I blinked and turned in a circle, taking him in. “That’s amazing!”
“Hey, what about me?” Danzig asked, his tone teasing. “You never called me amazing when I was keeping you safe from stray bullets.”
“You were amazing and brave,” I assured him. “But I was a little distracted at the time.”
His brows furrowed. “Yeah, that was an abrupt way to learn about everything.”
Marduk let out a huffing breath and rested his head next to me, drawing my attention. Leaning over, I put my hand on his head and felt the same texture as when he’d been small.
While I did that, Marduk moved his tail until it was wrapped around one of Danzig’s legs. Danzig nodded, then spoke to me.
“Marduk wants to know if you’d sit on him.”
“Uh, what?” I said, sure I’d misheard.
“He’d like permission to touch you and the easiest way to do that would be if you sat on his back.”
“Like a horse?” I asked.
“Sure,” Danzig said with a grin. “Your snake steed.”
My brain filled with an image of riding Marduk into battle with a sword in my hand. It was irresistible!
“Yes!” I agreed.
Danzig batted at Marduk’s tail as if his brother said something annoying.
“Take the yes,” Danzig said with a little glare at Marduk. “Stop questioning it!”
The tail unwrapped from Danzig’s leg and gently curled around my waist. He lifted me up and carefully deposited me on his back, right behind his broad head.
I let out a little “oh” and pressed my hands to his scales and tightened my legs as if that would help me hold on. I was about six feet off the ground and doubting my impulse. If he moved like a normal snake, I’d never be able to stay on.
As if reading my mind, Danzig moved to stand next to my left leg and patted my calf.
“Don’t be worried, we can keep our heads up and still as we move. You’re in the perfect place to have a smooth ride.”
“He can hear me, right?” I asked, mostly reassured by Danzig’s words.
As if to answer, Marduk moved me up and down slightly, making me flail a little. I wasn’t at risk of falling, but I didn’t feel entirely steady.
Danzig put his hand on Marduk’s side, paused, then said, “Yes, you’re right.”
“What did he say?”
“I’m going to ride with you,” Danzig answered as he kicked a leg up and seemed to magically jump high enough to take the spot behind me. His front pressed against my back and his arms wrapped around my middle. He made me feel much more secure. “How is that?”
“Better,” I admitted.
“Let’s head to the back of the property,” Danzig suggested. “Mason mentioned that it’s more open back there.”
Marduk's head remained still even as his snake body moved back and forth to propel us forward. It was fascinating to look back and see his body moving like a regular snake.
“This is amazing,” I breathed. I felt like a mythical warrior, ready to charge into battle on the back of my…boyfriend? Ichuckled under my breath. That was more for a Terry Pratchett book instead of an epic fantasy.
That was fine, I’d always liked Pratchett more than Tolkien.
As we traveled between trees and over weeds and shrubs, I noticed movement around us. Wolves were loping on either side of Marduk, sometimes jumping over his tail or darting across our path.
