talking, anyway?” she asks Grimsal, when she finally gets her amusement back under control.
“They are not like snakes. Most males are easily twice the size of the females, some bigger yet, and highly territorial, allowing only females to pass through their territory without issue. You definitely don’t want to have to avoid one of them,” the goblin snickers.
Steph lets out a breath and pats my neck.
“Don’t worry, big guy. You’re the only one I’m interested in. A male that large freaks me out just a little.”
Pleased, I snake my head around to nuzzle her, my lips brushing against her hair. She snorts and shoves my head away to pat her hair with her free hand. Her expression instantly changes to a scowl as she feels the leaves and twigs caught in her curls, and with a muttered curse she sets to untangling them from the glorious dark mass of hair as we walk.
Perhaps it was silly to be concerned about my mate being interested in a naga, but my territorial urges grow more intense the longer we are away from my grotto. Although Grimsal is correct that females rarely stray from their lands to seek mates, there have been occasions where a male naga and a unicorn clashed over a female. I have enough to be concerned with when it comes to the fairy prince’s interest in my mate; I do not wish to battle off a naga suitor as well, especially if Steph was even remotely interested in the idea of one.
Although I will make certain that no other male will have claim to her for as long as I’m around, I’m very grateful that I will not have to face a naga.
They are difficult bastards to kill.
“Well, there’s a bright side, at least,” Steph mutters between pained curses. “That means we probably don’t have to worry about being jumped by the fairies while we’re traveling through this area.”
“If they even know we’re here,” Grimsal adds. “We may be well on our way to the Heart of Wells before they manage to track us.”
I am not so optimistic, but I keep that to myself, not wishing to unduly worry my mate. Grimsal is correct that since my magic sent us to a random location, it will take the fairies longer to find my magic’s trail and track us down. I’m just not convinced that we will elude them for long. Perhaps they will not descend on us until we reach the edge of the naga territory at the mountains, but they may track our progress through the naga territories until then. Regardless, I won’t sleep or travel at ease until we pass into a grotto and are protected by the magic of its well.
Even having her walking at my side rather than safely perched on my back frays my nerves. My body twitches with hyperaware caution as I walk by her side, my skin shuddering at the slightest touch of an insect as if it were a passing fairy reaching for my ahandral mare. I draw more than one concerned look from my mate as I snap my head around uneasily, but I reassure her as much as myself with frequent nuzzles of affection.
After a few hours of walking, I am happy when Steph consents to riding again. She doesn’t look happy about it, but she goes directly to a small boulder and climbs onto it so that she can mount. Although she mumbles under her breath as she settles on my back, I can already feel an improvement in her seat. More than anything, however, I’m happy to have her safely off the ground.
I am quite certain that once our bond is sealed, I will never wish for her to walk anywhere outside of our territory. Not even in a fetch form. Knowing this anxiety over my mate’s safety is bound to have lingering consequences that few other males have had the occasion to experience.
Steph winces and shifts her bottom.
Are you okay, my heart-spark? I inquire as I brush her leg with my nose.
She blinks down at me as I lift my gaze to meet hers and gives me a wobbly smile.
“Yeah, I’m good. A little sore, but not bad. That stuff you put on me really helped, I think. Just time to get back in the saddle, so to speak,” she laughs.
Just make sure to relax, and keep your thighs and calves tight around me.
“Yeah, I know. I’m trying,” she mutters. “Just don’t do anything crazy to