Page 62 of King of Serpents

“And what is your interest, Ferinia?” he growled.

Her gaze widened at him with an air of surprise. “Why would I not be invested in your wellbeing? You are the queen’s son. Granted, I have my own selfish reasons as I also desire to mate you—but I am well aware that I am not the only one, even if I feel that I am by far the more suitable female for you.” Her eyes narrowed on him thoughtfully. “You should not trust the females of the noble matriarchal court so easily.”

“What makes you think I trust them?” he scoffed. “I trust none of you. I only came out here because I wish for this nonsense to end. I do not want to live a life where I must worry about females stalking me and lurking around every corner.”

Her smile slipped, and she regarded him for several heartbeats, her expression flat and unchanging until suddenly she smiled again and chuckled. “You are so delightful, Therxian. But good for you. All of them are unknowns, after all. Records of birth can be forged. You never know who you might be dealing with. Would it not be better to have an ally?”

“You are suggesting that I trust you?”

“Why not? Unlike many of these females kept well-guarded in their mother-nests, I have been an active member of this court most of my life. Zathexa practically raised me during my maiden period and oversaw my maiden trial personally, which she has not done for any other except the human Lori.”

“If that is the case, then why agree to this breeding plan? Why not just arrange our mating and give you her formal approval in front of everyone?”

Did he imagine it or had her smile become more strained?

“We had a falling out—over a personal matter. It is not my place to speak of the queen’s affairs. You would have to hear the tale from her. She may not be willing to endorse me formally in front of the entire court because of it—especially with the way it has been particularly volatile in recent revolutions, and even more so following the incident with Slengral which may caution her against showing favoritism—but even she would tell you that I am a superior candidate among all the daughters of the noble mother-lines. And now you have seen for yourself that I will extend my resources to help you. Otherwise, you may have very well discovered yourself mated and bound completely to Gareiia despite Zathexa’s decree. I may blur the lines in my own movements, but I would never casually disregard them.”

“Except to take Gareiia’s place lying in wait,” Therxian retorted.

The female grinned shamelessly, making him even more uneasy. That same expression that was so endearing from his mate, whose mischief was generally more prankish and idle curiosity, made him wary around Ferinia.

She spread her hands wide. “I am not springing any trap on you or keeping you from leaving. I merely wished to speak plainly for myself so that you can see my intentions clearly. Especially in light of Gareiia’s efforts.”

Was it that simple? She was cunning, but it was possible that she was speaking genuinely about her intentions, even if her ultimate goal was to secure her own position. If he had not already fallen deeply in love with his mate and bonded himself thoroughly to her, he might have set aside his distaste and at least considered her proposal after thoroughly investigating the fate of her previous mate and satisfying himself in the matter. Ambition did not immediately make her his enemy, and he had to admit that, while her tactics had pushed boundaries, she had observed the formalities required for courting a male of his position.

When it came right down to it, her tactics had all been specifically of the courting sort and had lacked anything overtly suspicious in nature.

“Since you do not intend to detain me, I will be leaving,” he slowly replied.

Her smile faded, but she inclined her head in resignation. “Very well. If you wish to revisit this topic, I will have a servant stationed at the palace to receive messages out of respectful adherence to the high queen’s decree. Just seek her out and she will return to me directly.”

“You are not exactly observing it now,” he pointed out.

“Are we in the palace?” Ferinia laughed and swept her arms wide, her wings spreading around her briefly in emphasis before folding once more. “Go on before your absence is discovered and reported. Just think about what I said. And watch out for Gareiia and the other young noble females.”

Therxian stiffly inclined his head and turned away. Unlike Dehv, he didn’t drop from the ledge and fly away. That certainly would not have gone unnoticed. More than that, he refused to react like panicked prey. So he turned and gave Ferinia his back, daring her—and closely monitoring her in case she should attempt an attack—and made his way back toward the parapets and into the palace.

Ferinia’s words did not leave him so easily. She hinted broadly that the line of Yilada was hiding in plain sight among the females selected, and that any of their hatching records could have been forged to deceive him. Gareiia seemed like a likely candidate for a nestling of her daughter, but so did many others, and not even Ferinia seemed certain of which female it might be and issued a warning against them all. Although it was not outwardly helpful, it confirmed what he had come to suspect after that initial conversation with Jathella and his mate following his meeting with Vekatha.

What Yilada started with his mother and father was still lurking and waiting to take the throne and secure their legitimacy completely through him.

And if his mate should become known? It made me fearful for her more than any other.

Chapter 44

Alex stretched beside her mate and pressed her body close to him so that she could breathe in his scent. It was subtle since she didn’t possess the abilities of Seshanamitesh to scent each other’s pheromones, but the faint aroma was pleasant and warming as she burrowed closer to him beneath the blanket. Therxian vibrated with a small rumbling hum and turned toward her, his body curling around her contently as he enveloped her within his arms and beneath the coil of his tail, his wing curling around them both.

“Awake already, are you?” he murmured sleepily, his gavo rising and falling, betraying his present alertness.

Even with his eyes closed, he was aware.

Alex smiled and wiggled against her mate to get more comfortable. “I really don’t want to waste time sleeping when I have you all to myself right now. No Jathella, Kitanara, or Buosoa. No plans and strategies. Only you and me, and pretending like we are the only ones in our little world right now.”

“I like this pretending,” he rasped. His breath fanned her hair as he chuckled, and his arms gathered her in to press her firmly against his chest. “Do you feel it, hithana? My hearts sing for you.”

She smiled and rubbed her cheek against his scales, the double rhythm of his hearts beating steadily under her ear. “What are they singing?”

“A very lamentable song about how they wish to remain right here beside you rather than return to the upper palace and disturb this dream of ours.”