Page 12 of King of Serpents

“You’re not wrong, but you didn’t have to put it like that,” she replied under her breath, and she forced her feet to move so that she followed behind him.

Despite her attempt to keep her voice low, Therxian clearly heard her because his gavo rippled again with silent laughter and his shoulders shook faintly in his effort to hold it back.

“It is merely a fact, and a frightening one for a female so deep within the Aglatha,” he replied smoothly.

Now she was certain that he was toying with her on purpose. He was intentionally trying to scare her now.

“You didn’t need to remind me of that,” she pointed out as she dropped onto the bench on the opposite end from where he sat and angled her body toward him so that she could glare at his unusual face.

It certainly had a uniquely sculpted appearance. The lines of a Seshanamitesh face were longer and narrower in appearance from the sharp taper into the chin, despite the obvious strength of his jaw. His nose was understated compared to a human nose, but his brow was well-shaped despite how eerily large his glowing eyes were. The understated appearance of his lips and the strange definition of skin that ran back from the corner of his mouth, parallel with the line of his jaw was fascinating.

Could he open his mouth wide and dislocate his jaw like a snake? Somehow comparing his features to a snake made them a little more familiar, and less alien and frightening.

His brow dipped slightly as he gave her a curious look. “You are staring at me—why?”

Caught.

She shrugged. “You mentioned our physical differences and how ill-prepared humans would struggle to survive down here among you. It just so happens that I agree with you. So, perhaps we should start thinking about how we might be able to get me out of the Aglatha.” She held up a hand in response to his answering scowl. “I know, it is very dangerous and next to impossible to sneak me out. You explained all of that very well. Our only option is that we do not try something so direct.”

He paused, a contemplative look settling on his face as his tail wound around him. “Yes, this is something I have also been considering. Instead of something direct and obvious, we should strive for smaller movements.”

“Like playing tri-level galactic chess,” she agreed, only to be met by his blank stare. “Never mind. I’m just referring to a game of strategy that requires careful movements, one piece at a time.”

Understanding softened his expression minutely, and he inclined his head, his gavo snapping softly in agreement.

“Precisely. In the meantime, try not to give anything away with your projectiles.”

Her lips twitched. He meant to hide rather than attack if someone entered. She would remember that. But his words reminded her.

She grinned and leaned forward, her smile widening at the way his gavo rose sharply in response. She wasn’t the only one who was going to be unnerved in their current cohabitation. “Speaking of projectiles. I have a teensy request.”

Chapter 9

Therxian shook his head. The female was undoubtedly crazy. He was certain of it now. He peered down at the long, thin tube in his right hand, fashioned from a long reed that grew in a pool in an open air cavern. In his other hand, he had a bag made from the thick, heavily scaled hide of a sand vorsk and filled with numerous long, sturdy needles. He did not understand exactly what she wanted it for. Her explanation about the invasion of mutant insects made no sense to him. But she was quite enthusiastic about the idea and insisted that she needed it. Since he felt guilty leaving her in the room for so much of the day, he felt obligated to fulfill her request regardless of how odd it was.

His lips twitched with private amusement. He had to admit that he was curious as to what she planned to do with them.

“What has you so distracted and in a hurry, Therxian,” a female suddenly rasped, catching him off guard.

His eyes lifted, his attention focusing grimly on the matriarch gliding to a stop just ahead of him. The numerous fans of her gavo lifted in an expression of curiosity, but he returned her regard with a shuttered expression as he inclined his head respectfully.

“Matriarch,” he rumbled as he covertly passed the bag of needles to his opposite hand to lower both the bag and tube behind the girth of his tail.

“No need for such formality,” she replied, her mouth curling into a tiny, amused smile. “You do not recall me, do you?”

Therxian hid his grimace. He had not once returned to the shinara since escaping the Aglatha cavern. He had been a young hunter then, who had just entered his maturity. And before that he had been contained like all other juvenile males within the haga. He did not understand why there were females within his mother’s court who expected him to recall or recognize them on sight. They meant less to him—and had far less space within his mind—than the most humble and unassuming Vehal.

He wanted to scoff, but he managed to control himself in time to prevent even a hint of scorn from escaping him.

“Regretfully not, Matriarch.”

Her expression tightened ever so slightly. Despite her question, he could tell that his answer did not please her.

“I have long been gone from the Aglatha,” he reminded her.

She drew in a deep breath and sighed heavily, her gavo fluttering expressively with her restrained annoyance. “Yes. I recall. I should not expect more from a male who has been educated poorly among the Vehal since coming of age.”

He managed a small smile though he gnashed his teeth and snarled inwardly at the obvious insult to him and to the Vehal he had long cared for in the nara.