arousal.
Well, damn.
The naga also gets the message loud and clear if I’m to judge by the pout she gives Eliph before settling back and picking up her lamp once more.
“Unicorns and their ahandrals,” she sighs remorsefully. “How disappointing.”
She looks meaningfully at me as she finishes speaking, her lip curling in a superior way that’s just begging for a fight. I might have attempted a swing if Eliph’s arms didn’t tighten in warning, reminding me that I probably don’t want to piss off the naga…or the being who likely owns the little establishment in which we’re currently taking shelter.
For the first time, I glance around at the wooden interior of our surroundings. It is worn but clean, and the bed that Eliph and I are on dominates one side of the room entirely. It’s designed for very large species…How large, I couldn’t even guess.
“The ahandral bond is very powerful indeed,” Eliph agrees softly, clearly attempting to soothe ruffled feathers, whereas I don’t care if the bitch chokes on them. “I thank you for graciously permitting to shelter us within your establishment.”
“If things were different, I wouldn’t have minded having a taste of you.” She sighs as she gives a regal—and rather snooty, if you ask my opinion—nod.
Over my dead body would she have gotten a taste of anything, ahandral bond or not. I don’t say so, but thankfully Grimsal is all too happy to take up the mantle of naga baiter because he grins and gestures to his pelvis, which is surprisingly not unimpressive as he sways his hips in a suggestive circle. I slap my hand over my eyes because I definitely do not want to see that. I’m more than happy that Eliph takes that opportunity to hug me against him with a soft chuckle as we leave Grimsal to do his thing.
“You know, if you’re in the market for some company, I am very available,” the goblin announces suggestively. “Not to brag, but I’ve had females from five territories weep over my cock and my skill with it. I can give you a memorable night.”
I choke on the laughter that bubbles up at his shameless self-endorsement. One that is in no shape or form appreciated by the resident naga princess. The hiss that escapes her is furious as she side-winds away, her hair rising around her as if supported by an invisible hood, or like the fibers acted in an identical manner.
“I wouldn’t touch you to spit on you, goblin. How dare you insult me by even suggesting that I might consider you a viable option,” she retorts venomously. “For the sake of the unicorn, I will allow you to take refuge in my inn tonight, but I expect you all to be gone in the morning. I have no interest in entertaining lesser creatures on my premises.”
She gives Grimsal and me one last sneer before she slips out of the room and firmly closes the door behind her. I’m not sorry to see her go even if the light is considerably dimmer without her lantern. Thankfully, the goblin heads directly over to the fireplace and stirs up the fire a bit more. It doesn’t do much to help the lighting, but after a few minutes it does start to feel warmer and a bit more comfortable.
A yawn makes my jaws crack, and even though I’ve just woken up, I can feel the seductive call of sleep already. I guess it’s true what they say about not really resting when you’re unconscious. I don’t want to sleep until I have some answers, though. I really want to know where I am and who that female was. I eye both males curiously.
“So…where are we? And what’s with the snake princess?”
Grimsal chuckles as he pokes the fire a bit more, but that doesn’t stop him from slanting a mischievous grin at Eliph. The unicorn bears it gracefully enough, though if looks could kill, Grimsal would be dead several times over by now.
“We are in a traveler’s inn near a river that bisects the forest my portal dropped us into. As for the naga, well, she wasn’t inclined to offer us sanctuary,” Eliph explained only to be interrupted by Grimsal’s bellowing laughter.
“What he means to say is that she took one look at us and turned us away like we were diseased. Nagas live deep in the southern forests of Angita. They are very exotic, beautiful, and apparently have no use for species that they consider inferior,” he chuckles. “If not