Page 69 of King of Serpents

Zathexa laughed in response, her tail shifting around her uncomfortably. “And where do you imagine it would be safe for me?”

“You could go stay among the Vehal,” he suggested as he leaned forward and helped her draw upward so that she could sit in a more comfortable position. “Perhaps the healer among them, Gamay, may even have an alternate treatment to this poison.”

He watched her with concern as she trembled with effort as she settled against the pillow that Jathella had shifted into place and eased behind her back. Never had he seen his mother so weak. He was torn between his need to see to his mother’s welfare and his growing need to be with his mate.

Zathexa peered at him, her expression growing rapidly drawn. She uttered a weak laugh and looked away from him. “Go? To the Vehal? What am I to do there—beg for sanctuary from my youngest son whom I cast beneath the weight of my coils for the satisfaction of the council?”

“To protect him from them,” Therxian argued. “You were not responsible for what happened to Lori.”

“I am the high queen. I am responsible for everything that happens within my domain. That is something that Yilada could not grasp. All the saw was what she desired. Not the responsibility that came with it. Our mother saw it too. It was why she never supported her in her attempts to establish herself as high queen in my stead.” She gave another raspy laugh. “Everyone wants to be queen to satisfy their vanity and to enjoy the prestige and luxury the position affords, but no one comprehends what it requires to be a good and just ruler.” She turned slightly in place so that they were face-to-face, and she regarded him steadily. “I am not going. This is my home and my people. All I have ever known is life within the Aglatha shinara. I will not abandon them to whatever madness the council is plotting with Yilada’s line.”

“Which makes it all the more important that you take refuge with them. The people need you safe. If you go to the Vehal, you will thwart the council’s aim. There, we can gain the Vehal’s support. Rally the hunters.”

“The council will never let you go,” Zathexa replied wearily.

“Then we will find another route,” he snapped, rapidly losing his patience with his mother’s stubborn determination to remain in shinara. “They do not have a chance to accomplish their goal anyway. I have claimed my mate, and—"

“You claimed your mate?” Zathexa interrupted, her eyes widening at him. Therxian swallowed sharply. His tongues had run away with him. He had not meant to reveal the truth of the situation quite that way. “It cannot be. Which of the females did you—”

He smiled grimly, understanding the horror with which she stared at him. There were not that many females who had gone to his nest. She was reasonably worried.

“None of them,” he assured her, and nearly laughed aloud at the look of relief on her face which quickly shifted to confusion.

“I do not understand. Then how—”

“I may have sabotaged your efforts,” he admitted. “With her help, I have managed to evade nesting with any of the females you have paired me with,” he added. And since he was already digging his own grave, he delivered the rest of his confession in a rush. “As my ashlava was hidden within my nest the entire time, she cannot be blamed for what happened. She was mostly protecting herself and assuring her own safety. Regardless, her strength of character has made her a good ally and made this time bearable for me. As for disobeying your orders, I take full responsibility. But I promise you it was never my intention to extend my disobedience into mating with her.”

His mother turned to Jathella with a huff. “Jathella, he is being cryptic. I cannot make sense of a single word he is saying. Or at least not in the way he is stringing them together. Please explain exactly what is going on.”

The captain grimaced and shot Therxian an accusatory glare, which he ignored, before clearing her throat uncomfortably. “It happens that Kitanara found... someone... on the desert,” she reluctantly admitted. “She hid her in the shinara to recover.”

Zathexa’s gavo slowly lifted. “Found?” she repeated. “In what manner was this individual found?” Her expression turned grave. “And what sort of individual would require Kitanara’s assistance to such an extent? And without informing me.” The queen turned to stare at the female in question, who in turn shrank back guiltily. The queen gave an impatient hiss. “Cease being foolish and come here.”

Buosoa nudged her sister, and the female meekly left her station at the other side of the door to approach. “Your majesty, I can explain. I could not just leave the human there to die.”

Therxian drew a sharp breath as his mother froze. She slowly turned toward him, her eyes narrowing.

“A human?” Despite her weakened state, and what it cost her, she straightened, her entire body trembling. “You have a human here?!”

“She was here,” Kitanara quickly corrected, plunging ahead before he could stop her run-away mouth. His mother’s gaze returned to her, her attention trained on the younger female. “My sisters and I stashed her in Therxian’s room, but we meant no harm. It was just until we could find a way to get her to the surface without the council trying to murder her. We had no idea that he would mate her. Well... Buosoa did, but she cannot be blamed for that,” she rambled. “It was really inevitable, I suppose. But you do not have to worry because once Therxian discovered what the council intended, he made certain to take her into the elder palace.”

“What?” Zathexa barked as she spun toward him and nearly toppled before he caught her. That didn’t stop her from glowering up at him venomously from his arms. “You left a helpless human alone in the elder palace?”

“Helpless?” He barked a laugh. “I will have you know that she is quite skilled with her wea... pon,” he finished lamely, and inwardly cursed himself. Now he was the one whose mouth ran away with him.

His mother stared at him aghast and then... she laughed. The sound was weak and for a moment he was concerned because it sounded like she was strangling, but it was indeed laughter as sank back down against the pillow.

“Vaoon, do you see these children I nested?” she murmured as she lay back and closed her eyes. “I am sure you are laughing in delight in Shangla’s court.”

“Mother,” he began, but she waved him away.

“I will think about what you have said,” she rasped. “You may return to your mate. Gorgona will keep me company for a while—if she does not object.”

“How could I even think to object?” the elder huffed. “Poison aside, I have watched you enough these many revolutions to know that you have not been properly taking care of yourself.” She tipped her head to Therxian, her gavo snapping lightly. “Go on, Therxian.”

Dropping his head respectfully, he gave his mother one last look before passing Kitanara as he headed for the door.

“Sorry,” she whispered, but he gave her a kind smile.