Oh, my Stars! Did I really see a dragon?
Is that why I’m here—I ran and hid in this cave?
I must be going crazy from dehydration. Or maybe the blow to my head caused me to hallucinate. Then again, I realize we are on an alien world. Despite how similar the environment may appear, this certainly isn’t Earth. Anything is possible here.
Drawing in a deep, steadying breath, I attempt to calm myself by taking stock of my situation. It’s safe to say that I’m in a cave, sheltered from whatever rages beyond these walls. The wind howls outside, covering the cavern mouth in a thick cloud of swirling dust. Red sand gathers in a small pile just inside the entrance. So, as I suspected, the desert is plagued by sandstorms.
Panic races through me when I think of my friends at the campsite. Skye, Anna, Talia, Milo, and the rest of our crew. Stars, I hope they’re all right.
We talked about the possibility of sandstorms, at least, before I left. Our consensus was that if one came along, we’d take shelter in the least damaged part of the escape pod. It isn’t very big, but it could fit everyone in a worst-case scenario.
They’re smart, and I’m sure they took shelter before the storm hit. I have to believe this or else I’ll go crazy with worry. And right now, I need to focus on figuring out where I am and how I got here so I can get back to my people after the storm passes.
Since it isn’t safe to venture outside now, I turn toward the back of the cave and notice the rippling reflections along the rock wall. I breathe a small sigh of relief when I realize a large pool of water is scattering the light. At least one thing is going well today. As long as the water isn’t contaminated, I won’t die of dehydration while I’m here.
Cautiously, I explore the cave, peering around every large rock and boulder, searching for any tunnels or openings—any indication that I’m not alone. The stone floor is hard and offers no clues like footprints and such to indicate how I got here and whether I’m safe. The last thing I want is to run into another predator. After a thorough search, I find nothing, but I still can’t remember how I ended up here.
Closing my eyes, I struggle to focus on the last thing I remember before I passed out. Panic coils tightly in my chest as the blood-curdling image of the dragon resurfaces. As much as I wish I did, I don’t think I imagined the encounter. I’m pretty sure the beast was real. So where is it now?
What if this dragon is just like the fairy tales—it only eats virgins?
Oh Stars, if it does, I’m doomed. Twenty-three years old and I’m going to die a virgin. On a desert planet. In the middle of nowhere.
Anxiety spirals through me, filling my mind with the terrifying image of being ripped apart by a blood-thirsty dragon. This just keeps getting worse by the minute.
I knew I should have gone on that date with Ryan. Why didn’t I? Oh yeah, that’s right; he was the resident lady’s man on deck. However, if I’d just let down my walls and relaxed a bit, maybe I would have found a boyfriend by now, formed at least one close relationship, instead of being alone, single, and still a virgin. Aka: tempting dragon snack.
But no, I just had to be a hopeless romantic. Always lost in the romance novels I borrowed from the ship’s library and dreaming of the perfect man that doesn’t exist in real life.
With a heavy sigh of frustration, I gather my clothes and quickly pull them back on. I can’t change the past and now, I’m looking at the possibility of remaining single forever. Assuming I don’t get eaten by a dragon.
Out of the twenty-five refugees on the escape pod, only five are men. One of them is old enough to be my father, one is a complete creep, another is a womanizer, one is only interested in men, and the last is my best friend’s brother. If we don’t find any other survivors, I’m going to die alone.
My mind starts to spiral again, and I force myself to take another deep, calming breath. One thing at a time. First, I need to figure out where I am in relation to the rover. If I can find the rover, then I can reach my people. Who, hopefully, have not died in a sandstorm or been eaten by a dragon.
I shake my head, irritated. I really need to get ahold of myself and focus. Imagining worst-case scenarios isn’t doing me any good.
I’m just about to put on my boots when a great rush of air fills the cave with dust and sand, nearly knocking me over. I squeeze my eyes shut against the grit as I cough out the fine particles trying to invade my lungs. I look up toward the cave mouth and my jaw drops when I catch sight of a naked man walking toward me.
Correction: A naked alien man walking toward me.
Covered from head to toe in deep-crimson scales, with a long, tapered tail and lethal dark claws tipping each of his five fingers and toes, he bares his teeth, revealing two rows of enormous, sharp fangs. A pair of twisted, onyx horns frame his long, red hair, drawing my attention to his face.
He holds something out to me. I’m frozen in shock as his green, vertically slit pupils contract then expand. He opens his mouth and makes a series of harsh, guttural noises.
A terrified scream erupts from my throat as I realize I’m about to be eaten.
Chapter 8
Varus
Successful in my hunt for the caza root, I return triumphantly to the cave. I hope my mate will be impressed by my skill
