Page 34 of A Drop of Venom

Too exhausted and sated to explain, I simply waved my hand. “Everything.”

Chuckling, and still trembling with his own release, he stroked my hair and cupped one large hand under my bottom to hold me to his chest. “It is all my very great pleasure, I assure you. Everything I do for you, I do with gladness in my hearts. You are my light.”

“And you’re mine.” I let myself go limp in his embrace, trusting him to take care of me—to take care of all of us—tonight. “How many more days and nights of travel before we reach the border and cross into Izaelon?”

“Five.” He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it. “And then three more days to the village where our home waits for us.”

“Mmm…our home by the sea.” Despite his descriptions, I still couldn’t picture what it would be like to look out my windows each day and see the sun glimmering on the vast waters.

If all went well, in just eight days, I would see Izaelon and the warm sea for myself.

As I rested, he hummed the same sweet melody he’d sung for me when he’d first brought me home to his cave after finding me in the ravine. It had become a habit because in the early weeks and lunars of my pregnancy, I’d had trouble sleeping and his voice was one of the few things that helped.

I’d started to learn the language of Izaelon not long after we’d become mates—first so I could read his books without him having to read aloud and translate for me, and then because I wanted to learn more about his culture and homeland. Thankfully, Terolon was a patient teacher.

Once we’d decided I would stop drinking my morning tea, he’d reached out by letter to his sister the queen to ask if he would be permitted to return to Izaelon with his human mate so our basilings could be born and raised among their own kind.

Afelia’s joyous reply came swiftly, along with an offer to help us find a home near the palace. She’d also offered to send a garrison of the royal guard to escort us. We’d accepted the assistance with securing a home, but declined the escort.

We’d already sent most of our possessions ahead when word reached us via Stosior’s spy network of Lord Vedast’s relocation to an outer province after a disagreement with the king. And when we’d heard rumors of what took place in his cottage, Terolon was only too happy to plan our route to Izaelon such that our path took us through Allhurn.

As for persuading him to let me go into that cottage alone and deal Vedast’s death blow myself, that took a little more doing, but in the end I’d prevailed. Even a protective serpentae male worried about his beloved shelshi and our unborn basilings understood my need to avenge myself.

Justice had found Lord Vedast at last. And now I could put this kingdom behind me for good and turn my feet toward the warm sea.

EPILOGUE PART TWO

TEROLON

Four Lunars Later

My mate was writhing and screaming in agony in my arms, and I was sure my hearts were withering away to empty husks in my chest.

“You are doing well, Hazel,” Afelia said. My emerald green sister was coiled in front of us, her upper body between my mate’s open legs. Her hands were steady and her expression calm and focused as she carefully ran her hands over Hazel’s very round, rippling belly. “It won’t be long before your basilings will be in your nest. Breathe, sister.”

“Tero,” Hazel sobbed, her hand squeezing mine with astonishing strength. “Tero, I’m so tired.”

I smoothed sweaty hair back from her face and pressed my lips to her temple, wishing I could take every last bit of her pain and discomfort in her stead. “I know, my shelshi, but Afelia says all is well. She is the finest midwife in our kingdom.”

Afelia looked up at us, her head tilted. “Not the finest. Possibly one of the five finest.”

Hazel let out a pained half laugh and groaned. “Afelia, this is not—” She gasped and moaned. “Not the time.”

“Apologies.” My sister rubbed Hazel’s calves, which were braced on one of her coils. “I will not say there is no reason to fear, but I have delivered many basilings from human mothers. You are doing better than most.”

“I am?” Despite her pain, my mate looked astounded. And then she grimaced. “Oh dear—those poor women.”

“Indeed, the process is never easy, but I promise they are all healthy now and busy chasing their little ones all around the village.” Afelia gestured for one of her helpers to bring a cup to Hazel. “Time again for tea. It will help with the pain.”

Hazel groaned. “It tastes so foul.” But she obediently took the cup and drank it down in three gulps.

My mate’s birthing pains had begun in the night. I’d sent a neighbor with word to the palace. My sister arrived just before dawn, accompanied by two helpers who were midwives in training.

And now as the sun began to set over the sea beyond our front windows, I found it increasingly difficult to disguise how helpless I felt with my mate still in terrible pain.

Not long after the sun began to disappear, Hazel let out a particularly anguished cry. Afelia and the helpers went from quiet and still to a flurry of activity.

“It is time for your firstborn to make their appearance, I believe,” Afelia said to us, her tone brisk. “Terolon, sit her up a bit more and let her brace herself against you.”