Page 46 of Alien Naga's Prize

Azul gives me a beaming smile. “We’ll be in open space in a few nova-seconds, then you can return fire.”

I undo the grav-straps and move towards the gunner’s console, but as I do, we’re hit by another volley and the ship does a stomach-churning lurch. My footing goes, and I’m flung across the cockpit, slamming hard into the bulkhead.

I hear a crack.

It is not a fun sound.

The ship rights itself and I slide down onto the floor. As I scramble to my feet, pain spikes through my left leg. I grab for a nearby console as my body is robbed of air.

“Jenna?” Azul calls my name.

“I’m fine, really,” I respond, but I can’t stand. Breathing is becoming increasingly difficult. “Your venom is doing the job,” I add, dragging myself across to the weapons console. “Tell me when to fire.”

I cling on as Azul executes yet another maneuver to avoid being hit.

“You can return fire…now!”

I put the ship behind us in the sights and let rip with a volley of plasma bombs. They spin away, three of them hitting their target.

“Did I do it?” I ask.

“They’re still coming,” Azul replies. “And the wormhole is still too far.”

More volleys hit us and I hear the while of the starboard engine which doesn’t sound good at all, even as my leg burns at me.

“Can I be of any assistance?” A familiar voice comes over the comm.

“Dan?” I lift my head.

Azul growls loud enough to wake the dead.

Sure enough, there is a holo projection of Dan in front of us.

“Who,” Azul asks, his mouth filled with fangs, “is this?”

“He’s a human friend from work…who shouldn’t be here?” I say, my vision starting to dim.

“I have a confession, Jenna,” Dan says. “I’m not who you think I am.”

“A rookie security officer? I’m guessing not,” I pant.

“Is he your mate?” Azul snarls. “If he is, I will rip all of his limbs off.”

“Azul, no, he’s a work colleague, not a mate.” My ability to breathe is getting worse and as pain floods my body, my arms have no strength, and I can’t hold myself upright.

And everything goes dark.

AZUL

My tail tip-taps on the warm metal as I snarl at a passing human medic, one who has gotten too close to my mate.

“They’re just trying to do their job,” a voice says behind me. A voice I already hate with a vengeance.

“My venom will heal her,” I growl out at Dan-the-human.

He’s the captain of a ship which is sleek, sophisticated, and light years ahead of what I understood the humans to be in possession of. It’s also the ship which took out Rossz’s remaining gang and provided medical assistance for Jenna, who had broken one of her beautiful legs.

Human assistance.It makes my scales crawl. She is my mate, and I should be the one caring for her.