Page 92 of King of Serpents

Alex stared as she tried to look everywhere at once until her gaze finally fell on a tall woman running toward them, her hands waving above her head.

Vi?

Alex struggled to get her legs beneath her as Ehsash bent and lowered her to the ground, the water dragging at the loose material around her legs as she stumble-splashed toward the other woman. The soggy material around her arms flapping, she threw her arms around Vi and hugged her hard with relief. Vi’s laughter filled her ears as she hugged her back. Alex sagged slightly in her embrace but froze when her gut clenched and compressed with a violent heave that had her pushing away as she began to gag and retch with every stumbling step. Weighed down with what had to be fifty pounds of water, every step felt like an eternity as she made her way up higher onto the beach until she was able to safely drop to her hands and knees.

Doubling over, she retched violently, her entire body spasming as trickles of water poured from her belly and something yellowish and almost pus-like fell from her lips in thick strings to splatter on the stones. It worked its way up from her throat until she began to vomit too, drenching the rocks with a foulness that was carried away by the lapping water as Vi’s hand thumped her back.

“Just a little more... there you go, that’s it. Just cough that crap up,” Vi encouraged in a soothing voice that she didn’t know the other woman even possessed. “I’ve been there, and it’s one hell of an experience. But hey, look at this way, at least you’re not suffering through that with your face a mess of pain.”

Alex slowly lifted her head and blinked in confusion, only for her mouth to drop open in shock at the sight awaiting her. She barely recognized the other woman leaning over her. While Vi had a few noteworthy scars, she now carried a thick network of bright pink scars in a starburst that spread from the center of her nose and around her eyes like a mask, with several long scars stretching even lower to her jaw.

The corner of Vi’s mouth hitched upward. “Quite a sight, huh? I caught an explosion right in the face when we crashed. Thank fuck for Ehsash’s quick thinking,” she added as she looked over at the male watching them from the beach as he slowly shook the water from his wings. Vi’s gaze dropped back to Alex, and she gave her a half-hearted grimace. “You look a bit beat up, too. Though that is a pretty clever way to rig up your flight suit,” she added with a chuckle. “No TRS huh?”

Alex gave her a wan smile. “Don’t tell anyone,” she whispered hoarsely.

“Sure thing,” Vi replied with a chuckle as she ducked down and drew Alex’s arm around her neck to hoist her up against her side, making her groan.

“Yeah, I remember that too,” Vi added cheerfully. “Your chest is going to feel like hamburger for a few days. Nothing that some rest won’t fix. Let’s get you somewhere comfortable. There is an empty nest next to mine. Then we will see about getting you something better to wear. Like a whole outfit for one. As clever as this is, the Uralial weavers can make actual clothing appropriate for human bodies.”

“Wasn’t really an option while hiding among the Seshanamitesh,” Alex replied around a groan as Vi started ruthlessly forward.

Vi’s mouth twisted with a grimace. “Yeah, copy that. I’ve heard all kinds of fucked up shit about the shinara and that queen.”

“Zathexa isn’t so bad,” Alex protested, and Vi’s brows winged up in surprise.

“Well, now this one I got to hear. Because all my information says otherwise. What inside secrets do you have?” she teased.

“She is Therxian’s mate,” Ehsash replied drily as he joined them. “I think she would understand the situation quite intimately.

The look Vi turned on her, and her low whistle of appreciation, sent a hot blush through Alex’s cheeks.

“Ok, bed first but then you are definitely spilling the tea, because I bet it is scalding.”

Chapter 62

Therxian did not know whether to be grateful or not that the day passed without any further disturbances. As Ferinia had ordered, no food had been brought to him, but neither had she returned. And although he was hungry and his body ached horribly for being forced into such an unnaturally upright position for so long, he was more grateful to have been spared enduring her presence again. He was left to long for his mate in peace. Even the silence was a welcome companion. Other than the faint sounds of the guard changing, no one bothered him.

He had become so accustomed to it that he lifted his head curiously when the silence was unexpectedly disrupted by raised voices just outside his nest. He gavo inched upward as he listened. He recognized the new voice carrying clearly down the entry hall and into his nest.

“I insist that you move out of my way and let me through,” Healer Zhia demanded. “Ferinia sent me down to ascertain how bonded Therxian is and to prepare him for her.”

“Manual extrusion is bound to be unpleasant,” one of the guards muttered to the other, but she was quickly hushed.

“It is not our business, Dea,” the other guard hissed. “But we really should verify this before allowing the healer entry.”

“By all means. While you are at it, you can explain to Ferinia why you feel it is necessary to delay her mating. The potent fertility powders I will be feeding him to trick his body into breeding properly after extrusion are not instantaneous after all. I am sure the delay will be inconsequential. Go ahead. I will just wait here and—”

“Unnecessary,” the first guard replied. He could practically hear the disgust in the female’s voice. “We will accompany you. Just do it quickly and leave. And if you could accomplish it without any... unseemly noises... I would be most appreciative. Ferinia may insist, but that does not make it any less distasteful to do this to a mated male. The laws—"

“Shh, Dea,” the second hissed again. “Do not borrow trouble. No one on the council, much less Ferinia, cares about such things. Just do your duty. You do not wish to be confined like the captain and Kitanara.”

“Doing my duty should not subject me to witnessing such violations, Adaya,” Dea muttered. “It is not required that I like it. Confining the captain does not make me any more eager to participate in this madness.”

“Dea—"

“I understand,” the healer interrupted drily. “I will do my best to spare you the discomfort.”

“Very well,” Dea muttered.