by C. L. Bright
An ear-piercing screech echoed around us just before a female launched herself at Dante. She was completely hairless with deep blue scales. Her mouth opened to reveal fangs, and her serpentine tongue darted out as a cobra-like hood spread around her head.
“Nāga!” I shouted at Dante since I didn’t know if he’d recognize the creature.
From what I’d been taught, the nāga were rarely seen. They only attacked when cornered or their nest was threatened.
Quickly shapeshifting, I raced toward the nāga who was trying to bite Dante. Luckily, only males of their species could spit venom. I hissed, drawing her attention away from him.
If she was hungry enough, she’d abandon Dante in favor of capturing a meal. Dante didn’t know what I planned and used the nāga’s distraction to send a blast of red-hot magic from his palms.
The nāga stumbled back several paces but quickly recovered, lunged forward, and sank her fangs into Dante’s arm. The venom could be deadly if he didn’t get treated soon. I needed to get the nāga away from him and then get help, or he’d die.
I lunged at the nāga and swiped at her back leg with my claws. She turned and hissed at me. I darted between her legs and bit her to make sure her anger was focused on me, even if she wasn’t hungry enough to pursue me for food.
Likely assuming Dante would be dead soon, she raced after me.
Nāgas were only fast in short bursts, forcing me to slow my pace so I wouldn’t lose her just yet. I wanted to get her farther from Dante.
A male nāga blocked my path, so I darted to the left. The male created a whole new problem, which he made clear when he spit venom at me. It hit the ground beside me as I continued running. I heard both nāgas chasing me.
Once their footsteps grew fainter and I knew I’d lost them, I doubled back to where I’d left Dante. He’d made it back to the truck, but he was slumped over the wheel, his breathing labored.
I quickly shifted and dressed. “Do you have one of those spells to treat nāga bites with you?”
The Azureans had traded them to us in the past.
He shook his head. “There shouldn’t be any in this area. I’ve never seen one before. I wonder why she attacked me.”
“There were two, a male and a female,” I explained. “They likely came out here so the female could lay her eggs. We need to call for help.”
Thankfully, nāga poison didn’t attack the system as quickly as king cobra poison. Dante had four to five hours before he reached the point of no return.
“Can you drive?” he asked in a strained voice.
“Not well,” I replied. “I’ve only been behind the wheel twice.”
“You’ll have to do your best.” He struggled to move into the passenger’s seat, and I slid behind the wheel.
“This looks a little different from what I’m used to, but I can do this,” I remarked as I started up the truck and managed to turn it around.
“You saved my life,” he said in a weak voice.
“Not yet, I haven’t,” I corrected him.
“You still risked your life for me,” he said. “Thank you, Juliet.”
“I couldn’t let you die,” I told him.
“Because it would be wrong to let someone die?” he asked. “Even your enemy?”
“No,” I replied with a shake of my head. “I could let someone die, but not you. You’re not my enemy. You should know that after everything we talked about today.”
“I’m not your enemy,” he agreed.
“Why is this poison hitting you so hard?” He shouldn’t be quite so week and confused. “I was told it takes hours for it to start affecting you.”
“It may take longer with a shapeshifter,” he replied. “I’ve got about two hours from the time I was bitten. Maybe less.”
“Tell me the fastest way to Azuredale. I’m going to be furious if you die.”
Chapter 19
We made it back to Azuredale in a little over an hour. Based on his labored breathing and struggle to remain conscious, I suspected we were cutting it close.
Dante was too weak to use his magic to open the gate, so I got out and shouted at a warlock near the front entrance.
“I need in there now!”
The warlock looked irritated as he moved closer. “If you belong here, then you should be able to let yourself in.”
When he turned to walk away, I shouted. “Stop! Dante Verdugo is in the truck, and a nāga bit him. We don’t have much time.”
The warlock looked over at Dante and immediately started shouting orders at others as he opened the gate so I could enter.
“I need a nāga anti-venom spell now!” he shouted.
Spellcasters raced to do his bidding. Within a few minutes, a witch yanked open the passenger door. She had a small blue orb in her hand.
Dante’s breathing was extremely labored, and I’d released his seatbelt so he could slump to the side and rest his head on my lap. The hum of his magic along my skin felt weak.
The witch holding the spell rubbed it between her hands, and when she opened them, the orb glowed brighter. She held it against the center of Dante’s chest, and blue light spread across his skin before being absorbed. After several minutes, the light was gone, and Dante had regained some color.
“He’s going to be okay, right?” I asked the witch.
She nodded. “He needs rest. The poison came very close to killing him. How did you get away without also being bitten? I’ve heard nāgas don’t usually back down when they attack.”
“She’s fast,” Dante replied in a weak voice. “Juliet distracted the nāga and got it to chase her into the woods.”
“They’re slow after the initial burst of speed,” I added. “It was easy losing the nāga, but I was worried I wouldn’t get Dante back here in time.”
“Brave witch,” she said with a smile before looking down at Dante. “You’re lucky to have her.”
“Very lucky,” Dante agreed.
“Can I take him home now?” I asked.
“Yes, make sure he stays in bed for the next couple of days. He’ll be weak, and it will take longer for him to recover if he overdoes it.”
“Thank you for saving him,” I told her.
“I’m just doing my job,” she insisted as she closed the passenger door.
I looked down at Dante. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was even, so I assumed he was asleep until he spoke.
“You’re very brave,” he whispered. “Brave and beautiful.”
“Let’s get you home and to bed. With any luck, you have a relative there to help you to your room. I don’t mind saving your life, but I’m not carrying you up any stairs.”
Dante tried to laugh, but it came out sounding like a pained groan.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “Do you need more of the antivenom spell?”
“No,” he assured me. “I feel much better, but it will take time. The bite doesn’t burn nearly as much, and I don’t feel like my chest is being crushed.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whispered. “You scared me.”
I heard the smile in his voice. “Because you like me.”
“I do,” I agreed. “Are you going to be able to open the gate at your home?”
“Yeah,” he assured me. “I may not even make you carry me upstairs.”
I smiled and shook my head. “I’ve already told you that’s not going to happen.”
“Juliet?”
“Yes?”
“I really like you, too.”
Chapter 20
Dante hadn’t wanted anyone to carry him, but he’d needed Ambrose’s help to keep his balance while walking up the stairs to his room.
Ambrose had fired off question after question about the nāga. First, he’d been most curious about the location so he could warn others.
Spellcasters were concerned with the nāgas’ dwindling numbers. Any species going extinct could create problems for the spellcasters since it would disrupt the balance of na
ture.
His questions didn’t end there. Having never seen one, Ambrose was very curious about our nāga encounter. He was especially curious about what methods I’d used to save Dante.
“Stop asking questions,” Dante grumbled as we helped him to bed. “I’m too tired to listen to you, Ambrose, and I’m not about to let you borrow Juliet.”
Dante let out a sigh of relief once he was finally lying down.
“Fine,” Ambrose relented before pulling me into his arms for a hug. “Thank you for saving my brother. I cannot believe you drew that thing away from him. I can’t believe I was worried your size would make you more of a hindrance in a dangerous situation. You proved me wrong. I don’t think I could have saved Dante.”
“You never know what you’re capable of until you have to act,” I replied. “It helped that I knew I could outrun her.”
“How did you know it was a female?” he asked.
“It didn’t spit at me,” Dante answered for me. “Remember, the males spit venom.”
“Right,” Ambrose agreed. “I’ll get the word out that we need to avoid that area. We don’t want anyone to be forced to kill one.”
“I’m glad we didn’t have to do that today,” Dante replied.
“Considering the shape you’re in, you wouldn’t have gotten into any trouble for it, but it’s best to avoid an inquiry,” Ambrose replied before exiting the room.
“Do you ever find it strange that you kill shapeshifters while nāgas are considered a protected species?” I asked.
“No,” Dante replied. “Shapeshifters are the result of a spell, so they’re considered unnatural. Nāgas are an important part of our natural balance.”
“Even though they aren’t native to this area?” I asked. “It seems like you’d worry about how they could decimate the native wildlife.”
“Good point. I suppose it’s just that they haven’t been a problem so far,” he said around a yawn. “I owe you my life, and I swear I’m going to repay that debt.”
My lips lifted into a sad smile. “I’m going to have to hold you to that under the circumstances.”
“Will you lay with me?” He sounded unsure of himself. “I want to hold you.”
There was a knock on the door, and Dante let out a sigh. “You’d better see who it is.”
“Okay,” I replied.
When I answered the door, a witch with short blonde hair, tanned skin, and dark brown eyes pushed past me. “Dante! My Goddess! Are you okay?”
Dante’s lips lifted in a weak smile as he regarded her. “I’m fine. Well, I will be fine.”
“Ambrose said something about a snake and a witch.” She looked around before pointing a finger at me. “You’re the witch my son brought home. How dare you take him out where he could get bitten by a snake. He could have died.”
When faced with an irate witch, it’s best to exercise caution and avoid angering her further. Instead, I laughed.
“You find my son’s injury amusing?” she demanded.
“I find it funny that you think Dante is so easily led around or that he’s helpless,” I explained. “He can take care of himself.”
“I didn’t take care of myself,” Dante reminded me. “You had to save me from the nāga.”
Her anger faded. “A nāga?”
“Yes. Two, actually. Did Ambrose tell you it was a snake?” Dante asked.
She shook her head. “I only caught part of the story before I hurried up here to check on you.” Her attention shifted to me. “You saved him?”
“She lured them away after I was bitten. You should have let Ambrose finish telling the story,” Dante told her.
She waved off his words. “You know how long it can take Ambrose to tell a story. I don’t have all day to listen to him when you’re injured.”
She stood and pulled me close for a hug. “Thank you for saving Dante.” When she pulled away, she kept her hands on my shoulders to hold me close. “I’m Laranissa Verdugo, and you’re Julia, right?”
“Juliet,” I corrected her.
“I’m terrible with names,” she confessed. “Come with me, and I’ll get you fed before we bring up Dante’s dinner.” Her hands dropped from my shoulders, but she caught one of my hands.
“Juliet was going to lay in bed with me until I go to sleep,” Dante argued.
“First, she will eat,” Laranissa announced. “You’ll wake up and eat when she brings back your dinner. Am I making myself clear, Dante?”
“Yes,” he muttered.
“I’ll be back soon,” I promised him as Laranissa practically dragged me from the room.
“How long are you planning to stay?” she asked as we walked down the hall, my hand still grasped in hers.
“I’m not sure yet,” I replied.
“What do your parents think of you being here?” she asked. “Are they hoping you’ll make a good match with Dante and stay?”
“My mother died a long time ago,” I replied before remembering my cover story. “It’s hard to say what my father thinks. We aren’t close. I’m not accepted among my family.”
She gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “I remember now. Serena told me about your family situation. They don’t care so much about that in Azuredale. I was in a similar position growing up. That’s partly why I ended up here, but that’s a long story.”
“You’re not originally from Azuredale?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I lived far up north in a tiny community you’ve likely never heard of. I met my warlock, and our magic seemed compatible.”
“So, he brought you back here like Dante did with me?” I asked.
She hesitated. “It wasn’t quite the same. My warlock already had three sons with different witches and was looking for someone to help raise them. That really makes it sound like he was using me. That’s not the case, though the boys needing a mother influenced both our decisions. You don’t need to hear all the details, but it’s how I ended up with my sons.”
“And you treat them all like they’re your own?” Nidia had never acted that way with me.
“They’re the only children I have,” she replied. “I don’t want children of my own because I know it would be harder for the boys, especially Nicolas. He’s already jealous of his brothers. Can you imagine how he’d feel if I had a baby with his father?”
“I don’t know him well enough to say.” I suspected she was right about him not reacting well.
“Nicolas can be vicious,” she explained. “His father raised him to be a good leader, and you have to be somewhat vicious to lead, as my warlock likes to say.” A haunted look passed over her face, but she quickly masked it. “As I’m sure you know, warlocks can be quite competitive.”
Competitive?
I didn’t argue or question her choice of words.
I needed to get back to Dante’s room to avoid bringing any more attention to myself. Holding my tongue wasn’t something at which I excelled. “Do you really think I should leave Dante alone?”
“He’s had the antivenom, so all we can do is wait for him to recover,” she pointed out. “There’s no reason to hover.”
“Dante wanted me there.”
She waved off my words. “He’s asleep by now, so he can let you go long enough to eat.”
“I suppose you’re right,” I reluctantly agreed. “Where is Serena?”
She shrugged as she led me into the kitchen. “It’s hard to say. You’d think that with her on house arrest, we’d know where she is, but this is a big house. It has to be to hold so many hunters.”
“How many people live here?” Dante hadn’t mentioned a number.
“Forty-nine,” she replied after a pause. “You’ll meet everyone eventually. The recent rebel activity has kept us all busy, but I don’t need to tell you that.”
“No, you don’t,” I lied.
She stopped once we were in the kitchen and studied me carefully. “I’m surprised you were out there alone. You seem too young to hunt, let
alone by yourself.”
“That is an interesting observation,” Nicolas purred from behind me.
Chapter 21
I spun to face Nicolas with a hand over my heart.
He’d startled me, but that reaction quickly gave way to irritation when I saw his amused smirk.
“Maybe I’m not as young as I look,” I replied without taking my eyes off him. “I’m well-trained.”
“She could never have saved your brother had she not been well-trained,” Laranissa added.
Going by Nicolas’s shocked expression, he hadn’t heard the story yet. “What do you mean? How did she save Dante?”
“She distracted a nāga who’d bitten him and then lured it away,” Laranissa explained. “There ended up being two. If she hadn’t been there, Dante would be dead. He couldn’t have driven himself back.”
Nicolas uncrossed his arms and moved closer, looking intrigued.
I wanted to take a step back, but it was best to avoid showing fear in front of any predator.
“You took on two nāgas?”
I shrugged as if it was no big deal. “The first was a female.”
“How do you know that?” he asked.
“She didn’t spit at me or Dante.” I resisted the urge to point out that he must not be that well-trained if he didn’t know that already. “Only male nāga spit. I’m surprised so few Azureans seem to know that about them.”
“I knew that,” he snapped, but I didn’t believe him.
“Aren’t you supposed to be out today?” Laranissa asked him.
“We decided to call it a day early,” Nicolas explained. “We’d already caught five familiars, and we needed to come back to file paperwork. It was a productive day.”
I caught myself before I could correct his use of the offensive term. “So, you aren’t going out again today?” I asked instead.
He shook his head. “I’ve already sent someone else to deal with the corpses we left behind.”
It was a good thing I’d looked away when he made that announcement since I’m not sure I could have hidden my horror at his nonchalant mention of dead shapeshifters.
“You killed all five of them?” I asked. “Were they dangerous rebels?”
