Zadri (Scifi Alien Weredragon Romance) (Dragons of Preor Book 5)

by Celia Kyle

  “I am alive because my instinct to survive was stronger than my dam’s desire to take mine.”

  She shook her head, unable to believe him, but some part of her… accepted them as truth. His dam had tried to end his life because he wasn’t perfect. Because his wing hadn’t formed properly while she carried him, she’d thrown him from her aerie.

  Thrown him from her aerie.

  Delaney caressed her stomach, relishing each press and shift of her baby. She couldn’t imagine ever rejecting a child because of some perceived defect. She couldn’t imagine carrying her baby to term and then… discarding the child. Literally discarding the baby.

  Tears stung her eyes, emotions welling, and she wondered if it was only her emotions assaulting her or if Zadri affected her as well. Then again, how could his feelings not have an impact. They were mates—the Knowing tying them together.

  A single droplet of moisture escaped her eye, trailing slowly down her cheek, and she sniffled and brushed the tear away. She blinked her eyes, fluttering her lashes and pushing back the urge to cry. Crying wouldn’t fix anything. Crying wouldn’t end Zadri’s pain or smooth over the troubles between them.

  Being separated wouldn’t eliminate their issues either.

  Taking a deep breath, she scooched and wiggled until she managed to get to the edge of the couch. From there, she used the firm arm of the furniture to brace herself while she pushed to her feet. Aches suffused her, a low throbbing taking up residence in her body, but she pushed on. It was nothing movement and a little time wouldn’t cure. Sometimes humans healed better by moving and loosening muscles. Not sitting around doing nothing.

  Besides, her body would tell her if she was doing something she shouldn’t, right? So she’d trust herself and go find her mate.

  He could run, but he couldn’t hide. Maybe.

  Delaney stared at the doorway, the panels shut tightly against her. It wasn’t so much the fact that they were closed, but that they were so far away. She huffed and tucked her hair behind her ears. Whining wouldn’t make them move any closer.

  She slowly—and very carefully—shuffled across the floor. She refused to let herself fall again. Not after what had happened. Her steps remained small, a cautious walk until she reached the opposite side of the room. A quick press of her thumb on the identipad had the doors parting, but instead of being empty, she stared at a pair of dark yellow wings, spread to block the entire archway. War blades reflected the low lighting from the suite, honed metal catching the gentle rays until it looked as if they glowed.

  Argan.

  The warrior turned his head, staring at her over his shoulder, and dark eyes met hers. He didn’t say a word at first, merely quirked his brow so that it rose in a high arch. “Delaney joi Zadri?”

  She sighed and slumped her shoulders. Apparently human or Preor, males shared some of the same expressions. This particular expression told her she was caught doing something she shouldn’t.

  “Hello, Argan.” She gave him a wide smile and stepped left, happy to go around him.

  Unfortunately, he extended his left wing, blocking the doorway fully. “Do you require something, Delaney?”

  “No, I’m good.” She moved back to the right, two steps taking her to his other side. “Just going to—“

  His right wing extended, blocking her there as well. Now she had a sunshine hued Preor warrior keeping her hostage.

  “Perhaps it is best if you do not depart.” He rumbled, words low, while he continued to stare at her.

  She narrowed her eyes at him, pressing her lips together while she tried to figure out how to get past him. Maybe under?

  Delaney bent low, ready to scoot beneath his wing. “Oh, I’m just going to—“

  The bastard Preor dropped his wing, that extension of him moving quickly. “Perhaps not.”

  She gripped the edge of the panel, using it to straighten and maintain her balance. “Argan…”

  “Delaney joi Zadri Cole…” he matched her tone, the corner of his lip tipping up ever so slightly.

  Annoying male.

  “Argan, listen, I need to…”

  The warrior folded his wings close and turned to face her, crossing his arms over his chest as he moved. “Every warrior on the ship is aware of the damage you sustained and the threat a second fall poses to the young you bear. None will allow you to wander freely. When Zadri requested a warrior to assist you, I was the quickest to volunteer. Females are precious, Delaney.”

  She sighed. She knew that. The Knowing even pushed that concept forward, almost like a sentient genetic anomaly that fought to explain and justify the actions of those around her.

  “We fought,” she whispered the two words that were a pale description for what they’d shared. “And he’s… somewhere. I need to talk to him.”

  Talk to him. Work it out. Figure out how to move forward. Explain? She mentally shook her head. She wasn’t sure she could put it into words. Not in a way he’d understand. He’d spent a lifetime wanting a mother and Delaney seemed to have one.

  Yet appearances could be deceiving.

  “Please.”

  He stared at her, dark eyes scanning her face, his brow now furrowed in confusion. “You wish to argue with him more?”

  She shook her head. Sure, there were probably women who would want to push the argument on, but she wasn’t one of those of women. She preferred happiness and calm to constant bickering and tension.

  “No, I want to talk and resolve the issue.”

  Argan snorted. “Zadri joi Delaney Cole was very angry when he departed. Enough time has not passed. You will wait—“

  “No,” she snapped, anger joining her worry and heartache. “Am I a prisoner?”

  “Never.” He jerked back as if he’d been slapped.

  “Is my mate somewhere in the ship I’m not permitted to go?” She wouldn’t cause a fuss if he was on the command deck or something, but if it was a public space, she was going.

  “No, he stated he was going to the ship’s aerie.”

  The ship’s aerie—a place where he could stretch his damaged wings and feel the ship-generated air along his scales.

  “Then that’s where I want to go.” She straightened her spine, still gripping the wall to keep her balance. “If I’m not a prisoner, I have free run of the public areas of the ship. I want to go to the aerie, with or without you.”

  With the Knowing, she didn’t need a map. She stepped forward and half-expected him to cut her off, but he stepped aside with a resigned sigh.

  “It shall be with me or the defense master will separate my head from my body.” He held out his arm, bent at the elbow so she could grab hold of him. “Let us make our way to the aerie.” He gave her a level stare. “Slowly.”

  Delaney beamed at him, happiness lightening some of the weight on her heart. She still had to confront Zadri, but this was at least a step in the right direction. “Of course.”

  Argan grunted but didn’t say anything else as they moved down the corridor. Her steps were slow and tiny. It forced the warrior at her side to take much smaller strides, but he didn’t voice a complaint—not a single one. He glared at any other warriors they came across, even going so far as to growl at one male who hadn’t jumped out of the way quickly enough.

  The warrior had curled his lip at Argan, but the moment he spied Delaney, his expression changed and he rushed out of their path. She would have laughed, but didn’t want to insult the male. Who knew how he’d take a human finding his behavior funny?

  They continued onward, Argan’s steps not faltering when he flung his wing out and whacked a nearby male. Apparently he didn’t get out of the way quickly enough either.

  When they turned the next corner, that hallway empty, she let her giggles break free. “You’re so mean!”

  Argan grunted. “The males should be more aware of their surroundings. They have been on the ship too long and allow themselves to become lazy. It is why I am your escort and they are not.”
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br />   She just shook her head. “It’s not like being a babysitter is a great job.”

  “Caring for a female is one of the most important tasks a warrior can perform.” He said the words as if they came from memory, but the emotions in his expression, the sudden tightness of his muscles, told her there was more. “I am fortunate the defense master is tolerant of warriors with physical failings and can see past perceived deficiencies.”

  Delaney stopped, not taking another step while she waited for Argan to look at her. When he finally gave her his attention, she spoke. “Perceived deficiencies?” She waved at his face. “You mean your scar?”

  He pressed his lips together so hard they turned white and she had her answer even before he responded. “Yes. The belief is that my scar is proof of my lack as a warrior.”

  “It was a killing blow.” Anyone with eyes could see that his attacker hadn’t wanted him to live. “And you survived it. I figure living means you’re pretty strong and determined—not weak or careless.”

  Argan grunted. “Opinions vary, but the result is the same. Much like those directed at Defense Master Zadri.”

  At the mention of Zadri, she was reminded of her purpose—to find her mate. She stepped forward, tugging him this time. “Tell me the opinions.”

  “Many say Zadri—“

  “About both of you.” Zadri was her mate, but Argan reminded her of an abused puppy. Sure, he was over two hundred pounds of dragon-alien, but still an abused puppy on the inside.

  “They originate with the highest within the council. Beliefs long held and passed from one to another.”

  “What?”

  Argan sighed, his wings rustling and shoulders slumping. She’d badgered him and now it was time for him to give in. “Ever since the Great Conflict took many females and dragonlets from our planet, it has been believed that only the best males—superior warriors—should mate. Or even have the opportunity to find their mates.” He gestured at his face. “I am not considered superior.”

  “But you’re here.”

  He shrugged. “At War Master Jarek’s demand. Many of the males on the ship are here at the war master’s demand and he is so respected that his demands were quickly met. It is why I am here. It is why a child of Syh is on this ship and now has a female to call his own.”

  “They…” She shook her head. “Because you were hurt and survived, because Zadri had a birth defect, they decided you weren’t superior?”

  It made her sick. Human history was rife with that brand of evil, people who’d started wars based on the color of another’s skin.

  “Yes.” He said the word so softly she almost missed it.

  “But…” Her mind spun, trying to sift and sort through the Knowing and his words.

  “A child of Syh and one of the Broken would not be on the ship if it wasn’t for War Master Jarek, and we are both aware of that truth.” Their steps slowed until they came to a stop outside a massive set of doors. “And a child of Syh… Those dragonlets share the darkest future of any. They were abandoned by their families and others treat them worse than human pets.”

  He turned to face her, gathering both of her hands in his. “I did not suffer the disgust of others before my injury, but Zadri has experienced ongoing contempt from the day he was presented. Every day he is thankful for what he has and sends his thoughts to Syh so that she will know he appreciates her gifts.” Argan squeezed her hands. “You are that gift, Delaney. If he yells or shouts, it is because he does not know how to be any other way. If he pushes and makes demands, it is because he was never taught how to ask. I do not know the cause of your disagreement, but know that he has never had the loving influence of a dam. He has been rejected his entire life and now that he has found you, he will cling to you and fight for all he has never experienced.” He released her and stepped back. “He will fight for your love, Delaney joi Zadri Cole. Please do not fight back too hard.”

  Delaney swallowed past the growing lump in her throat, not sure how to respond to Argan. With every word, she was exposed to more of her mate, given more information to explain his actions. And now that he was done, her heart broke—for them both. They were a warrior race, she knew that, but she hadn’t been prepared for their cold attitude. To think…

  She didn’t want to think.

  “I will leave you now.” He pressed his fist to his chest in salute. “I will give orders to lock down the aerie and perhaps you can reconcile with your mate.” He took a step away and then two, before freezing in place once again. “I have heard that the ‘making up’ is the best part of an argument.”

  Based on the twitch of his lips, she realized he knew exactly what kind of “making up” humans participated in.

  And—if she could figure things out with Zadri—she couldn’t wait to make up.

  11

  Zadri was gorgeous. No, “gorgeous” didn’t really apply to Delaney’s mate. Glorious. Awe-inspiring. Heart stopping. Stunning.

  She stood near the entry to the aerie, leaning against one of the walls while she adjusted to the shift in gravity. Preors needed time to stretch their wings, but an upright aerie wasn’t exactly practical on a spaceship. Which was why it extended horizontally from the back of the battleship, and their engineers molded gravity to their desires.

  The Preors had created a living replica of their planet within the metal confines. The brush that blanketed the ground reminded her of Earth grass, the soft blades gently swaying with the gentle wind. Wind created by the furious batting of her mate’s wings. The pwaa trees danced as well—the fronds so like her home’s palm trees rustling as they moved. Sprinklings of color, flowers that ranged in color from the palest pink to a deep red, also decorated the space.

  And the walls… Other than the one at her back, the others were made of craggy rock, the lower portion covered in something that reminded her of moss.

  A Preor jungle on a ship and her mate looked perfectly at home in the skies.

  His peach scales glittered in the Preor sun, his flesh shifting and stretching over honed muscle while he flew. He stretched his wings wide, the thin wing skin taut, and now she could see more of his past suffering. So many scars peppered his wing. Strips of white scarring crisscrossed the area and she ached to kiss each one. She’d do anything to make it better—to erase his painful past from his memories.

  But all she could do was… love him. Someday.

  A loud roar sliced through the gentle rustling of vegetation, and a burst of red and white filled the sky. Her mate released another blast of fire, scorching the rough rocks. He continued flying at the wall, his fire not retreating as he approached. He went closer. And closer. And… Was he going to run into it on purpose? Was he trying to ki—

  He banked right at the very last moment, digging deadly claws into the jagged surface. He broke off hunks of stone, sending the boulders crashing to the ground while he scraped the wall raw. Another bellow filled the air, her mate voicing his… pain.

  So much pain. The longer she stood there—the longer she watched him—the more she experienced his emotions. So dark. So hard. So anguished. His thoughts didn’t consume her, but his feelings were enough for Delaney. Enough to tell her that her mate was a proud, strong Preor warrior… who was so very, very broken.

  And she was the only one who could heal him. She was the only one who could put the pieces of Zadri back together. Her baby shifted, pressing against the walls of her belly. Her child poked and prodded as if telling her she wouldn’t be alone in helping Zadri—her baby would be there, too.

  Yes, they could both heal the male who’d lost so much before he even understood what it was like to have anything.

  He circled above her, his pain coming out as balls of flame and ground shaking roars. Each one cut straight to her heart, each one tearing at her soul until tears blurred her vision. Yes, she sensed his anger from their argument, but there was more in each sound and flicker of fire. So much more.

  Delaney took a step away from the wa
ll and then another. She gently padded through the grass, finally kicking her shoes off near a bench before moving on. It was soft, tickling her toes, and she knew she’d spend a lot of time in the space in the future. It was peaceful and calming—even if it was currently occupied by a raging Preor.

  She stopped at the edge of a wide, empty area. A place obviously meant for shifting, take off, and landing. She just stood there for a moment, watching him circle, listening as more and more rock struck the ground.

  As he released the pent up emotional agony. He needed to get it out, but when he was done, he’d need her.

  And she… needed to explain her actions. She couldn’t avoid the subject of her parents any longer. She couldn’t keep the truth to herself out of fear and shame. He needed to know. So she’d tell him.

  She swallowed past the growing lump in her throat and gently cupped her stomach. She’d tell him why she would never—could never—speak with them again.

  Delaney waited for a break in his roars. “Zadri!”

  He continued the rough beat of his wings, his smooth circles along the edges of the aerie.

  She raised her voice with the next yell. “Zadri!”

  He didn’t look at her, but she sensed a change in him, a different kind of tenseness that slithered along his spine and settled between his wings.

  On his next pass, his massive dragon’s eye flicked down to her, the yellowed orb focusing on Delaney with an intent that would scare a lesser man—or woman. But it didn’t frighten her. Their connection let her sense his feelings toward her and while frustration was evident, the desire for violence was not.

  Zadri wasn’t a man—male—who’d hurt her. Ever.

  “Zadri! Please!”

  He released a stream of smoke, the gray and white cloud drifting for a moment before the ship pulled it into its air handlers. He made one circle, then another, and she realized he gradually descended with each turn. He spiraled down, claws no longer reaching out to snatch at rock walls and instead, remained tucked against him. He glided, wings stationary while he rode the ship’s winds, using them to keep his descent slow.