regalness that instantly receives their respect. “Captain Rovak has grown bold in his hunts lately. I fear we do not stand a chance when his army invades Erebos in due time; those of us who do triumph in battle will be slaughtered in our most vulnerable state. It is for this reason I tasked Commander Leoric and his Abode of Sinners to find a cure.” She turns to Bravik. “You claim this serum could be what cures us of our infirmity. You may inform the court of how that is so.”
“It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty.” He approaches my side and turns to the audience, his hand spread flatly on the altar. “Inside this serum is a mineral found only on planet Aurora, a place that’s one of the last human colonies. However, the humans are governed by the Galactic Court, who, as we all know, sponsors Captain Rovak’s slaughtering. Lately, the G.C. has shown great interest in this mineral. It’s on Aurora he extracts it from their waters and uses it to create weapons that can greatly reduce our performance in battle. Or so he believes.”
Bravik paces in front of the throne, his hands clasped behind his back. Each member of Her Majesty’s court, including the queen herself, is fixed on his every word and movement. He’s in his element here. I wonder if he was part of this court before he was sent to the AoS, and I make a mental note to ask him later.
“While the serum can demobilize our beast form, it doesn’t weaken us after we’ve transformed. This gives us the upper hand in battle. If we manage to acquire the mineral from the G.C.’s base on Aurora and ensure they have no more access to it, we’ll be the ones at an advantage when Captain Rovak makes his next move. By using the serum before we relinquish our beast form, we’ll be able to eliminate the rest of our enemy and come out victorious. We will not be vulnerable and, therefore, slaughtered in the aftermath.”
The whispers that ensue are no longer curious but excited. Palpitations rise in my chest, and I look between Bravik and Hellisa staring at each other. As if they were communicating mentally, Hellisa dips her head just slightly.
“If what you say is true, Bravik, then I trust you would not oppose a demonstration right here before my court?”
“Certainly not, Your Majesty.”
Without even batting an eyelid, Bravik hunches forward, and his entire body shifts and changes. It’s like a literal beast is clawing its way out from underneath his skin as bones snap in my ears like broken twigs, and my stomach heaves at the sight of his flesh tearing apart. Horns protrude from his skull, and a long, fiery tail extends from his backside, whipping around him like a bullwhip doused in fire. This is clearly nothing new to them, but my breath hitches at the mere size and strength of him. He looks magnificent and terrifying at the same time.
Just like he did when this first happened in front of me.
Extending one large claw over the altar, he grabs the vile and places the entire thing in his blazing mouth. The flames engulfing his horns and tail vanish like a cool breeze sweeping over a fire. With a deafening roar, Bravik crashes onto the floor, his tail slowly disappearing with the rest of his form. He stands tall as if nothing just happened, and his lack of weakness elicits a series of surprised whispers from the audience. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing that side of him. It’s terrifyingly feral, almost animalistic, and yet makes me feel so utterly safe when I’m with him. He could no doubt kill me with a flick of his gigantic claw, but he looks at me like I’m someone to be protected. Someone special and precious to him. It makes sense given I’m his mate, after all.
Mate.
That’s a word I don’t think I’ll get used to, but I love when it’s attached to the name Bravik.
For a long while, the entire room is silent. Hellisa has leaned forward just a little in her throne and gazes upon Bravik with blatant curiosity. A cloaked male appears behind her and whispers in her ear. She keeps her gaze pressed on me as she listens, then she holds up a hand.
“How do we acquire more of the serum?” she asks.
“We’ll give you it,” I answer, boldly stepping forward. “My people and I