Page 32 of Black Mamba

Ixi’s brow arches. “Deiys had her when I arrived. Had I not sensed him in the area between our territories, I would not have been there to save her from him.”

I frown. “He hurt her?”

Ixi looks over my shoulder before meeting my gaze. “Like I said, when I came upon them, he had her. Whether it was him who hurt her or not, I do not know.”

“Do you know how he got her?”

Ixi shakes his head. “I only got her out of there when the humans and their weapons appeared. I assumed he stole her from them?”

“No,” I hiss darkly. “He stole her from me. And you will let me take her back to my nest. You have enough of an explanation.” I should be thanking him, but I am not thinking clearly.

He crosses his arms and blocks the way out. “I will not let you take her until I know what you will do with her. She is not well. She has not woken since I brought her here. She is also small in my arms, lightweight, and her skin is sickly. She smells sickly.”

I bare my teeth, guilt tugging at me. “I plan to take her back to my cave.”

“A cave is not a good place for her in such a position. When my vines and plants stop growing, it is because they are not getting the proper amount of sunlight and shade.”

My jaw ticks and I twist to lift the flap and check on her. I do not like having my eyes off of her for long. I did that, and she vanished. “Where do you suggest I take her? Because I am not leaving her in your nesssst.” She might decide she wants Ixi over me. I flick my gaze to the middle of Ixi’s tail to check him for a bulge.

Thankfully, the front of him is flat and his slit remains hidden behind his scales. He has not been affected by her—yet.

“No, I do not think leaving her here will be good either. This nest might suit me, but it is far from safe. I say we take her back to the humans and let them use their medicine to help her. She is hurt. Her shoulder is bright red, and I fear what might happen if she does not wake.”

“They killed Deiys,” I snap.

Ixi frowns and shakes his head. “We are all aware of the dangers humans pose. It is a risk I am uninterested in taking myself. If he entered their domain to steal one of their own…”

“But it is something you have already rissssked.”

Ixi hisses and snaps his tail on the floor, sending a small plume of dust into the air. “I will help you take her back to the humans and am fine with letting them deal with her, but I will barricade your path if you aim to take her back to your nest in the cave. It is too dark, too damp. And only moss can thrive there.”

“My cave is comfortable,” I mutter, offended. I have hides everywhere for a reason… But I do take his words to heart. I do not want to fight with Ixi, not after what happened to Deiys. I have barely comprehended the loss of my clan member, let alone the advice Vagan has given me.

“I will take her back to her ship, but I will not take her to them. They can come to her under my supervision and check her wounds. I do not trust them.”

Ixi hesitates before he nods. “We can make sure they do not come near her with their weapon. That they do not pose a risk.”

“Then let ussss not waste any more time,” I growl. “She was not eating before her wounds, and now she will need sustenance more than ever before.”

Allowing her to return to her ship is the only course of action we agree on. I only need to make sure she does not fly that ship away from me.

“It is settled,” Ixi mumbles.

With his help I lift Elena, careful not to jostle her arm more than necessary. Ixi follows me back to the meadow, briefly pausing to take in Deiys’s dead body as we pass. Neither Levy nor Greg leave their ship as I carry Elena inside hers.

I smell Deiys’s and the human males’ scents once inside. The clustered reek makes me anxious. Ixi eventually joins me as I slip into Elena’s room.

Moving to her nest’s side, I gently lay her in the center of it.

The unease in my heart grows. She was fine before I took her.

Now… she is… I do not know what she is. Whatever she is, she is unwell, and I had something to do with that. I wanted a bride. I wanted to help. I did not want… this.

“Do you want me to get the humans, or do you want to?” Ixi asks.

I lift my head to find him gazing around the space curiously.

“I will.” He nods and shifts to let me by. “Do not leave her side,” I command as I leave her ship and return to the other.