Page 88 of Black Mamba

She was not within our camp when I returned from hunting, only her packs. I had searched everywhere, hoping she had gone to find water. And when I did find her tracks, they led me in the direction of the encampment. It did not take me long to realize she left for it without me.

I immediately knew what she meant to do.

By the time I reached the encampment, everything had been different. There was shouting, and pressure and electricity in the air. Now, there is sweet-smelling dust.

But the moment I saw Elena, my fear of losing her twisted to anger. Anger that she left when I had thought she could be trusted.

We reach her packs and our firepit. I only release her long enough to haul them over my shoulder.

When I grab her hand, she tugs it from my grip and pulls away. “Lukys, I’m sorry.”

I stare at her.

“I didn’t want to put you through weeks—months—of labor just for you to get inside when I could get right in.”

“Did you find your sister?” I ask, my voice lacking emotion.

“I… No.” Her eyes drop. “She wasn’t listed on the registry. I didn’t see her anywhere.”

“Then we have no reason to sssstay.” I growl. “Let us leave.” I wish I could feel bad that she did not find her sister, but I only feel betrayal.

Though the dust particles are no longer thickening the air, I still smell their sweet aroma. It is filling my nose even now, obscuring Elena’s headier scent from me.

“You’re mad at me… Please don’t be mad at me.”

I hiss, closing the short distance between us. Towering over her, my shadow covers her form. “You promised you would remain by my side.”

“I did… but you left me first.”

I bare my fangs. “I did so to hunt for you—nearby. I was never far enough away that I could not get back to you quickly.”

“Even so, I only meant to be gone for a short time.”

“A short time where you had to rely on another for help? Where an eruption of some human machine clogged the air with dust. You could have gotten hurt!” I shout, uncaring if I am heard by others. “You are heated and another naga could have been there!”

She flinches and I draw back, not wanting to make her afraid.

“I didn’t get hurt. There were no nagas. And I now know my sister isn’t here…”

“And what if she had been? Would you have stayed to search for her? Would you have left with her to return directly to me?”

She winces again. “I would have figured that out when I got there.”

“I see.”

She reaches for me when I move away.

“I would have convinced her to come to the forest with me. I would have returned to tell you.”

“You would have left me—” I stop and turn. She stumbles and I grasp her shoulders before she falls into me.

“You don’t know that!”

“Then make your choice, here and now.” I tighten my grip on her. “Are you with me or not? You have given me your body, but I want more. I want everything.”

Her lips part then close before she nervously licks them.

“It issss not a hard question to answer,” I snap. “Are you with me, or are you going to continue putting distance between ussss? I will take you back to the encampment and you can stay, be with your people, or you can choose to trust me. But do not shoulder me along, do not make me fall in love with you just to leave me once you find your sister.”