“I was a trauma nurse at home. I was so used to being in control all the time. I was used to being someone who had her shit together. Who could be counted on. Here, I’ve just been nothing but a captive and then a patient.”
Telling her that no one sees her that way won’t help at all, if that’s how she truly feels.
“Okay,” I say. “What are you going to do about it?”
She gives me such a grateful look that it’s clear that this is the right question to ask.
“I want to learn to fight. Tagiz won’t teach me—big surprise—so I’ve asked Hewex. He’s not exactly keen on the idea, but I’m working on him.” Her pretty face shines with determination.
I nod. “That sounds like a great idea.”
She raises her eyebrow. “Really? You’re not just saying that?”
“If that’s what you feel like you need to do to feel safer, to feel like you’re more in control, then I say go for it. I have one question for you though.”
“Yes?”
“Are you sure you’re doing this for yourself and not to prove to a certain overprotective warrior that you’re not fragile?”
She laughs, and heads turn, more than one set of Braxian lips tilting up at the joyous sound.
“Okay,” she admits. “That’s definitely part of it. But it’s not the only reason, I promise.”
I link arms with her, and we begin walking back toward the kradis.
“In that case, I think you should go for it. Life is short. Plus, if that ship gets fixed, you’ll have to decide if you’re staying here or not. Why not make the most of the time you have here?”
Zoey smiles. “You’re so wise.”
I grin. “It’s easier to give advice than it is to receive it.”
I leave her back at the healers’ kradi and make my way to my own, my thighs clenching in anticipation.
Dragix is already waiting for me.
Naked.
I let out a yelp of surprise as he pounces, scooping me into his arms in a move so fast that he’s almost a blur. Then I’m blinking up at him as he grins down at me.
“You took too long,” he growls, but his lips are twitching.
“You’re not the center of the universe, you know.”
“Is that right?”
He tickles me, and I howl with laughter, attempting to fight him off.
Then he pulls at the laces of my dress, and his amusement turns to pure lust.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs.
I smile, dragging him closer, and my eyes flutter shut as he kisses his way down my neck.
He saw me. And he took me.
And I couldn’t be happier.
The End
Author’s note:
There are some novels that come together perfectly, based on a plan or an outline I created in my head months earlier. There are others that require head-scratching and long days spent staring at my computer as I get past a particularly difficult scene or chapter.
Charlie and Dragix’s story doesn’t fit into either of these categories.
Occasionally, I have two characters who insist on telling their stories, 100% of the time. And I’m just along for the ride. Charlie’s abusive ex? That was news to me. But she insisted I tell her whole story, to highlight all of the reasons why she is the women she is today.
And Dragix? He is one bossy dragon.
I hope you enjoyed Captured by the Alien Warrior as much as I enjoyed writing it. Next up is Zoey and Tagiz’s story in Rescued by the Alien Warrior which you can find here.
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