Page 45 of Black Mamba

She takes a half-step back then puts her foot on the ledge of her ship.

I pause and lower my basket. “I have brought you fruit.”

With her back partially turned to me, poised to flee, she pauses as well. She turns around and faces me, the frown on her face morphing to one of confusion, curiosity. “Don’t come any closer,” she warns.

I deserve no less. “I would like to give you these. They are fresh and will provide sustenance.” I indicate the basket with my chin.

Her eyes flick between me and my offering—a sturdy vessel I wove with plant fibers filled with fresh fruit. “What are they?”

“Berries. Blackberries. Humans find them tart and sweet. Their juicessss can be sticky.” They are not to my liking, but I will eat a few on occasion to remove another unfavorable taste from my mouth.

“L-leave them by the firepit and I will come get them…” Her voice trails off as a tiredness blooms over her expression. It is a tiredness I have seen often in her eyes lately.

But doing as she says, I take my basket to the firepit and set it at the edge of the circle, placing it where she can easily see it. Afterwards, I return to the trees.

My blood thrums and my hands clench when she takes a step away from her ship.

She is outside.

I can… No.

I do not want her to fear me anymore.

I want to help her. I want to see relief in her expression. I want to have… What all the other couples have.

She walks to the circle—her gaze half on me—and sets down her bucket, peering at the basket I left for her. She glances at me before picking it up and carrying it back to her ship. She sets it on the ledge, cautiously looking over at me once more. After that, she returns for her bucket.

Her eyes settle on me. Her lips open and close as she begins to say something, then stops. I tilt my head as I wait for her direction. I do not want her to leave.

She picks up her bucket and holds it to her chest. “I need to get water.”

My fingers twitch. So it has finally come to that. I eye her bucket and how big it is. It covers her chest and stomach and is a hand’s width deep.

She shifts on her feet and continues to looks around nervously.

She turns to the males’ ship. “I was going to ask Levy to come with me.”

I inch forward. No. Not Levy. Not another male. “I will go with you.”

She flinches, but then it is gone. “I think… I’ll be fine with him.”

Jealousy erupts and my chest tightens, my tail coiling underneath me. My jaw ticks as I force my venom down my throat.

“Maybe I’ll just go alone,” she continues. “It’s not that far. After all, I won’t get… stolen again? Right?” She frowns as she backs up a step and then another, still watching me warily.

“You have no need to flee,” I grit. “You will not be taken again. And no, you will not go alone. You have recently been hurt and should not use your arm. I will not come near you, but let me help you in thissss. I will guard your passage and make certain you take the best path.”

She blinks, and her throat bobs. With one final glance at the males’ ship, she sharply nods.

“Set your bucket down and I will come and retrieve it,” I demand.

She frowns again like she does not know whether to listen to me or not. “Are you sure?”

“Yessss.”

Slowly, she places her bucket within the circle and walks back to her ship. When she is beside her ship’s door, I weave across the meadow and pick up human-made vessel. As I do, a wave of her mesmerizing aroma floods me. My body goes taut as my lungs fill with her, realizing I’m smelling something sweeter than before. Her scent is different, more complex, more… heady.

I shake as I swallow thickly, wondering where the sweet twinge in her scent is coming from. And why it is there now when it was not before. Either way, she does not reek of fear. I will take that as a good sign.