They’re marching toward this camp, hoping Rakiz was serious about giving them the ship. Of course, they’ll also be ready to kill as many of us as they can and take the ship for themselves.
Rakiz sits on his mishua next to me, giving his warriors orders. Beside him, Dexar leans against the fence, his face cold as he stares in the direction of the Dokhalls.
On the other side of the training arena, Charlie is handing out dragon scales to the other females. They shove them down the fronts of their dresses and shirts, helping each other position them at their backs.
I meet Sarissa’s eyes. The hellion gives me a shaky smile, and I have the sudden urge to lift her onto my mishua and take her away from the danger.
She would likely castrate me if I tried.
The thought makes my lips twitch, and she tilts her head. Her gaze widens as she glances behind me, and I turn to find the blue male who flirted with her walking toward us.
I grind my teeth, and he grins at me before sauntering past me and meeting Sarissa as she runs toward him.
He wraps her in a hug as she laughs.
“Urox! I didn’t think you’d received my message.”
He smiles at her, reaching out and ruffling her hair. She beams up at him, and I force myself to release the hilt of my sword. Rakiz’s eyes meet mine, and he grins at whatever he sees on my face.
“I would have come sooner,” Urox says, “but the Dokhalls made it difficult to get messages to my friends.” He gestures toward the camp entrance, where a group of Krinir males are waiting, their blue faces fierce, their body language making it clear they’re ready for battle.
Rakiz waves his hand toward one of the guards at the camp entrance, and he allows the group to enter.
There must be twenty or more males, and two of them are dragging a large cart filled with pods.
“I know how you love blowing things up,” Urox says, making Sarissa laugh, and I let out a low growl.
Rakiz slides off his mishua before stalking over to Urox and his friends. He slaps the other male on the back, and they immediately begin making plans.
Truthfully, we need all the warriors and weapons we can get. But that doesn’t mean I’m pleased by this new development.
I slide off my own mishua as Sarissa moves back toward the other females. I catch her wrist in my hand and turn her toward me, ignoring the curious eyes on us.
“Feeling a little growly, commander?”
I clamp my teeth together but nod, and her eyes turn soft.
“Against my better judgment, you’re the only one I want, Korzyn. Urox is just a friend.”
“I don’t like him.”
She grins up at me. “Of course you don’t. He’s your opposite.”
I frown, but she raises her hand, sliding it around my neck. She pulls me toward her, and I comply, leaning down. I know she expects me to plunder her mouth, to dominate, to show every other male here that she is mine.
So I brush my lips softly against hers. Our kiss is slow, gentle, and decadent, and she blinks up at me as I pull away.
“I need to get back to work,” she says. “Be careful today, Korzyn.”
Never has anyone other than Arix cared if I lived or died.
“You too.”
Sarissa
V,
I’m just going to come right out and say it. This sucks. After everything that happened, I never thought I’d be saying goodbye to you in a letter.
But as you and I both know, life isn’t fair.
I’ve been thinking a lot about family recently. What makes a family, why some families are solid with a core of steel, and why others fall apart.
You and I both come from the second category.
But there’s something we never understood when we were kids.
You get to choose your family. As adults, you get to say enough is enough and do what’s right for you. Both of us have done that—me when I went into the CIA and you when you stopped talking to your mom.
I know it hurt when you found out they hadn’t looked for you—in spite of everything, they should have cared enough to find out what happened.
But I looked for you. And I’m your family.
You also have a new family. Arix adores you, and you fit into his kingdom in a way you never fit in on Earth. Nevada, Ellie, Alexis, and everyone else—they’re your family too.
I’m leaving my family behind.
I couldn’t do it if I didn’t know, deep down into my bones, that you’ll be okay. But I see the way your king looks at you. I see the friendship and trust you have with everyone here. And I know you’re going to have a long and happy life. You’re going to go on to do great things for Heriast. You’ll have children with your overprotective king and love them the way we were never loved. You’ll tell them about their kick-ass aunt who went to hunt the Grivath, and whisper funny stories to them late at night when they have nightmares.
Don’t forget to tell them about the time you dyed my hair black. I was a bully, and they should learn to always stand up to bullies.
I’m rambling.
This is the most difficult letter I’ve ever written. Well, maybe the second-most difficult. Because I’m about to write a letter to Korzyn. A letter you’ll have to read to him because he can’t read English.
Here’s a secret: I’m wildly, inescapably in love with him. And it turns out love hurts.
I made promises to those women. I promised we’d get our revenge and that one day, they’d get to see their families again.
Look after my commander. Because he is mine. But I want him to have all the love in the
