Dragon’s Secret: Red Planet Dragons of Tajss Book Fourteen

by Martin, Miranda

  "I don't think that's necessary. They're pretty small already."

  "They are small," I agree, keeping my own voice calm. "But they should be smaller still."

  Groaning, she shakes her head.

  "You're kind of a control freak aren't you?" she mutters, hacking into the pieces a little too forcefully now. I wince. I hope she is not imagining they are me. I do not respond to the insult, not wanting to anger her further. When she picks up some pieces and brings them out to the makeshift smoker, I again have to correct her, this time over the manner in which she puts the cuts of meat inside.

  "They cannot all be towards one section. An even layer is the best method. Usually, I like to start from the outside edge and work inward, with at least a finger width of space so they all have room."

  "The rest of it is going to get filled up anyway," she responds sharply. "Why does it matter if we fill up one section first and then move on?"

  She continues muttering to herself under her breath.

  "I am sorry, but this is the traditional way to smoke game meat and has lasted hundreds of years, even past the Devastation. I do know what I am speaking of. If we do not do it in this manner, the quality of the resulting meat will not be as good."

  I hold on to my patience without straining. I know her bickering is not really because she is disagreeing with me, or because she finds my comments truly angering. Her mood has plummeted because she is overtired from the grueling day. She is not accustomed to pushing herself this hard. I have seen this happen before with others. She has simply reached her limit.

  "It's easier to do it this way," she continues, deliberately putting the meat down in the same pattern she was putting it in before. Standing her ground. It is clear that she needs to feel as though she is correct. I can give her that. Smoking the meat perfectly is not as important as her mental well-being.

  "As you wish," I murmur softly, bowing slightly.

  I take the opportunity to leave her to the task. I see a flash of consternation on her face, as if she feels regret that I am retreating, that she has insulted me enough to push me away. But I am not retreating because I am offended or angry. She is clearly overwhelmed, and I can see that. I think perhaps I can find something to help her mood.

  "I am going to go scavenge for anything else I might find," I explain while I retreat to the mouth of the cave. "I will be back shortly."

  I hope I can find her something that will appease her fire. Giving her time alone, time to calm, will also help.

  So I go for a walk, staying near enough to the cave that I will hear Nora if she cries out for help. I also cannot venture too far in case the sandstorm picks up again. I stay near the grouping of rocks where the cavern is located, traveling around it and into various caves that have less protection from the elements, with holes in the ceilings and tunnels that lead into dark interiors. I do not explore too deeply as I walk, keeping my senses alert for any danger.

  Fortunately the journey is trouble-free. And I find what I need when I least expect it. I walk between two boulders, planning the easiest path to another small opening I see, when a surprising and welcoming sight greets me—flowers.

  A large patch of them, growing up from the rocky soil between the boulders, in a crevice that receives partial sunlight. Beautiful and rare, just like Nora. I step closer, scanning them carefully to ensure they are not a poisonous variety.

  Each one is as big across as my hand, made up of five large petals with frilled edges in an overlapping, almost spiral pattern. The edges are a mixture of a bright yellow and a fiery orange, fading into a light green, a bright blue, and then a center that is a blood-red color, punctuated with a deeper orange, funnel-like center. Fihibs—one of the few flowers here on Tajss that aren't poisonous.

  I crouch and carefully cut the stem of the prettiest one. I know Nora will enjoy it.

  I turn to make my way back to the cave. It has been close to an hour by this point, enough time for her to have calmed. At least, that is my hope. The return is as trouble-free as the walk out.

  When I step back into the cave, I smell the smoking meat and see Nora just stepping out from the crevice that leads to the pool, her washed clothes in her hands. When she sees me, she slows to a stop, her face turning wary.

  It is clear she expects an unpleasant attitude to return with me, for me to be angry or irritated with her. Well, she is going to be disappointed.

  I hold up the flower. "I brought something back for you," I say.

  Her eyes go down to what I am holding. She blinks at it or a moment before her face clears in recognition with a growing excitement I was hoping for.

  "Oh!" she exclaims softly, swiftly closing the distance between us. "It's gorgeous, Archion!"

  She reaches out to take it, her eyes wide.

  "Wait," I murmur before she can take it. She looks up at me questioningly. "Fihibs are known for more than their beauty."

  "Give me your tongue."

  "My tongue?" Nora asks, somewhat incredulous.

  I nod once more. She bites her lip, her eyes meeting my own. Then, hesitantly, she opens her mouth.

  With a finger, I reach into the funnel-like center of the fihib blossom and scoop out some of the thick, golden nectar in the interior. I put my finger into her waiting mouth, dripping the sweet nectar onto her tongue. Her eyes widen once more when she closes her mouth.

  I suck off the rest of the nectar from the same finger, the sweetness coating my tongue. Her eyes darken as she sees me do so. I know something that would be even sweeter than the nectar. Stepping even closer, I grip her hip in my hand and bend down to set my mouth against Nora's soft pink lips.

  She sighs against my mouth, and I use the opportunity to slide my tongue over hers, tasting her sweetness combined with the nectar. Delicious. My grip tightens on her hip. The feel of her soft mouth against mine, the taste of her... It is so much better than I dreamed.

  She melts against me as the kiss continues, deepens, the front of her pressing up against my body. I can feel the softness of her breasts and stomach, the rapid beat of her heart. She makes a small sound of enjoyment, of surrender, at the back of her throat. A rush of heat has me tightening my hand on her even more.

  Too hard! I immediately release her hip. And then know I do not have the self-control to keep going.

  I break the kiss. I leave my mouth almost touching hers, and take a deep breath filled with her scent, the sweetness of it rivaling the flower's perfume. I want to taste her lips again. I want to be even closer. But I am weak. I do not have the discipline. I move back just enough so we are not pressed together.

  "Let us not fight," I breathe into her ear.

  She nods slowly, taking the flower as I release it, our fingers brushing. Even that fleet of a touch affects me.

  "Okay," she whispers, her desire-filled eyes not leaving my own.

  The air is heavy and hot between us with unfulfilled desire. My eyes drop to her lips once more despite myself. How will I survive any more time alone with her?

  13

  Nora

  The meat still has some more time to smoke, but night has fallen. There's nothing more we can do right now, really.

  If I thought it was difficult to be around Archion before, it's almost impossible now. That kiss... My lips tingle at just the thought of it. I really didn't see that coming. Not after how irritable I was.

  I look over at Archion as I settle back down onto my pallet. I pick up the flower he brought, bring it up to my face, and take a deep breath of its sweet scent. That's a mistake. I feel a rush of heat. I don't think I'm ever going to be able to look at, touch, or taste a fihib again without thinking of Archion. Not that it's a bad thing.

  I must have made some kind of noise because Archion looks over at me from where he is checking on the meat.

  "Is something wrong?" he asks.

  I shake my head, blushing at being caught mooning over a flower.

  "No," I say, feeling ready to unravel at eye contact
alone. How embarrassing.

  His eyes travel down to my lips and linger there. My fingers tighten on the stem of the flower. At least I'm not the only one feeling this way. But he simply looks away again, ignoring the sexual tension that never really leaves us. The kiss just ramped things up.

  It was such a surprise. I really expected him to come back and confront me about my terrible mood, knowing I deserved it. He came back with a gorgeous flower instead, and completely melted my heart—followed quickly by my panties with that scorching kiss. If that isn’t a one-two punch, I don’t know what is.

  We've both been quiet ever since, retreating to our respective corners, both of us trying to ignore the tension. It's not working all that well, at least not for me. I don't think it’s working for him either.

  Maybe conversation will help divert our attention. I clear my throat, searching for a topic. Luckily, I have plenty of questions I haven't gotten answers to yet.

  "Does the group you belong to have a name?" I venture. He might not answer, but at least it's something else to focus on. He looks over at me, raising a brow. I can almost feel his hesitation in revealing even just the name. Maybe he won't answer...

  "The Order."

  I nod, trying not to give away my surprise at the fact that he actually responded. I don't want him to clam back up. Maybe I can get more out of him.

  "Are they anywhere near here?"

  He shrugs.

  "No." A pause as he turns around and walked towards his own pallet. "Is Tajss at all like your home planet?"

  Turning it around on me, huh? I shrug. I don't have anything to hide.

  "Honestly, I've never been to Earth. All I know about it comes from the videos and books that we had on the ship. But, judging from that...it's completely different." I try to remember the images, the video. Honestly, I haven't really thought about Earth for a while now. It was never truly real to me anyway. "For one thing, most of Earth is made up of water. And though it has deserts, it also has variation. Lush forest, icy cold places, more temperate areas that are somewhere in the middle."

  Archion nods, his gaze interested as he settles onto the pallet.

  "Did you like the ship?" he asks next, cocking his head. "I cannot imagine never being outside."

  I could see that.

  "It was all I ever knew," I start slowly. "It was definitely more comfortable than Tajss is. And there was work to keep me busy along with hours and hours of media to go through if I was bored. Plenty of people." I shrug, thinking it over. "Yeah, I guess there are parts of it I definitely miss. But I also can't deny that I feel so much more alive here on Tajss. Life is just more...immediate, I guess. There isn't as much room for anxiety—not that I don't find pockets to have attacks anyway," I add with a grimace. "And being outside is nice, even in this ridiculous heat."

  He smiles at that.

  "Also, the bathing."

  I grin.

  "Yes, being able to bathe in water here is great. It almost makes the sweating worth it." I watch his face, enjoying the way his eyes crinkle at the corners when he grins. But, let's be honest here—everything he does is sexy to me. "What about you? How does the Tribe compare to the Order? Do you miss it?"

  He doesn't answer this time, going silent instead. After a few beats, he speaks quietly.

  "You are digging," he observes, meeting my eyes, his own watchful.

  "Am I?" I ask, holding his gaze steadily.

  I'm not going to take the question back. He looks away, seemingly put off. It's like there's some tether keeping him from treading onto that specific conversational ground. The more I speak to him, the more sure I am that he's sworn some kind of oath, made some kind of promise involving secrecy. He's silent for another few beats. But when he speaks again, he doesn't try to justify or explain it away. He just turns the direction of the conversation to the Elders.

  "How do you feel?" he asks, turning to meet my eyes once more. "How do you like the Tribe? What do you think of the Elders?"

  It isn't a normal question, or at least it doesn't feel like it. It's almost like...he's looking at this conversation like it's a chess match, or some other similar game of strategy. Fighting my question with a question that is difficult for me. I can't speak against the Elders, not with the hospitality they've afforded me and my friends. It just isn't right.

  As I stare back at Archion in silence, I start to wonder if I'll ever truly get to know him. Is his loyalty to this Order too deep? How far does this shield, his oath, or whatever this wall he's erected between us reach? And if it really is that deep, that intense, then what's the point in growing more attached to him.

  Like I'm afraid I will. I can feel it happening already. Is he always going to keep me at arm's length around certain topics?

  For the first time, I start to wonder if I've read this whole situation wrong. Maybe I'm not supposed to be with Archion. Maybe the visions were saying something else entirely. I don't know anymore.

  I stand up and say, "I'm gonna take a bath," and I turn towards the opening.

  "Very well," he returns, his voice just as reserved as my own. It doesn't make me feel any better.

  As soon as I step into the small cavern with the spring, I hear him get up and start to train in the now-empty main cavern. The distinct sound of shadow sparring is clear, and I know if I look out I'll see him jumping and punching and kicking, swinging his lochaber at opponents only he can see. He's always taking the opportunity to hone skills that are already razor sharp. Maybe he's also using it as a way to get out some frustration. I guess it doesn't matter.

  I slide out of my clothes and step into the warm water, sighing as it laps against my skin. I move over to the side, lie back, and let my legs float. I’m just drifting, trying to empty my mind of everything. It doesn't work all that great. I keep going over everything I know despite myself. The visions, the dreams. Archion's character, which obviously veers towards heroic. And then everything I don't know, which is basically anything about his past. I know he is a part of this Order, but I don't know anything about the group. Or what he was really doing in the desert that day he stumbled on us. I don't think he's lying, but I also don't think that being honest and open is his priority right now.

  Adding the attraction between us to all of that, along with the suspicion the Elders clearly have about him... Yeah. This is a mess. A conclusion that I'd already come to.

  I sigh, letting my eyes fall closed. I keep fighting myself, but no matter how much I try to relax, I just can't. Until, finally admitting defeat, I pull myself out of the pool and dry off. I can still hear Archion moving around out there so I know he's not asleep yet.

  I dress quickly and walk back out into the main cave and to my pallet. He looks over at me but then turns back towards the entrance of the cave.

  "Aren't you going to sleep?" I ask, pulling the covers over me. I yawn, the day finally catching up with me despite my worries.

  "I will guard us," Archion murmurs. "Sleep well, Nora."

  "Okay," I murmur, my eyes already closing. "Don't stay up all night," I say, but I don't know if he listens. I'm out like a light. Unfortunately, it doesn't last. Is this going to become a pattern?

  "Nora!" My eyes snap open at my name.

  “What?”

  "Nora, wake up!"

  The urgency in Archion's voice has me sitting up and looking over towards him in alarm. Then I actually register those weird tapping sounds that my subconscious heard but couldn't decipher. What is that?

  Only then do I understand what I'm seeing, my brain finally coming fully online. The darkness outside now has eyes and legs, and Archion is fighting it.

  My mouth falls open as I stare.

  Are those...giant spiders?

  Maybe four of them are trying to attack Archion at once. About waist high and maybe as big as large dogs, their bodies are black with gray striations, which is probably why I didn't see them right away.

  Six thin, insect-like legs on each side of their massive, segm
ented bodies scramble for purchase as they fight. To make matters worse, the backs of their bodies don't end in points like spiders' bodies do.

  Rather, they have an oddly curved tail with a sharp end that curves over their backs, almost like a short scorpion tail. One of them tries to stab Archion as I watch.

  His lochaber chops off the knife-sharp end in a quick slice. The creature steps back, baring its sharp teeth. I expect some kind of sound to come out, but it doesn't.

  To make it even more disorienting, its face doesn't look like quite like an insect's. It has only two eyes in an elongated face, ending in lipless mouth with sharp teeth. From the top of its head grow pointed ears and long, almost ram-like horns that curve back.

  What the hell are they? Spider-goat-scorpions?

  They're crowding around Archion, but he's holding them back with his fighting prowess, the lochaber swinging and stabbing while he shifts out of the way of attacks, leaps over some, kills one with a harsh stab to the head.

  Then I see a slightly smaller one has pushed through an opening in Archion's guard.

  It comes straight towards me—that lights a fire under me.

  "Shit!" I mutter, scrambling out of my pallet and reaching for the electro-stick right next to me.

  It runs fast, its thin legs propelling that improbably fat body towards me faster than I would've expected. It opens its mouth, displaying those sharp teeth, longer fangs directly in the front dripping glistening saliva.

  Now that it’s closer, I see that the bottom third of its legs is covered in a dark, rough looking fur, and its eyes are a deep purple.

  "Oh my God," I mutter to myself, my feet gripping the ground as I hold the stick in front of me. It's shaking. Probably because I'm fully shaking with fear at this point.

  This is so not like training!

  In fact, all of that training goes right out the window as that thing rushes at me. All the technique, all of the ways to block, how to move my feet. I don't remember any of it.

  Screaming, I stab the creature with the end of the stick, hoping against hope that it has enough juice. I aim for the mouth as it rushes towards me. It knocks me back onto the pallet.