Poppy froze.
Mingxi seemed to notice instantly. “Poppy?”
“Mm-hmm,” she whispered without moving. “Something touched me.”
“What kind of something?”
“The slithery kind,” she hissed.
Mingxi blinked and then peered down. “I see nothing.”
“That’s because it’s planning my murder.”
He opened his mouth—probably to say something sensible—when a low, amused voice drifted from the undergrowth.
“Oh, hardly. I was merely passing through.”
Poppy shrieked. She knew it wasn’t a dignified gasp or a startled noise.
She followed that sound with a full, high-pitched, startled, “Ah… No!” as she leapt backward—straight into Mingxi.
He inhaled sharply as she crashed into his chest, arms flinging around his midsection entirely on instinct. He staggered, shoulder flaring with fresh pain, but caught her anyway.
“Poppy—”
“No,” she whispered into his robes. “No, no, no… What is talking?”
From the bamboo thicket slithered a very large serpent with black scales glistening like ink washed in moonlight. A moment later, its body twisted, shimmered—and a tall, elegant man stepped out, dark hair braided over one shoulder, gold rings in his ears, a half-smirk tugging at his lips.
A snake shifter.
Oh, good. Perfect, she thought. Exactly what Poppy needed today.
“Forgive me,” he said, bowing with dramatic flourish. “I didn’t mean to startle your… ah… fiercely courageous companion.”
Poppy, still clinging to Mingxi, peeked out. “I am extremely brave,” she announced from the safety of Mingxi’s arms.
Mingxi’s shoulders shook. Not from weakness, but from his clear attempt not to laugh.
“Indeed,” the serpent-man said, lips twitching. “Your war cry echoed most valiantly.”
“It was a warning scream,” Poppy corrected with grave dignity. “Very tactical.”
Mingxi’s hand settled on her hip—and she sensed he was trying to steady her—and his voice was gentle as he said, “He is not an enemy.”
The snake shifter tilted his head. “Not unless you step on my tail again.”
“I stepped on you!” Poppy yelped.
“Only a little.” He held his fingers a hair apart. “A very small crunch.”
She felt mortified. Horrified. Personally victimized.
Mingxi nearly lost control of his composure entirely, and she shot him a glare.
“We mean no harm,” Mingxi said smoothly, though his lips twitched with amusement. “We are passing through to the valley.”
The snake-man’s eyes flicked to Mingxi’s bandaged shoulder. “You are injured.”
