pressure.
If I’m suffering, the other nagas are too.
“Three females is a problem,” says Zaku. “But I have an idea. If we fight for mating rights to them, there is a chance they will run while we battle. It is paramount that the females do not come to any harm. Especially by us or our ways. They may be all there is, and we can’t lose them. We must keep them safe.”
We mumble in agreement. I love the red of my female’s hair, but it is the only red I wish to see upon her. I do not want to witness her blood outside her moon cycle.
Zaku continues, “If they run, the animals could kill them, the pigsss. They could get hurt—”
“So what’s your suggestion?” Vagan interrupts.
“I suggest we spread out when the human males hand them over. So we do not fight. I suggest they run, we follow, and we hunt them down. Whoever catches the females first wins nesting rights to them.”
Silence hangs over us as we ponder Zaku’s words. It is a good suggestion but not the greatest. My redhead is already mine. But the other male nagas will want proof, and a hunt—because I know I will catch her—is a good way to prove it.
“I like this idea,” Boomslang speaks up first.
“Of course you do,” Vagan snaps. “You are a hunter of the forest.”
Azsote shrugs. “I am. That does not change that this is a good suggestion.”
“And what about me? What about Syasku? We fare best in the water. A hunt over land cripples us.”
Nobody cares about Vagan or Syasku, but I don’t say that aloud. “There is water nearby, a lot of water. If the females head for it, then you have an advantage.”
“And if they don’t?”
I turn back to the facility, not caring enough to answer.
“I will accept a hunt,” says Syasku of the Cottonmouth clan. Good. If the other water naga accepts a hunt, then Vagan has no grounds to argue it.
Vagan scowls.
“It is settled then,” Zaku declares. “We will hunt for nesting rights to the females.”
Another wave of shouts soar in the air. I lift my spear and release a bolt of electricity to the sky. I like this. I will win. I have destiny on my side. Vicious, red destiny.
The other males pound their chests, and some release their well-hung and hard members from their scales. Tails coil and thump the ground. For a frenzied moment, excitement and real camaraderie return to us. It is a rare thing. We are deadly as a group.
We are deadly alone, but together… The world would tremble with fear.
But the excitement does not last. I turn back once again to see if my bride is outside, if she’s being gathered with the other females to be handed over.
And for a second, I see her. My heart stops.
She’s being led to one of the flying transport machines. Another female is fighting, kicking, and screaming behind her. She’s lifted off the ground and hauled to the machine.
My female goes calmly.
She knows her fate. Knows who awaits her
Me.
Venom fills my mouth. My heart revs back up.
The others have gone silent, and I know they are watching as well.
“She is the one I want,” Azsote rumbles. My eyes flick to the Boomslang watching my female, and I slam my spear into his side.
I attack him, striking out with my tail, knocking him over. He evades my speartip, rolling away before I can plunge it into his gut.
“She is mine!” I roar, fury surging through me. “Mine!”
How dare he want her. How dare he even look at her! Azsote strikes back, hitting me with his fist, slicing me with his claws across my bicep. The sting of pain erupts, but I barely notice, needing to see his blood splattered across the ground.
Hands grab us, pulling us apart.
“Enough!” Zaku shouts.
Fighting his hold, I spit venom in Azsote’s direction. He pushes his capturer away and shrieks a battle cry. Furious, only his blood on the ground and his spine in my hand will appease me now.
“I sssaid enough! They’re coming! Do not let them see us fighting.” Zaku shoves me away, getting between us. Growling, I rise to fight the King Cobra as well, but he’s facing the horizon.
Behind him, the humans’ transport vehicle is heading our way. It glides soundlessly through the air.
All thoughts of Azsote and the others fall from my mind. My female is heading for me.
In mere moments, I will see her up close for the first time. My body tenses to not only fight, but to fuck as well.
“Present the technology,” Zaku orders.
Vagan hands Zaku a small metal box. A data collection. An ancient thing left here by aliens. Both this technology and the humans once shaped this world, but for countless years, both have been ours. Times have changed and now the technology is wanted by these humans that have returned from the sky.
I don’t care about the technology. I have my den, my weapon, and enough resources to last me into old age. These trinkets that we are giving the humans is nothing compared to what we keep hidden.
The transport flies past us to land on the clearing behind. Some of the males scatter, readying themselves for the coming hunt.
When the transport opens, the only ones left are me, Zaku, and Vagan.
I will not lose this chance to finally see my female up close.
My fangs drip. A male dressed in a powersuit steps out.
My spine stiffens when another man follows after.
Where are you, little female?
My hands clench.
Then I see her, and my mind blanks.
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Also by Naomi Lucas
Naga Brides
Viper
King Cobra
Blue Coral
Cyborg Shifters
Wild Blood
Storm Surge
Shark Bite
Mutt
Ashes and Metal
Chaos Croc
Ursa Major
Dark Hysteria
Wings and Teeth (Coming 2022)
The Bestial Tribe
Minotaur: Blooded
Minotaur: Prayer
Stranded in the Stars
Last Call
Collector of Souls
Star Navigator
Venys Needs Men
To Touch a Dragon
To Mate a Dragon
To Wake a Dragon
Naga (Haime and Iskursu)
Valos of Sonhadra
Radiant
Standalones
Six Months with Cerberus