I yank my arm back into the room and rush down into the open underground tunnels, swiftly shutting the door behind me. Backing down the stairs immediately within, I fish out my flashlight and put it on the ground, aiming it upward.
Pulling my rifle forward, I aim that upward as well.
Taking a deep breath, all I can hope is that if the door doesn’t suffice, the bullets will.
TWENTY-ONE
OLIVIA OR JULIA
Krellix
I amaware the moment Benjamin fails to keep up with the pace and breaks our natural formation. One I do not like because it separates me from Julia more than I wish to be. More than is safe. But that same separation has also been a reprieve from the insistent, instinctual need to grab her to me and take her to a nest that does not exist. To kiss, knot, and coax her into submission as I fill her body with my seed.
It does not matter if it is safe or there are others nearby, my animal instincts do not care about novelties like that. All they care about is getting her under me, wrapping her in my tail, and sinking inside of her again. Keeping her in my arms until I have had enough of her—which, I fear, I never will.
I spent half the night within her, tormented with pain and bliss, my prick stretching and expanding, pulling my skin taut with pain while her sheathe held me in comfort. Cushioned, warm, and firm, her body eased the worst of my strain, massaging the ache in my shaft even while enduring her own in the process. I have never been in a more vulnerable position.
As I have been doing every second since she woke this morning, I push the thoughts of her and what I want to do to her out before they have time to fester and grow.
Yet, they are festering and growing anyway.
Soon, we will be at the encampment. A place I will not be able to go. A place where I will have to let her leave me to be back with her people, that’s outside of my reach, my sight…
Because, like me, she does not want a mate. Our reasons might be different but the outcome is the same.
“Krellix?” A small voice says up at me.
I peer down at the young female, Olivia, her eyes wide with nerves. She always looks at me this way and I wish she would not.
“I need a moment to myself,” she breathes, her voice so soft I barely hear it.
I do not need to see her face to know she is afraid of me. I can smell it. Past the blood, the sweat, the smoke, musk, dirt and grime. It is unsettling, though I have tried to ignore it the past few days. I do not like that this young female fears me. There is already too much here for her to be afraid of.
I do not like it when any human female is afraid, ever.
“A sssshort rest,” I call over my shoulder as I nod down at her.
I hear the jog of Benjamin’s feet as he catches up, meaning Julia will be shortly behind.
“Sorry,” he huffs, “I got distracted.”
I am already carrying Olivia away, searching for a safe space for her needs. And not wanting us to linger here any longer than is necessary, I waste no time. While it might be safe for them when it comes to encountering most other humans, that does not extend to me. And with so many recent naga tracks criss-crossing throughout the forest, they are still in danger too. We can be ambushed with unwanted company at any time.
We nagas are not all rational. There is fresh blood in the breeze amongst the smoke and exhaust. There are nagas here that may have attacked the humans stranded—for whatever reason—or may have kidnapped them. For the obvious one.
And I have not tested my appearance in front of a strange human since killing those soldiers between Vagan and Zaku’s territories, and the ones with me now, who certainly would not have let me help them without Julia's intervention. If I come upon soldiers from the encampment, they may attempt to kill me on the spot.
But I must try. It will be useful knowledge. If nothing else, Zaku and the others will want to know if our enemies are still our enemies, or if tides have changed. If I bring back any intel, that piece will be of the utmost importance.
Locating a fairly tight section of brush that will give Olivia enough privacy for her business, I shift her gently in my arms. Placing her between a mossy log and a tree with low-hanging branches, I give her my lower tail to use to help adjust herself, coiling the thinner section under her arms until she is seated comfortably. “I will return to the others and send Julia to help you move your clothes.” For some reason, my cheeks burn once the words leave me.
“Thank you for your help but no need. I think I’ll be fine from here. Just come back in a couple of minutes.”
She pulls her leg inward and I give her a nod, unwinding my tail and moving away. “I will give you privacy but I will remain near so that you are ssssafe.”
“Okay.”
Her voice is tremulous but I do not dwell on it. I cannot alleviate her fear of me despite how much I dislike it. Nor should I. She should be afraid. Her fear will keep her safe.
