Page 21 of Black Mamba

Five more minutes. I start a countdown in my head. I’ll wait five minutes. Then… I run.

TWELVE

FLEEING TREASURE

Lukys

I will be quick. I do not want to leave her for long.

Unfortunately, I did not prepare much before taking her, and my lack of immediate light in my cave was indication of that enough. She is a human female, not a naga female. She needs more than a female of my kind would—and sooner.

Pausing at the precipice of my cave, I emerge from the darkness to enter the sunlight. It is barely noon.

Leaving for a short while will also give her time to come to terms that her life will be different going forward, and perhaps she will accept her circumstances.

She is frightened of me.

I was too rough when I took her.

Recalling the feel of her in my arms, her smaller form warm against my skin, my tail goes taut once more. Her scent remains in my nose, pushing at my restraint, and I close my eyes and shake my head, taking a shallow breath of fresh air. My prick aches and the muscles holding my slit closed hurts. My stem begs to be free.

I saw the way her face fell when her eyes dropped to my middle. The smell of her fear bloomed in the confined space of the cavern, replacing much of her sweet, feminine musk.

I finally had her, could finally touch and smell her at my pleasure, and yet there was only fear.

I may be realistic, perhaps a little selfish, but I am not a monster. I do not want her to fear me more than she already does. I do not want to be like those other nagas everyone hates—primitive and beastly.

I inhale another steadying breath.

I am patient. I can be patient with her.

The other nagas with human brides also had to win theirs. Some of them shared their stories with me. I will win mine.

The hard part is over. She is safe in my cave, even with the few weapons of mine displayed within it.

When I am certain she is not going to immediately flee, I leave my cave behind. Swift as I pass the boulders and traverse through the pine trees along the steep slopes, her ship quickly comes into view through the branches that threaten to slow me down.

I pause at the edge, glancing around for the human males, scenting them in the air. Their bodies often reek with sweat.

I hope, now that Elena is gone from their midst, they will take their ship and leave.

When I do not see them, I slip to the still-open door of hers, wasting no time entering her nest.

The human male’s scents are thicker here, and I discover dirty prints on the floor. I cock my head to listen for them, only to hear a subtle humming sound instead. It is a sound coming from the floor and walls and one I have not heard since dealing with the machinery of the soldiers outside Vagan’s nest. Elena’s ship is powered by energy. It is alive.

I should fear it, but I do not.

The males were here but they are gone now.

Journeying deeper, I come to the mirror on the wall and pause at my appearance. My hair is messy and slick, and as black as the darkest of my scales. My eyes are gray, which stare back at me mutely. I cannot remember the last time I saw such a good reflection of myself. The area around my bulge is pink, the scales hiding my slit from view spread apart.

It is a frightening sight. No wonder the scent of her fear thickened the air.

I shift forward and the mirror slides into the wall. Peeking inside the smaller room, I get a good look at her bathing chamber. I knew this room had something to do with water based on the few times she has come out wet.

I grab the springy white blankets from the walls and use the biggest one to create a sack. Snatching the random assortment of items on the counter, I cradle them in the folds of the makeshift bag.

When I get to her sleeping chamber, her scent is stronger than it has ever been before.