Page 24 of Black Mamba

She has to eat.

So, I journeyed from the cave early to pick berries for her, thinking she would not be able to resist the sweet fruit. Wanting her to wake up to the gift, I left the offering in front of her sleeping form.

When she woke she was less than pleased to discover me watching her. I showed her the berries, and instead of reaching for one, she lowered her head and told me to let her go.

I do not want to let her go!

If I do, she will go back to her ship and shut herself inside. She might fly away.

I fear today will not be any better than the previous two. As she slumbers, I eye my many offerings of hides, fruits, and her belongings scattered on the floor in front of her. I have not bothered to clean up any of it. I keep hoping she will change her mind and indulge.

Because I do not know what else I can do.

I am no expert in the care and feeding of human females, but I do know when an animal is getting weak. I see it all the time when they succumb to my venom.

She must eat today. Soon, she will be too weak to do so at all.

Reaching out, I pet her arm above the hide covering her white blanket. She is warm, soft. Untied.

Sleeping is the only time I can touch her, or get close to her at all, without her shying away from me.

She fears me. That has not lessened in the days since bringing her here. Even with my many offerings, she hesitates to place trust in me. I am at a loss as to how to get rid of her anxiety like I am at a loss on getting her to eat. Unfortunately, every time I approach her, her gaze dips to my bulge, and her apprehension grows.

Leaning over her, I smell her hair, her neck, taking a moment to enjoy her at her purest before she wakes.

I draw away as she slowly lifts her hand to brush the hair that has fallen onto her cheek. As she does, she opens her eyes. They land on my tail before sliding to my face.

She stiffens and her gaze widens. As she rises into a sitting position, I reach forward and offer her a basket of apples.

She draws back as she considers the bulbous red fruit, her lips parting. A loud grumbling sound emanates from her stomach and she crosses her arms over it.

“Please,” I beg. “Eat. They are applessss. Deliciously sweet fruit if you have not seen them before. If you have not tried them… They will not hurt you.”

She drops her head into her hands with a sad groan.

“Eat,” I repeat, pressing the basket closer to her. “You musssst.”

She ignores me, lying on her side to rest against my nest. She pulls her knees into her chest as her stomach yowls again.

“If you do not eat or drink, you will pass out from exhaustion and die.”

She pushes her face into my hides, shutting me out.

Setting the apples in front of her, I pivot and leave the cavern, unable to keep my anger and exasperation from showing any longer. I flee to the firepit as a deeply frustrated hiss rips out of me.

How can it be this hard keeping a bride? What are all the other males with brides doing that I am not? They are providing for their females just as I am trying to provide for mine!

I hesitate as a thought forms.

I can find out… It would not take that long.

Vagan’s territory borders mine. If I follow the water north to his grotto, I can be there later today—if I move quickly. If I leave soon.

Vagan would know what to do. If not him, his female Shelby should know. All I would need to do is locate and ask them. Vagan has no reason to want to fight me. It would not be the most abrupt appearance either. I helped when soldiers sought to claim his territory as their own. It should not be too hard to convince him to help me in return.

I rise higher as I coil my tail under me. They will know what I need to do to get her to eat.

If I go now, I will be back by nightfall.