Page 53 of Reaper

It made sense, considering the close bond, strengthening every day, between Brees and my mate and the fact that Stran was training her to become the Horned Creckels’ Matriarch and their first Battle Maiden. Over time, I expected as strong a friendship to grow between her and Reaper as the one shared by Stran and Doom.

While Stran would focus on the Horned Creckels’ combat abilities, in his new function, Reaper would teach them about everything else, from Coalition and enemy vessels and weaponry, to battle strategies, military language, symbolisms, best practices, etc. For his part, as the expert in fighting alongside a Creckel, Doom was now in charge of training other Xian Warriors and Dragons in that art. It centered mainly around scenarios that gave them a vividly realistic experience.

We were thriving on Khepri. We were happy and free. With the vast lands that were granted to the Creckels with plenty of game to hunt, my companions began reproducing again. Brees and I became pregnant at the same time, although her little Drax was born two months before my own son, Solar. Like her mother had done with me, Drax took to my son with a protective possessiveness that melted my heart.

But trouble brewed among the members of the Coalition, with accusations being flung left and right in light of the large number of defections, stolen vessels and merchandise. Rumor had it that three division leaders from different species had formed a sort of dark syndicate with the defectors as their minions and the stolen Coalition vessel and weapons to kickstart their fleet. We didn’t quite know their real intentions. The Xian Warriors believed they intended to act as weapons and contraband brokers. The Dragons believed they were mercenaries in an alliance to divide the wealth and criminal activities in three territories. I personally believed it was a mix of both. Time would tell soon enough.

For now, I just wanted to enjoy my impossible dream life with my perfect family.

Sitting on one of the two plateaus of the Dragons Rise, my back resting against the muscular chest of my mate, we watched the fiery colors of the sun going down while a few of his Dragon brothers were flying around, making jaw-dropping aerial acrobatics.

“You were right,” I whispered as if speaking too loudly might break the magic of the moment. “The sunset from this viewpoint is a mesmerizing view worth sharing.”

“But only if it is followed by a sunrise,” Reaper replied teasingly before kissing the dark scales of the beautiful mantle alongside my neck, proof of our bonding.

“And only if you are by my side,” I said.

“Always, my love. Always.”

THE END