“About what?” I ask, curious to understand.
“I’m a botanist, so I studied many different terrains on my former home world. And this place,” she gestures out toward the desert, “is similar to the desert plains of my planet. I figured there was a strong possibility that sandstorms like this might hit, so I had already suggested to my crew that we use the escape pod as a shelter.”
I blink several times, processing. She is as brilliant as she is beautiful. The Gods have blessed me with such a clever mate.
“That was wise,” I tell her and watch as she straightens slightly with pride. “To have planned for such an event based on your cumulative experiences.”
She smiles and it is the most beautiful expression I have ever seen.
“Thanks.” She lifts her shoulders toward her ears in a strange gesture. “I got a bit of flak from one of the guys for that idea. He accused me of inciting panic by speculating about a disaster.”
I frown. It seems the males of her species are not as smart as the females. “His rebuke of your foresight was foolish,” I state firmly. “A smart leader must always think ahead.”
Her smile brightens even more, and I am completely enthralled. Her cheeks begin to redden under my gaze, and I wonder if this is the first sign of the mating flush. Our females blush when preparing to go into heat. Her expressive green eyes stare deep into mine and I take the chance to scoot closer to her, satisfied when she does not retreat.
Her gaze travels down my form, pausing a moment at the slit of my mating pouch and the muscles defining my arms and legs. She seems to be appraising me like a Drakarian female, so I tilt up my chin and puff my chest out with pride, hoping she will find me appealing, rather than ugly as she called me earlier. She purses her lips as her cheeks darken. “Can you please cover up?”
My chest deflates. “What?”
“You’re naked. I don’t need to see all that.” She gestures to the length of my body with her hand. “Put some clothes on.”
I blink several times in shock. My wounded pride will never recover from this devastating blow. I’ve always considered myself rather handsome. At least, that’s what my mother always told me, as did the dozens of females who vied for my hand before my parents finally settled on Noralla to unite our people with the Water Clan.
But I suppose they could have been lying. After all, I am my mother’s only son—now, her only child—so I must be perfect in her eyes for that reason alone. And the other females just want my status and title.
I am a fool. An ugly fool.
“I do not have any clothes,” I tell her dryly.
Her mouth drifts open. “Why not?”
My brow furrows, confounded. “Do you mean to say that your people always wear coverings?”
Her jaw drops. “Yours don’t?”
I shake my head.
“Oh Stars, I’ve stumbled upon some alien nudist colony,” she grumbles to herself.
“Alien nudist colony?” I ask incredulously. “Are your people ashamed of your bodies? You did not look so terrible without your clothing.”
She gasps and then glares at me accusingly. “You undressed me?”
I shoot her an incredulous look. “Of course, I did. How else was I supposed to check you for injury?”
“What. The. Hell.” She runs a hand through her long, thick red hair and then shakes her head in disbelief. After a moment, she lifts her gaze to mine. “All right. I suppose if nudity isn’t a big deal to your people, you probably didn’t know any better. Even though,” she narrows her eyes, “you violated my privacy.”
I inhale sharply. “You believe I violated you?” I gawk at her as my stomach twists into a violent knot at the idea. “I would never do such a thing.”
Her brow furrows slightly. “All right. I guess you look shocked enough that I believe you. In any case, we have bigger fish to fry.”
I cock my head to the side. “This phrase is not translating correctly. Are you trying to tell me you are hungry?”
She laughs a moment before her expression sobers and I wish she would laugh again. It was a beautiful sound.
“No, that’s not what I mean.” She gestures to the cave mouth. “There’s probably a huge, bloodthirsty, monstrous dragon outside, flying around and waiting to eat us.”
I frown in confusion. “What is a dragon? Do you refer to the animal that attacked you? I killed it. It will no longer trouble you. My vow.”
Her jaw drops as she stares at me with eyes full of wonder. “You killed it?”
She appears awed by my battle prowess, so I tip my chin higher then dip my head in a subtle nod while discreetly flexing my biceps.
“Yes. It is dead. By my hand,” I add, proud that she is so easily impressed by such a simple kill. Perhaps I should slay a fiercer beast for her next meal to further prove my worth.
“I can’t believe you killed the dragon. You saved me! That’s amazing! I’m so glad I met you!”
I grin. This is suddenly going rather well, I think.
She extends one arm up and away from her body as far as she can while still holding onto me with the other so we can communicate.
“It was massive.” Her eyes grow big. “With huge wings and sharp claws and scales and long, vicious fangs and that spiked tail and…”
My hearts sink as she continues describing me in my draka form.
“It was one of the meanest, ugliest-looking monsters I’ve ever seen! I can’t believe you killed it!”
Oh… it’s definitely dead now. And by that, I mean from grievously injured pride. A mortal wound for any warrior looking to impress his mate.
“It is assuredly dead,” I agree as I lower my gaze to the floor. My fated
