Approaching the window, I press my hand to the glass, discovering that it’s some type of transparent gel medium. The more I push into it, the denser it becomes until I cannot go any further.
“You should not touch. Are all humans so curious?”
Whirling around, I see someone I don’t know leaning on the door. He’s tall and has similar coloring as Tarion. They almost look like they could be related. I’ve already noticed that the Drakon are various shades of red, green, blue and brown. I’ve even seen one with gold and copper scales. I realize that I haven’t responded to his question. “If the Drakon can be described as collectors, humans could be seen as curious. It’s almost our defining quality as a species.”
“That can be a dangerous quality to possess.”
“My name is Carissa.”
“I am Tarion’s first officer. My name is Lehar.”
I immediately perk up. “Tarion mentioned you collect fragments of shell. Naturally, being human, I’m curious about why out of all the things a person can collect, you chose shell fragments.”
Surprise registers on his face and he blushes slightly. “I find them fascinating for many reasons. The foremost among them is because the shells are all different colors, textures and thicknesses. When our young hatch, you can tell much about their potential from those shell fragments. A thick shell means the female mated with a Prime and was well-nourished. The little one will likely be larger and stronger than young hatched from thin shells. The shell takes on the pigmentation of the hatchling nestled inside. I like creating collages from the shells. They will be used to decorate my own hatching chamber when I take a mate.” He’s embarrassed that I drew him into talking of something the Drakon consider kind of personal on our first meeting. I file that handy bit of information away for future reference. I try to think of a polite way to get away from the subject of his unborn children. “So you’re an artist?”
“I am a warrior who dreams of one day having young of his own.”
That didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped, so I try again. “I guess Tarion’s collection of ancient weapons is an indication that he dreams only of his next conquest.”
“Tarion and I were young warriors together. No one on this ship knows him better than me. To say my captain only dreams of conquest is to underestimate him greatly. Tarion is a complex male.” The slight indignant edge to his voice has me wondering about their relationship. His looks scream relative, but his behavior screams best friend equally loud.
Nodding, I agree, “He’s a confusing male.”
“Where you are concerned, he has been fairly straight forward.”
That’s new information. He’s trying to make me feel as though I can trust Tarion. If nothing else, Lehar is a wonderful best friend for my headstrong dragon. “He made it very clear that his goal was to collect my bounty, and he has not said his plans for me have changed.”
He points out sagely, “Yet, you are here admiring the stars instead of making your escape.”
He’s got me on that point and we both know it. “Maybe I’m being gullible, but I don’t think he’ll turn me in to collect the bounty. He was too freaked out and emotionally unhinged about losing me for me to think he’ll ever voluntarily let me go.”
A soft smile lights his face. “Perhaps you are right. It is not my place to speculate.”
“It’s not looking much like he will ever grant me freedom either. Before my last escape, I would have been furious about him keeping me as a slave. Since Tarion was on my mind the entire time I was on the run, I now know he means something to me. I have to admit that I’m not keen on the idea of giving him up again.”
“What about your freedom?” It sounds almost like he’s teasing me a little. It’s nice and friendly, so I don’t take offense.
“Being his slave seems terribly unfair but the best deal I can hope to find in this sector of space. I’m thinking that’s why his father’s human slave accepted it so readily.”
“Again, your words are not far from the truth. Rather than considering if my captain is your best option, it would behoove you to assess what it means to form an emotional attachment to a man like Tarion.” He sounds a bit like a teacher, walking his student from one philosophical point to the next.
Wrinkling my nose in confusion, I glance over my shoulder at him. “What do you mean?”
His expression is open and his voice sincere. “Tarion is not necessarily a good man and he likely never will be what most people consider upstanding. Our world is composed of a million shades of gray. The last female who thought to change him ended up bound and abandoned on a deserted planet.”
The little voice in the back of my mind likes hearing that. “Any woman foolish enough to try to mold Tarion to her will deserves a harsh response. I’ve never thought he needed to change who was to suit me. I only want to be seen as a person and not a possession by him.”
“We all accept the things we cannot change, Carissa. The rules of the verse do not change for you, simply because you are a beautiful brooder. To stay is to accept that or risk being stranded on your own deserted planet one day.”
“What if I don’t accept that those are my only choices?”
“If you were but a sorceress who could bend reality to your will, then you could change the verse to your liking. As you are not, then you must choose an option from among the choices you are given, just as Tarion and I have done. Do you not
