Dragon's Hope (Red Planet Dragons of Tajss Book 4) Read online

  A loud snort, a stomp that breaks through the low sounds of the moving herd, and I know we're in trouble. Lana, eyes wide and face covered in blood spray, shakes her head side to side.

  "SHIT!" Cecil screams. "RUN!"

  I whirl my lochaber over my head and jump in front of Lana. The Alpha is charging through the herd, pushing them aside as he bears down on us.

  "Run Lana," I hiss. "Run now!"

  She doesn't move, damn it. What is wrong with her?

  The Alpha is too close. There's no time. I can't dodge to one side and strike at it, that would leave Lana exposed. Whirling around, I knock her feet out from under her with my tail and catch her in my arms as I turn. Keeping the motion going I drop to the ground encircling her with my body to protect her as I roll us out of the path of the charging Alpha.

  The thunder of its broad hooves causes the sand to dance as it passes. I keep rolling until the momentum won't carry us any further up the dune. Coming to a stop with her underneath me, I look for the Alpha.

  It's staring up the dune, pawing at the ground, not ready to give up yet. A glint of steel shines from behind it, my lochaber where I had to let it go to save Lana.

  A dozen options race through my mind and I discard each. I rise to a crouch and keep Lana behind me. The Alpha and I stare into each other's eyes. There is dim intelligence to the beast. I spread my wings, lean forward, and hiss. The Alpha stomps the ground, snorts, then shakes his head side to side. I slap the sand in front of me, flap my wings, and hiss louder.

  The Alpha and I stare at each other. A contest of wills. I flap my wings and rise to my full height. Throwing my arms wide, I roar and stomp the ground with my foot. The Alpha takes a step back so I take one forward. I continue to flap my wings, my tail shifting side to side, as I stalk forward. I lean into my stride, making myself as threatening as possible. I hiss then follow it with a roar. The Alpha continues to retreat. The herd around him lows, uncertain, the Alpha isn't supposed to retreat. He shakes his head side to side, lowering his horns down until they're scraping the sand. I stop advancing, waiting. The Alpha turns and runs. The herd falls in behind, leaving us alone.

  "I'm sorry," Lana says, her soft touch on my shoulder.

  "It's fine," I say. "At least we got one."

  "One won't feed us for long," she says, shaking her head.

  "Let tomorrow's problem be tomorrow's problem."

  "Damn," Bryce says as the two boys approach. "That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen."

  "You're like, super bad ass," Cecil adds.

  "It was impressive," Lana agrees.

  Warm heat surges through my cock at her words. My cheeks burn. I shrug and smile, trying to down play it. "It was nothing."

  "It was a hell of a lot more than nothing," Lana says. "I guess you're my hero now."

  My hearts skip a beat. She touches my chest and my scales flush hot. Her warm brown eyes draw me closer. I lean in, unsure of what I'm doing. Her full lips part and the wild desire to see what the human mouth mating is like consumes me. We're close, so close, I can claim what I want.

  She laughs and shakes her head, breaking the moment. My treasure steps away as the world spins around. Strange how I feel crushed. I doubt it would feel worse if the bivo had run me over.

  "So how do we get this thing home?" Lana asks.

  Inhaling deeply, I roll my shoulders then set about preparing the kill for travel.

  2

  Lana

  We're back from the hunt and I'm tired but I don't want to be alone so I'm hanging out with the paired up couples and some other girls. I like getting to see people actually happy and the new little baby is the most adorbs thing ever.

  "There is no way in hell I'm doing that," Amara states, breaking into my thoughts.

  "You won't have a choice," Calista replies.

  "How can you not want this?" Jolie says from her position, propped up in the makeshift bed of furs Sverre built. This little group has commandeered the lower floor of the 'command' building that's just off the city center fountain. "It's wonderful."

  "What is wonderful, my love?" Sverre asks as he walks up and hands her a waterskin.

  "You are," she says, rising and puckering her lips.

  Sverre leans in and takes her kiss. She seems so happy, even if she is as big as a house. Jolie is in the last stages of her pregnancy and has had to be on bed rest for the last two weeks.

  "Because I like doing things for myself?" Amara says. "What is wrong with that? I don't need nobody to wait on me hand and foot. Besides, I have work to do."

  "Well I like it," Jolie says. "It makes me feel like a princess."

  "You are my treasure," Sverre says.

  "All right you two," Mei says. "Get a room already."

  Everyone laughs.

  "Why is being stuck in bed and treated like an invalid necessary?" Amara asks.

  Our resident nerds, Calista and Jolie, exchange a glance. Calista clears her throat, takes a drink of water, then schools her face into her best lecture giving pose. "We're built for nine months of pregnancy, more or less," Calista says. "But the Zmaj have much bigger bodies than humans."

  "Well that much is obvious," Amara says.

  I find myself jealous of Amara. She's so blunt and brash. It's not so much that I want to be like that but her attitude, the certainty of herself and that she belongs. I've never had that. Somehow I got lucky enough to be friends with this group. They accept me as I am, without question, even with my background on the ship.

  "Well basic biology tells us that the bigger the body the longer the gestation," Calista continues. "You're carrying a hybrid, Zmaj and human, so the pregnancy will take longer. I was pregnant for thirteen months and Jolie is already past that. After the nine or ten that our bodies are used to, it starts to really strain and we have to stay rested and off our feet. I learned that the hard way."

  "Well that make sense," Mei says.

  "I don't care if it makes sense," Amara grouses. "I have a lot to do and can't lie around for months."

  "Or more, but I don't see where you have a choice," Calista says.

  "This sucks," Amara says.

  "Maybe it won't be so bad," Shidan, Amara's mate, adds while rubbing her back.

  I can tell by the huge smile on his face that he's excited by the idea. I don't know what he sees in Amara. She's strong, independent, and also abrasive as hell. He loves her though, that much is obvious.

  "Wouldn't it be nice if we had music?" Inga asks.

  "Yes it would wouldn't it?" Jolie adds.

  The easy buzz of conversation fills the room. Everyone is having a good time. I find a place to relax and sit and enjoy the atmosphere. The others may take it for granted, having friends, people who care about you, but I don't. I value it and am grateful to be a part of this group.

  "Did you see that?" Mei asks.

  "What?" Jolie asks, shifting her position on the bed to follow Mei's gaze.

  "Illadon, he rolled over!" Mei says.

  Conversation stops as everyone looks. Illadon is in the middle of the floor staring back at everyone with wide eyes from his position on his tiny, scaled belly. He smiles then flutters his wings. My heart melts as the sound of oohs and ahhs fill the room. Illadon is cute, too cute for words.

  Calista walks over to her baby and kneels. Ladon looks on, beaming with pride, his large arms crossed over his chest. Everyone waits for a repeat performance. The only sound is the swish of Illadon's tiny tail on the carpet. He flutters his wings again then holds his hands up towards his mother.

  "Are you going to roll over?" Calista asks the child.

  Illadon giggles.

  "Here, let me help you," his mother says.

  She takes Illadon and gently rolls him back to his back. His chunky legs wobble back and forth as he struggles to get back on his stomach. A look of intense concentration comes over his face. The way his little brow furrows causes his scales to catch the light, forming a rainbow of color. He looks up at
his mother.

  "Come on baby," Calista encourages him.

  I'm holding my breath without realizing it. Everyone is waiting, it's a special moment, and we're about to share it together. Illadon grunts, then hisses, then he's on his side. Excitement wells up inside me until I'm sure I will burst. Inside I'm cheering him on.

  "Come on son," Ladon says, his voice filled with pride.

  Illadon's wings push against the floor. His tiny tongue darts out between his lips then his arm is underneath him and smoothly rolls back to his belly. He pushes himself up with his hands and beams.

  The room explodes with applause. Illadon looks startled, unsure of what all the commotion is about. He frowns and for a moment he's scared then I see his eyes lock with his dad and he grins. It's obvious he loves being the center of attention.

  "Good job baby," Calista says.

  Illadon returns to playing with the makeshift toys everyone has found for him. Calista rises and turns back to Amara. "Anyway, Amara, bed rest is the only answer."

  "Yet another reason this place sucks," Amara says.

  The Zmaj males glance at each other.

  "But you have me," Shidan says, trying to lighten the mood.

  "That I do," Amara agrees, sighing. "It doesn't mean I don't wish the rest of the planet didn't suck so hard."

  "Welcome to Vulcan," Calista says, shrugging.

  "It's Gallifrey!" Jolie shouts from her bed.

  "You're both wrong, it's hell," Amara says. "The only good thing is, I've been a really bad girl."

  Amara grins at Shidan and pulls him into a passionate kiss. Only then do I notice Astarot stands apart from the group. I doubt the others even see him. Maybe it's just one outcast recognizing another. He watches, listens, but doesn't take part. There's a small ache in my chest when I look at him.

  "Anyone know where Rosalind is?" Mei asks.

  "I told the Lady General we were getting together," Inga replies. "She said she might stop by."

  I'm drawn to Astarot. An emptiness surrounds him. He smiles, nods, the other men talk, but he remains separate.

  Inga sits down next to me. "Are you okay?" she asks.

  Startled I glance over. "What do you mean?"

  Inga shrugs. "Nothing, I guess. I mean…"

  The way she trails pulls my attention. "What Inga?" I ask, keeping my voice soft.

  The buzz of conversation continues. This is life, life as we know it now. People are adjusting to our new circumstances. No more bars, no more restaurants for dinner, but these small gatherings are becoming commonplace among the survivors.

  "It's just, I don't want to, oh, I don't know."

  "Okay, well that's a dodge. Don't know what? What is it you want to say?"

  "Well on the ship you were… you know."

  "A vagrant?" I ask.

  Inga blushes bright red telling me all I need to know. Anger flashes, white hot, but it goes as fast as it comes. That's the old me. The outcast, the one who didn't belong. I stare, waiting for her to say what she wants to say. Confirm or deny.

  "Yes," she says, somehow she turns an even deeper shade of red.

  "I was," I agree. "What of it?"

  "I just… I meant nothing by it. I only wanted to see how you are."

  I smile and the flush on her face lightens. She exhales an obvious sigh of relief that I'm not raging angry.

  "Thank you," I say. "That's kind."

  "It's, I mean, sure," she says, stumbling over her words.

  "I'm doing fine."

  "What was it like?" she asks. "I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you."

  Shaking my head, I smile, but inside the pain is still there. The deep wound of knowing the world you live in doesn't want you. I can't deny it left a mark on me.

  "I had my mom," I say.

  "You did? I thought all vagrants were…"

  I nod. "They are but my real mom died birthing me. The doctor who delivered me, she adopted me and raised me as her own."

  "Oh, that's very nice," Inga says.

  I shrug. "She was a good woman."

  "I'm glad you had someone."

  Anyone else would offend me with that statement. I've heard it before and it's always made me angry, but Inga is so genuine, so real, her care and concern surrounds me.

  "Thank you."

  Inga smiles then holds her arms out so I hug her.

  "I'm glad you're here with us," Inga says as we part, she smiles and it warms my heart.

  "Me too," I say.

  Out of the corner of my eye I see Astarot watching from across the room. He's big and strong, like all the Zmaj, but the coloring of his scales is gorgeous. His eyes are brilliant, almost a purple color, and they flash with deep intelligence. Slippery wetness slides between my thighs. I'm not ready for a long term relationship but it doesn't mean I don't have needs.

  "If you need anything," Inga says. "Tell me, okay?"

  "Sure," I smile. "I appreciate it."

  I do, too. On the ship no one was nice. I was outcast, unwanted, no purpose and no use. I was a useless drain on resources. There was little surplus and no room for error. Everyone else on the ship had a job, a purpose in the grand scheme of things. Vagrants, like me, did not. My days were spent avoiding people's dark glares and trying to survive. There were times I wished I'd never been born. There was strict population control and most unplanned pregnancies never made it.

  My mom, my birth mom, hid her pregnancy though, until it was too late. We were too 'civilized' to end a pregnancy once it had reached the second trimester. No, much more humane to let that child grow up outcast and unwanted. If not for my adopted mom, I wouldn't have survived anyway. The majority of vagrants don't make it past their teens. Forced to live on the edges of society, they either starved to death or died in some other way.

  The world on the ship was against a vagrant. Ingrained into the culture of ship life. Vagrants are a drain, have no purpose, and they don't belong. Get rid of the vagrants, send them back to, well, wherever as long as 'normal' people didn't have to worry about it.

  "Hey," Inga says.

  "Yeah?"

  "You were drifting away, you sure you're okay?" she asks, concerned.

  "Yeah," I say, shaking myself free of the memories and the pain. "Yeah, I'm fine."

  "You going to talk to him?"

  "Who?"

  "Astarot," she smiles.

  "What are you talking about?"

  "Don't play coy," she says. "You two have been making eyes at each other all night."

  "He has?" I ask, my heart skipping a beat.

  "He has!" she laughs.

  "Oh, well then," I grin.

  "Have fun," Inga says, rising and going over to check on Jolie.

  I stand up and make my way across the common area towards Astarot.

  "So, come here often?" I ask.

  "Only when I'm invited," Astarot says.

  I shake my head and chuckle. Sometimes the simple things get lost in translation from Common to Zmaj.

  "Yeah," I say, meeting his eyes.

  I love his eyes. They're gorgeous, deep pools of lavender, I could lose myself in them. A slow smile forms on his face and I touch him without thinking about it. His face is cool and I'm surprised by how smooth it is. I'm not sure what I expected. I guess I thought his scales would be rough. I can feel their edges as I run my fingers along but they're not rough at all.

  Complex emotions dance in his beautiful eyes. His jaw tightens as his wings flutter and his thick, scaled tail thumps into the wall. I pull my hand back, realizing how bold and forward I'm being. I'm not shy with men but even I have my limits. I don't know what came over me. He blinks several times and I wonder if he's clearing his thoughts before he berates me. He swallows hard then shakes his head.

  "Uhm," he says, doing nothing to break the awkwardness.

  "Sorry," I say, quick, trying to move past my embarrassment.

  "No!" he says, too loud.

  Conversation stops. My back burns
hot, I know they're all staring at us. My cheeks flush warm as I purse my lips and look down at the ground. I hate being the center of attention.

  "You okay?" Calista asks, walking up and looking between the two of us.

  I'm not sure who she's addressing, Astarot or me, but I answer, wanting to get past this.

  "Yeah, it's fine," I say, looking up at Astarot and begging with my eyes.

  "Sorry," he says. Is he blushing? The edges of his scales are turning a shade of red, is that how a Zmaj flushes? "I was only responding to a question, I did not mean to be so loud."

  Conversations resume behind us as the moment passes. Calista looks between the two of us with her sharp, perceptive eyes. She bites her lower lip. A half smile forms then she nods, placing a hand on each of our arms.

  "If either of you need… anything," she pauses for effect before continuing. "I'm here for you."

  Astarot looks confused by the offer but I see it for what it is. She's playing matchmaker. I smile, shake my head, then put my hand on her shoulder.

  "Thank you, but we're fine," I say, nice but firm, hoping to end any bright ideas.

  "Of course you are," she says, the smile on her face saying so much more than her words.

  Calista walks away but not without a sidelong glance over her shoulder. She walks straight over to Jolie, all propped up in her furs and scavenged blankets, and leans in close to whisper. Great, now they're both playing matchmaker.

  "I do not understand," Astarot says.

  "Don't worry about it," I sigh. "It's a girl thing."

  "A 'girl thing'?" he asks, making it obvious I'm just confusing him even more.

  "Yeah," I smile, giving him my full attention.

  I don't miss the way his gaze drops to my cleavage. Even if I've got nothing else in this life, I'm well blessed by the tits gods and I make damn good use of them. Show just the right amount of skin and you can get most any man to do anything you want. Some women, too. I don't hold it against them, its basic biology, and I don't feel bad for anything I've done. Biology also demands I eat and survive.

  Once I was old enough to be on my own, I didn't want to depend on my adopted mother for my basic needs. On the ship everyone had an allotment of food and supplies. Adopting a vagrant didn't get you a bigger share. As my need for food and supplies increased, so too did the strain on her resources, not that she'd ever say a word about it.