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

  "This place sucks," a woman named Sarah says from nearby like she's reading my mind.

  I don't know her well, just a passing acquaintance. I don't miss the ship. There I had no purpose, unwanted, and did what I had to do to survive. There are so few of us survivors here on Tajss that none of that matters anymore. Well, it won't once they realize it. People cling to the old ways as much as they can.

  "Have any of you heard about what Gershom's saying?" Sarah asks.

  "What now?" I ask, rolling my eyes.

  "You know she'd act that way," a woman I don't know mutters and my cheeks burn at her jab.

  "He's saying we should have a vote," Sarah answers.

  "A vote about what?" Bert asks, walking by.

  "President, what else?" Sarah asks.

  "About damn time," another man, Jacob, mutters.

  "Who cares?" Cecil chimes in.

  "What do you mean who cares?" Sarah asks. "We're a democracy, its core to our values, if we lose that then what do we have?"

  "I'll vote for anyone who will shorten the work day," Bryce says and Cecil laughs along with him.

  Some of the others snort at his joking.

  "Shorten the work day," Bert shakes his head. "You'd have to actually do some work first Bryce."

  "Hey!" Bryce says, holding up a jagged piece of meat and waving it in the air, flinging gore around. "What do you think this is?"

  "A badly cut piece of meat that might be salvageable," Bert barks. "Did you not watch anything I showed you!"

  "What are you talking about? This is perfect, like prime rib or something," Bryce replies.

  "Prime rib my ass," Bert growls, stalking over to Bryce.

  "I like Rosalind," Mei says, returning attention to the original topic while Bert takes Bryce's knife away and shows him again how to slice the meat. Mei is impeccable, she looks perfect and clean and composed and I stare down at the mess I've made as the conversation continues.

  "What a surprise," the same woman who was jabbing at me says.

  "What is that supposed to mean Enid?" Mei asks.

  Enid, now I know her name. I think her and Jacob are brother and sister. She doesn't look up from the meat she's wrapping in oiled leathers, only shakes her head and ignores Mei's question.

  "Who elected her?" Sarah asks, filling the void.

  "What does that matter?" Mei asks. "She's the one who's kept us alive."

  "This isn't living, this sucks," Cecil says.

  I like Rosalind too. She's a good leader, she considers the good in everyone. Besides, Gershom is a dick. I can't stand his Human First movement. He's a petty asshole who couldn't get laid in a whorehouse with a thousand credits in his account.

  "She's the one encouraging the cross-breeding," Jacob says.

  Great, he's one of them. Gershom's rhetoric is 'Human First'. They're anti-Zmaj and especially anti-human women falling in love with one. They don't seem to notice or care that without them we'd all be dead. Nope, doesn't matter in their small-minded, hate-filled hearts. They want to make sure that all the women are for them, which is what I think is really their problem.

  "You can't control love," Mei says.

  "Love?" Jacob snorts, his face turns bright red then edges towards purple. "That's not love! It's perverse! Unnatural! Disgusting cross-breeding that's led to one abomination already. It will be the death of our entire race!"

  My grip tightens on the knife in my hand as my stomach churns with acid and my arms shake.

  "That's enough!" Bert says, turning his back on Bryce and facing the room.

  "All I'm saying is an election seems like a good idea," Sarah shrugs.

  "If your Rosalind is so damn wonderful, why would she fear an election?" Enid asks, not looking up from her work.

  "Who said she's scared of it?" Mei asks.

  Are Mei and I the only Rosalind supporters in the room? I look at each of the others. There are ten people here. Mei and I are in Rosalind's camp I know. Jacob, Enid, and it seems Sarah are for Gershom. Bryce and Cecil, I doubt they're paying attention or care. Bert, I'm not sure. He plays his cards close to his chest. The other two, I think they're a couple, work in silence. I can't read them.

  This could be bad. Does Rosalind know what Gershom is pushing for? I need to see her as soon as we're done here. She needs to know what's happening. One thing I'm certain of about Gershom, it's all about the power. He doesn't care about his 'causes', he looks for rallying points he can get people behind. I know men and the way he looks at me and every other woman tells it all. He sees women as meat, objects for his use or pleasure. He may wear a mask that fools some but I see through it.

  "Seems like you did," Enid says.

  Enid looks haggard. It's obvious she isn't taking epis. Epis, the lifeblood of Tajss. A strange, glowing plant, hard to harvest but the only way humans can adjust to life on Tajss. Downside is, if you take it, you're stuck here. It's addictive. As in, it will kill you if you stop taking it. Most of Gershom's followers refuse to take it because it's 'alien'. It is, but not taking it is living a pipe dream. No one will rescue us. This is our home and the sooner they come to terms with that the better off we'll all be.

  "I didn't say that," Mei breathes. "It's not fear or anything else. I'm just being practical. We're barely surviving as it is, why create a rift with an election?"

  "Because we're a free people who should be able to have a say in our futures?" Enid retorts.

  She looks tired. Her skin is lax with a gray tint to it. She squints her eyes as if we're out in the bright suns not indoors in a dim lit room. She's in extreme dehydration. Tajss is hot, too hot for humans to survive without epis. Epis changes you, on a molecular level or something. Calista and Jolie have talked about it but I couldn't follow their science talk. Sounded like a weird episode of Star Trek or something. I never could get into those shows.

  All I know is epis makes me feel better. I don't have the headaches or the nausea or any of the other effects of dehydration. I can go out hunting with Astarot and as long as I take epis every two or three days the heat isn't killer. I heard them theorizing that it extends life too, which is why the Zmaj are so old.

  "But you do!" Mei answers Enid.

  "Do we?" Enid says, shaking her head. "I don't recall the last time my opinion was asked about anything, not since the ship crashed."

  "But," Mei says, then trails off.

  All eyes in the room are on her as if they're waiting for some brilliant response. Problem is, there isn't one. I know it and so does Mei. Rosalind has been the de facto leader since the crash. On the ship she was the Lady General. Since we crashed, she has led by default. No one questioned it until now.

  "That's what I thought," Enid says. "Maybe it's foreign to you, you're on the Secret Council or whatever you all call yourselves. I haven't sat down at any table or had any say in my life."

  "It's not like that," Mei says, but her argument carries no force.

  "Those of us out here," Enid motions around the room at the others, "we get told to work. Given jobs we might or might not choose for ourselves. Told it's for the 'greater good'. The almighty Rosalind, in her expansive wisdom, has ordered it so."

  "But you don't have to-"

  "Don't have to what? What would happen if one of us said no?" Enid cuts her off.

  "All right, well we need to eat," Bert says, stepping into the argument.

  "Sure we do, have to feed our lord and masters," Enid mutters.

  Acid burns its way up to my throat. I want to argue with them, I want to prove them all wrong, but I understand them better than I should. I was the outcast before. Always on the outside, disenfranchised with no say in my future. I feel their pain even if I don't agree with it.

  Besides how do I argue with them any better than Mei did? They're not wrong. Mei isn't wrong either. This is just about the stupidest time to be looking at elections or fairness. I don't know the counts but I'm sure more than half the approximate three hundred survivors are not taking epis. Thos
e not taking it are heading into the extreme limits of being dehydrated. They're sick, they can't work, putting the burden for their care on those of us who can. I've even heard there have been deaths. You can't take enough water to fight against the heat of Tajss. The cool evenings are over thirty-eight degrees Celsius when the suns are down. It's much hotter when the dual suns are in the sky. Human bodies aren't designed for this.

  Mei comes over to my table and takes up the meat I've butchered then wraps it. Turmoil dances in her eyes. An ache in my chest makes me want to comfort her somehow. She's a good person, trying to do the right thing. Her hands shake as she tries to wrap the meat. Tears form in the corner of her eyes. She fumbles with the wrapping until I place my hand on hers. She looks up and I smile. Her smile is tentative, shaky, so I grasp her hand. She takes a deep breath then shakes her head.

  "Sorry," she says, speaking soft so only I can hear her.

  "Why? You were amazing," I say.

  She shakes her head, and a tear falls down her cheek. "Why don't they understand?"

  I shrug. "They're scared."

  Mei nods, pursing her lips. "Me too," she says, another tear dropping.

  My stomach clenches tight, I can't get enough air. I don't care that everyone is looking, I walk around the table and wrap her in my arms. Enid and I lock eyes over Mei's shoulder. I glare, Mei doesn't deserve this. I don't care if they're mean to me but Mei is too damn nice.

  "Sorry," she whispers as we step apart.

  "You're fine, screw those bitches," I say, making sure I'm loud enough they hear.

  They ignore me but Mei's eyes widen and her hand flies to her mouth. She makes a tentative glance over her shoulder then back. Flashing her my best grin I shrug. She stays at my station working the supplies with me and we pass the time with small talk. No one says much the rest of the afternoon until at long last we're done. All that work and it might keep us fed for four, maybe five days if we're lucky.

  There are too many of us and not enough of us willing to go out and hunt. Calista is working on growing crops, botany was her specialty on the ship, but she says it will be months before she has anything viable and Jolie is too pregnant to help. Until then we're dependent on the fast diminishing supplies from the wrecked ship and the hunting parties.

  "Are you coming to the common area tonight?" Mei asks as we walk outside.

  Enid slips out behind her, trying to avoid a confrontation. The look on Mei's face makes it clear she doesn't want trouble either. Part of me wants to tell Enid off but the more rational part resists the urge.

  "I might," I say, stretching and yawning. "I'm pretty tired so I might just crash."

  "Okay, well, hope to see you there."

  She holds her arms out and I step into her embrace then she walks off. Walking alone to my apartment I roll my shoulders working the tension out. Butchering is hard work and as Bert pointed out, more than once, I'm not good at it. I try, damn it, but the damn knife never seems to go through the meat the way it does for him. I have to get better at hunting. One, I like it better, and two, if I'm hunting I won't have to butcher.

  Astarot hasn't said anything about me yelping and infuriating the alpha bivo at our last kill. God that was embarrassing. I didn't expect there to be so much blood. Or it to be so hot. My stomach flips over at the memory. So gross but food on the table is worth it, right? Practice. I have to practice.

  "Hey there," Astarot's voice sounds and I look up and around, my heart pounding.

  He's leaning against the building five feet away. I don't know how a guy so big can move so damn quietly. I didn't know he was there!

  "Uh, hey," I say, calming myself.

  Astarot walks closer until he's filling my space. A hint of exotic, spicy musk fills my senses and my body responds. He's so big, strong, towering over me. He smiles as he leans in, coming closer to my lips.

  "Hey, one night stand," I say, stepping back but he moves with me.

  "Right," he says, as his lips touch mine.

  I can't help myself, I return the kiss. His lips are amazing, magical in the way they move against mine. There's a taste to him, sweet and tart, enticing. His arms wrap around me, pulling me closer but I try to step back again.

  "No," I shake my head. "I… we can't… I can't."

  "Why not?" he asks, not backing up.

  "Because…" I trail off.

  It's hard to focus. He's so, there, imposing and my body is thrumming with desire for him. He was the best damn lay I've ever had, hands down. There's no denying that and my body wants more no matter what my brain and mouth are trying to say.

  "Yes?" he asks, hands running over my ass.

  "I don't want to… it's not permanent," I say.

  "So you have said," he replies then resumes kissing his way across my cheek, down my neck.

  "Astarot, we can't, I won't lead you on," I say, trying one last time to step back.

  Damn my body hates me, I'm wet, my nipples are rock hard. The cloth touching them hurts they're so tight. My panties are soaked. I want to let him have his way with me but I also don't want to hurt him. I care about him and I need him. He's my teacher. No one else will take the time to teach me to hunt. I need that so I can make my place in this new world.

  "Fine," he says, stopping at last.

  His eyes, those gorgeous, violet-purple eyes burn with passion. His huge cock bulges in his pants, leaving no doubt what he wants.

  "Are you sure?" I ask, doubt in my voice.

  He grins, shakes his head, then moves closer again. His cock presses into my abdomen, butterflies dance in my stomach.

  "I'm sure I want you," he says.

  My hands come up to his chest. He grabs my wrists and pulls them over my head, pushing me back until I'm pressed between him and the crumbling wall. Faintness washes over me, I can't think clearly, desire is a pounding need. His lips press into mine then his tongue, insistent, forces its way into my lips and I melt.

  No man has ever handled me like this. He's dominant, forceful, yet gentle. He kisses me deeply, passionately, then steps back, grins and turns away.

  "What?" I gasp.

  "You said one night stand," he says over his shoulder, then he shrugs and walks away.

  My body aches for his touch. I can't believe he's leaving me like this. It's a joke? Right?

  He turns the corner and I wait, longer than I should, hoping he'll come back.

  Have I screwed this up?

  5

  Astarot

  "Again," I order Lana.

  Lana glares, grimaces, then climbs back to her feet. As she bends to pick up her stick, I can't help but admire the view of her full, round ass. She adjusts her grip, turns, then drops into a defensive stance.

  I attack, pressing her hard. She blocks one, two, then a third blow, but she stretches out for that one. I swing my staff around and sweep her feet out from under her.

  "Ugh," she grunts hitting the ground. "Damn it!"

  Reaching out my hand to her, she stares at it, then ignoring my offer of help climbs to her feet. She picks up her staff, adjusts her grip, and drops into a defensive stance. Damn it, is right. Things are different. I should have known better.

  "Again," I say.

  She attacks, this time taking me by surprise. Her staff is a flurry of motion. The clack of wood is loud in my ears as our staves meet. The strange, human habit of excreting moisture happens as beads form on her head when her brow furrows in concentration. She forces me back. I swing my tail, trying to surprise her, but she leaps up and over, landing on her feet while swinging her staff around at my middle. The move surprises me and she lands a solid blow.

  "Ughff," I exclaim as the wood connects with my ribs.

  Lana smiles, for the first time today, and the sting disappears.

  "And that is how you handle a stick," she quips.

  "Great," I say, rubbing my ribs.

  As we stand looking at each other the moment stretches. My cock stirs to life.

  "Let's go
again," she says, stepping back and breaking the moment.

  I nod agreement though I feel anything but. I want to talk to her, tell her how I feel. How much I want her, no, how much I need her. Emptiness pounds inside me and I know she's the one to fill it. When I'm with her, I feel complete. Alone, in my bed at night, I'm lost without her.

  She's pressing me hard, again. It's good because it forces me to focus, push aside thought. I have to be in the moment. Watching her move, the shift of her hands, where her eyes are, she drops her left shoulder, just a little but I see it and prepare. In a quick move she shifts her grip on the staff and swings it overhanded trying to come down on my head. I raise my staff with both hands and catch her blow.

  I step in as a I catch it. We're close, so close I can smell the hint of something minty on her breath, the sweet smell of her sweat. Our eyes lock, something flashes in hers, sparkling as a grin forms in her face.

  "Nice move," she says.

  "Thank you," I say.

  I'm drawn in by her, closer, the barest space separates our lips. It will be all right, just a touch, something to get me by. She doesn't move back but doesn't welcome me in. I stop, knowing this is a mistake. I step back.

  "Again?" she asks, as the tension drops.

  Pursing my lips my mind races through possibilities.

  "I have an idea," I say.

  "Oh?" she says, dropping her staff from guard.

  "Go hunting with me, just you and me, a few days in the wild. I'll teach you more about how to survive."

  Her eyes light up as a smile spreads across her face from ear to ear. "Are you serious?"

  My throat closes seeing her excitement, unable to speak I nod. Dropping her staff, she throws herself into my arms. Her lips crush against mine, my cock jumps and I lift her off her feet. I never want to let her go. Her in my arms is all I'll ever need.

  "This is great, what do we need? Who do we need to tell, I know, I'll tell Rosalind. She'll okay it, we need more meat and supplies."