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I ball my hands into fists, holding them at my side, ready to start swinging if anything hostile comes through that door. Had I woken up in chains or something that looked closer to a cage, I might have had my fist raised.
But you wouldn't bandage up someone and set them up on a cushy bed just so you could feed them to your giant pet snake, right?
When the door opens, I realize it's not a pet snake I was hearing, but some kind of snake man. Then my mind summons a word I'd started to think was just a myth. Naga. I'd heard of them in stories others had told in hushed tones about the snake people of Nagaland.
A cold weight settles into the pit of my stomach. In all the stories I heard of the naga, they were described as cold-blooded people whose cruelty rivaled that of the dark elves. Even surpassed it, depending on the storyteller. More than once, I'd heard that they feasted on human flesh. It was like taking the worst aspects of dark elves and orcs and pouring them into one serpentine container.
But if that's the case, why heal me? Why put me here and not in a cage with the other humans they bred for food? Maybe they enjoy playing with their food a bit first.
A chill runs down my spine, but I suppress the shiver. I set my jaw and keep my stare hardened. Just because I'm scared out of my wits doesn't mean I have to let him see my fear.
At least I think it's a him. I don't know what would differentiate a naga man or a naga woman. I'm pretty sure it's a him. He just feels masculine.
The naga stares at me, and at first, I feel very uncomfortable. I've had men undress me with their eyes before, and some are capable of making me feel like I need a shower after. Whatever this guy is looking for feels like that but more intense. And I can't tell if it's better or worse. It doesn't feel like he's stripping away my clothes but my secrets.
I want to turn away. To run and hide. But I'm locked in his gaze, staring right back into his golden eyes. And the longer we look at each other, even though it feels more invasive, I find myself minding it less and less.
And then he speaks.
"I'm the Duke of this territory. You may call me Uzha."
His voice moves through me, igniting passions I didn't know I had. Is it really possible to get this turned on just by hearing someone talk? It's never happened to me before. Perhaps it's some strange ability his people have. Maybe that was what his gazing into my eyes was about. Some kind of spell.
Because this can't be happening. I can't feel weak in the knees over the half-snake man.
