent we were at the end of our race. I told them then, argued, that we should stay together. Work together to find a way off the planet, to find if any of the other races survived the war. They laughed at me then but I knew. I knew what would happen and it has. Primal instincts, the territorial nature of our species, the desire for treasures, and the urge to fight for dominance have taken over since we've all been alone for so long.

  Standing, I run along the ridge following as it slopes down. My wings spread and give me enough lift that I can run lightly across the sand that would otherwise slow me down by sinking with each footfall. Using my tail I keep my balance and move quickly. When the cliff is low enough I jump off the side and use my wings to glide and land in a crouch.

  I look around to make sure there are no threats then run forward. As I cross the line into another's territory my skin tingles and my guts tighten. A voice in my head seems to threaten as instinct urges me to turn back. I can't though. I have to know so I run. I run for all I'm worth while keeping my senses alert to all possible threats. This far out I shouldn't raise alarms with the the territory's owner. Likely he's heading for the same goal I am.

  A massive standing ridge comes closer as I run. I focus on reaching it. Hopefully from that rise I'll be able to see my goal. The ground rumbles underneath my feet and I freeze in place. Damn it I don't have time for this but it might be a zemlja. Monster worms that dig their way through the earth, the most dangerous thing on the planet. They hunt by sound and vibration. I hold completely still waiting until the rumble of its passage fades.

  Satisfied I stand and start running. The ridge is close, I'm almost to its shadow when the ground rumbles again but this time its too late. I'm in trouble. I unsheathe my lochaber, spread my wings and leap into the air. Catching the wind I drift until I'm over a boulder tossed off from the ridge. Closing my wings I land lightly on the rock then hold my breath, moving nothing.

  The ground trembles, sand shifts, then bounces. The creature is directly below and massive based on how much the sand is shifting. They rarely enter my territory so my memory of them is faded, my instinct for dealing with them rusty. I should have sensed its closeness long before I did. The tremors slow then fade to a stop as it passes by. Watching the sand stop shifting I can guess that it's moving away from me. Good, one man alone doesn't stand a chance against a zemlja.

  I wait longer unwilling to risk attracting its attention because I wasn't patient. Patience is a virtue I've long practiced. If only I'd had it before the devastation. Memories sift through the fog of time trying to come back to the fore but I have no time. Turning on the boulder to look up the ridge behind me I think I can make it if I leap. I tense the muscles of my legs and relax them preparing for the jump.

  I push off, spreading my wings to gain height. The strain pulls at the muscles of my shoulders and back as I cross the distance. Reaching for the ridge I'm almost to it when I start dropping. Damn it! Pushing my wings harder I fight, using them against their intended purposes of gliding. Zmaj are not sismis, we do not fly but I try. Gravity pulls hard and I drop faster. Stretching my arm out I catch a crack in the ridge. Sharp edges dig into the soft skin of my fingers as I'm jerked towards the ground.

  "Ugh," I grunt as I slam against the ragged edges.

  My scales protect me from most of the impact but my clothes are worse for the wear. Hanging by one arm the muscles scream in pain at the abuse. Scrabbling my feet I finally find purchase that lets me take the pressure off my arm. I spot a crack just over my head that I can put my other hand into and then I start working my way up the face of the cliff. Moving one hand at a time I pull up until I find footing then gain a few more precious inches.

  I'm almost to the top. Reaching for the next crack I see I'm about to grab it when something darts out so fast I barely register the motion of it. I pull my hand back narrowly avoiding being bitten by the zmeya. That was close. The venom of a zmeya is highly poisonous causing paralysis which allows it to drain the blood from its victim.

  Using my now free hand I dig into my pouch and pull out a stick. Shifting my feet I find a solid purchase point so that I can stand and free both my hands. Knife in one hand and stick in the other I tap the stick up the wall below the crack the zmeya is hiding in. As the stick crests the opening the snake strikes, digging its fangs in. I pull the stick back and bring the knife down behind it severing the thing's head from its body.

  I tap the wall a few more times to make sure there are no more hiding then drop the stick and resume my climb. In moments I'm on top of the ridge and closing my outer lids to shield my eyes from the sun. Smoke climbs towards the sky on the horizon. Good, I'm getting closer. I adjust my gear until I'm more comfortable then start running. The sun is getting low which means I'll have to stop for the night before I reach my goal. Being exposed at night is foolish and I won't risk it even for the hope of arriving first.

  When I hear the first sismis cry I know I have to stop. The vampiric, flying creatures are dangerous and hunt the dark in swarms.

  Dropping to the sand I shift until I'm mostly buried for protection then I doze to pass the time.

  I'm woken by a herd of bivo passing below. My stomach grumbles and the urge for fresh meat is almost enough to pull me from my rest but then I hear a hiss. I wait, sure I know what's about to happen and I'm not wrong. Three guster leap on the alpha bivo's back. The bivo screams a high pitched, ear splitting sound that tears through the night as the guster lock their jaws. The bivo's massive, fur covered head swings side to side but its protruding tusks can't find purchase on the attackers who have hit it from behind and the sides.

  It stumbles and falls to the ground as the herd stampedes away leaving him to his fate. The guster tear it apart, feeding in a frenzy. It's not long before there's nothing left but bones that the guster lick clean before returning to the hunt for their next mea
l. The rest of the night passes uneventful except for a clutch of sismis flying overhead but they don't stay around for long.

  As the sun crests the horizon and the sand warms I wake and rise, shaking myself free. I resume my run knowing I still have a long ways to go. I fall into a rhythm that passes the miles and the time. One step, two, one step, two. A steady pace that beats down the distance through consistent forward motion. I have to go around large rocks and as I get closer massive dunes block my vision until I reach the top of the tallest ones. The terrain here is completely different than home. The dunes are all soft sand. Home is surrounded by ridges, rocks, broken remains of the ancient mountains and the ground is much rougher.

  Climbing to the top of yet another dune I spy my goal in the distance. It's massive and out of place sitting on the horizon. An enormous steel structure jutting into the sky. Smoke drifts from its jagged edges and debris dots the fields around it. Closing my protective lenses my vision becomes clearer and I can see tiny figures moving. Off-worlders. It has to be. There aren't that many Zmaj left on the entire planet and they'd be trying to kill each other if gathered in the same place.

  The sun is low again before I get within sight of my target. I stop and rest again for the night. Tomorrow I will reach my goal. It has to be fast enough. Has to be. The future of my race depends on it. I don't sleep. My thoughts run in an eternal circle that won't let me rest. Memories keep threatening to emerge from the fog of time but I don't look at them. I don't want to remember. There's pain hidden inside them and I know it. Terrible things happened back then and I remember enough to work towards the future without having to know more.

  As the sun climbs back into the sky I emerge from the sand and make my final run. Reaching the top of a dune I drop to the ground then crawl forward. There are dozens of alien, strange looking people marching away in a line. At the head of the line stands three people and one of them is a Zmaj. His eyes scan the dunes and I'm certain this is his territory. Instinct roars up at the sight of him and I quiver with the urge to race down the dune and challenge him for the aliens.

  That is not my purpose. I'm better than that. We're better than that or we can be. I struggle with the drive until at last my head clears and I can observe. The aliens are shockingly different and clearly unsuited for life on Tajss. Their faces and hands don't show any scales. Almost all of them are a bright red color that doesn't look healthy. They stumble as they walk and some of them are having to help or carry others.

  I camouflage myself and then track the line as they march. One of them swings its arms and looks as if it bounces with each step. It's shorter than most of the others and stays close to the first three I saw. Something about it, even at this distance, makes me think female. I can't see her clearly but I hear her voice and that sound calls to me. It's light and filled with joy. Listening to it creates a tingle that runs through my limbs into my core. Suddenly my prime penis is erect and pressing painfully against my pants. I want her. I have to have her.

  Control. I have to stay in control, keep my head clear. I can't let the other see me. If the other Zmaj becomes aware of my presence it will lead to a fight. That is not what I want. I have to know more. How did the others come to be here?

  Her voice drifts across the sand and I smile. I have to see the person from which such a beautiful sound comes. The aliens stumble along behind the Zmaj making slow progress. They aren't dealing well with the planet. The heat is sapping their strength and their design is poor for traveling across the loose sand. I track alongside them being careful to remain out of sight.

  They stop at night and make camps. They don't camouflage themselves. They don't even try. Many of them just drop where they stop. Stupid and dangerous. I can't believe the Zmaj allows it but he stays at the lead only letting two of them near him. The one with the musical voice stays a way's back so I work my way closer. She's sitting next to a small fire and talking in her sweet, beautiful voice to three others. They look like females as well.

  I'm close enough that I catch hints of her smell when the wind shifts. Sweet, musky, with hints of a spice. It's intoxicating. Her face is perfect if lacking in proper, protective scales. She's shorter than the other aliens with her. The fur on her head is dark, draping around her face and reaching her shoulders. Her skin has the same red tone as the others but not as deep, more yellow. Her eyes are shaped like nuts from the baboa tree. She smiles showing teeth that aren't sharp. Do they not eat meat?

  She rises to her feet and walks around the others stooping and helping each of them to have a drink. She talks, a lot, and I listen to the sound of her drifting towards sleep. I'll stay close. If anything comes and threatens her I'll be here.

  Sounds awake me with a start. The sun is rising.

  The sound again breaks the quiet, red morning. It's loud and almost raucous. I resist the urge to jump to my feet while looking for its source. I can't reveal my presence here unless it's unavoidable. Three of the aliens are in a circle including the one with the music in her voice. She is making gestures and sounds then the three of them make the same raucous sound again shaking their heads and holding their sides. Strange, perhaps it's a morning ritual of theirs?

  The Zmaj storms through barking orders, yelling for them to hurry up and another day begins. I trail them for two days before I'm sure of their destination and my heart sinks seeing it on the horizon. He's taking them to his city. He's claiming them all for himself. The urge to fight rages but I would lose. I've seen him now. He's a warrior where I was never bred for such. I can fight, I can defend myself and mine but against a warrior the outcome is far from sure. If I have time to plan, set traps, I would win. In a straight, mindless toe-to-toe combat, I'm not sure I would.

  Patience, I hiss softly. Patience and I will gain what I want. I trail them and watch her. She will be mine. It's been a long time since I acquired a new treasure. She is the perfect one. I want to listen to the musical sound of her voice for all time.

  3 JOLIE

  Waking up sucks. I'm stiff, sore, and so thirsty. No matter how much I drink I'm thirsty. Every muscle aches and I know it's not just because of sleeping on the floor. My head hurts constantly and I'm almost always nauseous. Everything hurts and all I want to do is roll over and go back to sleep.

  Sitting up I reach over to the small bag I keep next to my bed. I get out salt and potassium tablets then a packet of powdered electrolytes that I pour into a glass of water. I drink this down then lay down and wait for the worst of the aches and pains to pass. Fifteen minutes later I climb to my feet and stretch. Everything still aches but now its discomforting and not debilitating.

  I touch my toes a few times to work out the last of the kinks then wash up in my small basin of water before heading down to the dining room for breakfast. Mei is the only one at the table eating when I walk in. She smiles when she sees me and I wave then go to fix myself some food. Once its finished I sit down across from her.

  "Morning," Mei says.

  "Morning," I reply. "Everyone gone already or not up?"

  "Mostly gone," she says. "I think Lana is still in bed."

  "What a surprise," I snort.

  "You okay?" Mei asks.

  "Yeah, why?"

  She shakes her head and puts her attention back on her food.

  "Nothing, just checking," she says.

  "Uh-huh, what's up?"

  "You look, tired I guess. Your eyes are a bit dull, you know, just exhausted."

  I smile and do my best to exude energy.

  "Yeah, didn't sleep great," I lie.

  I slept fine. I slept too fine actually. Almost ten hours and didn't want to get up when I did. Another sign of deep dehydration setting in. I'd be fine if I took the epis. Everyone who's taken it is doing great. Their bodies adjust to the heat, they have more energy, hell some of them are even stronger than before or so they claim. I haven't had a chance to run any tests on that so I'm skeptical.

  Take the epis and the pain goes away. The aches, the nausea
, the pounding headaches all gone but then you're addicted. Worse, I'd be stuck. Here forever. No hope of a future beyond this planet. I know all the men that survived the crash and not a one of them appeals to me. So what would I do? Wait for the next generation to be born? Hope that Calista has a boy, wait twenty years, then see if we're compatible?

  That's just creepy and wrong on so many levels I can't even begin to comprehend. It's too much to contemplate. I just have to hope a rescue ship comes. It won't be from earth, that would be impossible but there were lots of colony ships sent out at the same time as ours and some of them had similar trajectories. They might have heard our distress calls. There's also outposts on the rims of explored space. Mining planets and such where other humans live. There is a chance someone could come and take me off of this planet. Slim though it might be it's my only hope of having a man and family of my own.

  "I get that, I miss my bunk so much!" Mei says.

  "Yeah," I agree. "We should work on better sleeping arrangements."

  "Put it on the list of things," Mei smiles. "I'm sure it's on Rosalind's list, just low down below all those pesky survival items."

  "Yeah, you're right," I agree.

  I finish eating and clean my dishes. As I'm putting them away I notice the tremors in my hands. Damn it, my muscles are weakening under the constant assault of the heat. That's bad. Mei walks up behind me and I pull my hand back hoping she won't notice I was just staring at it.

  "I'll see you at dinner," Mei says.

  "Great, have a good day! Get lots done!"

  "You too," she smiles then leaves.

  I lean against the counter and contemplate the day. I'm supposed to go to the lab and continue working to find ways to make our small stash of seeds grow in the soil of this barren wasteland. A project that is on the order of squeezing blood from a rock. Right on the edge of impossible if not over the line. So I can beat my head against the giant wall of trying to create our future, which sucks, or I can do something fun and exciting. Also necessary. Don't forget that!