Serpents of the Abyss (The Darvel Exploratory Systems #2) Read online

  She barely stirred when he slid into the warm water, the manipulation of his tail lowering him onto the first shelf within it with a practiced ease so that he was able to keep his arms wrapped around her. It was only after they had soaked into the heated water for several minutes that Lori started to stir and peel herself off of him.

  He missed having her pressed close to him, but he was glad to see some sign of activity from her as she sank into the water with a grateful sigh, her arms smoothing water against her exposed neck and face.

  She still trembled—he would be a fool to miss it—but when she looked back at him, her gaze did not seem quite as hopeless as it had moments before. She swallowed and leaned into his touch when he grabbed a cake of soap he had traded for the last time he ventured down to the shinara. It smelled of the barlisk nectar and the herbs the females grew in their hidden caves near the surface. It was a scent he had always found pleasing. Judging by the smile on Lori’s face, it was one that she did as well.

  Idly, she stroked her hand along the smooth edge of a gavo that had partially unfolded in response to her anxiety, her fingers trailing over the shimmering streaks of light emitting from it.

  “What is this?” she asked softly.

  He shivered at the intimate touch. Although he had limited sensation in his gavo, not unlike that of his claws, and he knew that she was not initiating mating with him, he still got a private thrill for her hand there.

  “My gavo. They help me hunt by luring prey and help me protect myself. Be careful,” he murmured, stopping her fingers before they could slide over the sharp edge, “that part is sharp.”

  She peered up at him, her eyes landing on his flattened crests. “You have them on your head, too.”

  “My crests,” he confirmed, his mouth parting in a smile.

  “Well, they’re very nice,” she said at last, her hand dropping down to her side. Sighing, she settled against him quietly. “Can you do that again… sing to me?” she whispered.

  Slengral did not answer but began to hum, the rolling vibrations filling the room of his cavern. He did not stop humming for even a moment as his hands stroked the soap over her flesh. Eventually, her quiet sobs stilled, and her voice began to sing with him, so softly at first that it was barely there. But as he continued, her voice grew stronger until she joined him, singing wordlessly with him. The merging of their vibrations—the heart songs—made his spirit tremble. The tip of his tail slid around her lower legs, needing more contact as they temporarily allowed their spirits to become one through their song.

  Chapter 19

  Kehtal adjusted his wings as he glided lower, the silvery light of the shinara’s outer wall welcoming him. A painful pressure descended into his belly every time he lay eyes on it. Although it was a place forged by the hands of the Seshanamitesh, it was so different from the hunters’ lives that it might have well been a construct of the aliens living on the surface. Powered by the waterfalls that descended from great heights around the shinara, encircling the sheer cliffs that dropped at all sides of the great nest, power practically vibrated from the place.

  Carved of the darkest stone, the architecture stood within an artificial light that shone far brighter than even a nest best stocked with the most vibrant galthie. Arches and great towering buildings could be seen, and the holy nests of the gods rose up on prominent hills. He had never been close enough to the shinara to really get a good view of the beauty contained within it, but he lusted after the vibrant colors that flowed everywhere, even if the large metallic warthvar, the empowered sentinels of the shinara, stood guard stationed around its perimeter. Used for manual labor and protecting, the constructs towered over most Seshanamitesh, encouraging the best behavior among the males who were assembling below.

  They had not hesitated to use their warthvar before when the hunters were separated and condemned to scrape any sort of living that they could from the rocks of the caverns. Although it was a hard existence, no male wished to return to that time and face the might of the warthvar.

  Kehtal sighed miserably as he dropped lower, his view of the shinara becoming rapidly obscured by its wall. He disliked the selection time more than anything, but it was worse when there were so many.

  Now that the shaft was nearly clear and a new breeding cycle upon them, hunters were using the opportunity to make up time to hunting offerings to present to those females who would be choosing a male to join her. Although the females often chose hunters to enjoy for a waking cycle of pleasure, it was the chance to be clutched by a breeding female that males competed vigorously for.

  It was also the time when the females took note of any who were absent. To not show up for possible selection was a grave offense. The only males who got away with not showing up were large males like Daskh who were eliminated from breeding selection. It was unfair, though Kehtal was surprised that they had not yet started eliminating smaller males such as himself. Small, quick, and deadly were no more ideal than brute size and strength. As he had never been selected for pleasuring or breeding, he was envious of Daskh and had barely bitten back a retort when the male had sleepily watched him depart from his ledge.

  Only the threat of angering the shinara had motivated him to hunt excessive of his own needs only to descend with his offerings in hand. It was the same reason that males continued to attend when only a handful from among them were selected.

  He knew that was why Slengral never stayed away long, so he could at least make an appearance before he managed to slip out before a female could select him and attempt to rile up his instincts so he might “capture” her for a time. He knew of at least one female who would be eager and quite insistent to make such a capture permanent.

  As if summoned by his thoughts, a female streaked forward from within the shinara, her multiple crests and gavo raised to show off her beauty. In the artificial light, her dark scales were of a deep green hue that reminded many males of the verdant life of the wet seasons. Those were the ones who could look past her cruelty and still compete amongst themselves to draw her attention.

  The youngest nestling of a noble female on the Aglatha shinara council, an alliance with Vekatha for a male who won her favor and managed to sire nestlings on her was one that promised comforts. It was rumored that she so desired strong nestlings that she would take such a male into her nest permanently. Kehtal did not consider that enough incentive to look beyond her viciousness. Although she eagerly tried out any hunter she found pleasing, she was intent on having Slengral. He had seen it in every frustrated snarl on her face when the male managed to evade her.

  Not that Slengral ever took such things seriously. He made his escapes and thought nothing more of it. He did not see the rage on Vekatha’s face. The male’s ability to escape her would not last forever. Although males had laws that protected them, especially mated males, everyone knew that what a noble female of the shinara desired she would eventually acquire one way or another.

  If it weren’t for the risk that came with ascending up to the hunters’ nests, Vekatha might have scoured the heights of the shaft in search of his nest. If that ever happened, and the female challenged him with the pheromones ensnaring him, it was entirely possible that Slengral would fall victim to her trap and claim her.

  And a mating claim offered by a male could never be revoked. The laws protected the mating claim on part of both the male and the female. A male who earned it and made the claim with his female bound with him could not have his mate taken away. In turn, her mate could never be taken from her by anyone, not even the male himself.

  Such thoughts made Kehtal grateful that he was considered unworthy of her time. Still, his eyes continued to track her all the same as she wheeled back and forth over the crowd as if searching.

  His head cocked, and his eyes also scanned the surrounding males. In the crowd of dark males, the deep blue of Slengral was not among them. Kehtal blinked slowly to clear his vision. He had to be mistaken. It was one thing to be clever enough to l
eave the offerings and depart, but for Slengral to not come at all was just asking for the anger of the shinara to fall on him.

  Dropping down among the cluster of males, Kehtal moved among them until his eyes fell on a familiar male with green scales a shade lighter than Vekatha’s but bisected with uncommon white stripes. Ehsash had once been popular with the females who hoped to breed with him for the chance of passing his markings on to their offspring. Unfortunately, the male had been unsuccessful at siring nestlings. As far as Kehtal was aware, it had been many seasons since he had last been chosen, and the male did not look any happier to be there than he was.

  Ehsash’s amber eyes turned toward him, and his ear ridges flicked, acknowledging his presence as Kehtal settled beside him and leaned in.

  “Have you seen Slengral anywhere?”

  The male’s brow dropped, and he dipped his chin. “No. I have not seen him since the last breeding season. Usually he arrives with you.”

  Kehtal’s crests snapped anxiously. “That is usually true,” he agreed, “but mostly due to chance that we happen to be in the tunnel at the same time. I have not seen him, however.” He twitched, his eyes sliding over the crowd. “Maybe I should go to his nest. It could be that he has forgotten.”

  Which would be very bad for his friend.

  Ehsash flicked his crests and reached out his hand. “Give me your offering and go. I will present it on your behalf. The females have already made note of your presence, so there is no reason to wait if you do not have to. Better to make certain than leave it to the shinara and their mates,” he muttered bitterly.

  Letting out a relieved breath, Kehtal unhooked the pair of danthas from his belt and handed them over. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  The male tucked them in with his own offerings, his crests flicking again in acknowledgement as he faced the small group of females assembled at the gate with a wary expression. Only twelve females had left the shinara with the intention to breed. Twelve females with over three hundred males pressed in, vying for an opportunity to be selected. His mouth flattened into a grim line, echoing Ehsash’s watchful glower. This was going to get bad. There were usually far more females waiting. If not to breed, then many interested in taking a male to pleasure her with certain precautions made.

  Spreading his wings wide, Kehtal took to the air, lifting from the crowd. The moment he was clear, he put on a burst of speed, his wings powering through the air toward the entrance to the main shaft. With the stone racing below him, he began to relax as he put distance between himself and the shinara.

  The shaft was just in front of him. Just a few more wingbeats were all the distance that separated him from it. He lifted his head, preparing his body to angle upward so that he could slide into the shaft without breaking speed when he caught sight of a streak of darkness barreling at him.

  Letting out a vicious bark, he attempted to swerve out of the way, but he was unable to stop the larger body colliding with him. The full force of the impact jolted through him, sending pain shooting into every extremity. Dazed, he began to plummet and only just barely remembered to flap his wings, the frantic slap of them echoing in the air as he slowed his plummet to a nearby ledge.

  Slowing, however, did not mean stopping, and he hit the stone slab with enough force to expel every bit of air from his body.

  Drawing deep, pained breaths, Kehtal lay there, uncertain whether or not anything was broken. He could barely think, much less function. He blinked up at the stony wall above him and groaned. It was only a moment later when his vision was filled with the very female he had hoped to avoid.

  Vekatha smirked down at him, her crests partially fanned out, her glittering gold eyes watching him with the ruthlessness of a predator. The tip of her tail stroked over his, sending an instinctive shiver through him.

  “The kapan who befriended my Slengral… where is my male?” she hissed, adding the sweetest vibrational inflection to her voice to lure his cooperation.

  “I do not know of what you speak,” he grunted as he struggled to catch his breath.

  Her tail rolled over his, her weight bearing down on him mercilessly as she met his eyes.

  “Do not play games with me. I have seen you together many times. I know that he spends his time with you. Now tell me where he is!”

  “I do not know,” he insisted weakly. “I was going to see if I could find him. If you let me go, I can fly up immediately. I do not wish for him to be punished by the shinara.”

  The beauty of her face hardened, her crests standing up aggressively as she leaned in, trapping him beneath her weight so that she could stroke one claw down his cheek.

  “You do that, kapan. Tell him that his absence has been noted and his presence is demanded. That is his only warning. He has one waking cycle to present himself to me. If he does not, he will not like the consequences.”

  Kehtal’s crests twitched repeatedly. Even as he made a show of cowering under her, part of him observed just how easy it would be to slash up at just the right angle and kill her. The shinara depended on the hunters being so cowed into submission that they would not even think of retaliating. Even as the thought twisted in his mind, he instinctively shied away from them as he met her gaze, lying submissively beneath her.

  The gleam in her eyes changed as they rolled over him speculatively, the tip of her tail slithering over the scales hiding the seam of his slit.

  “Perhaps there will be some reward in it for you,” she hummed, the vibrations of her song burrowing into him. “If you do well.”

  Panting beneath her, trying to expel her scent from his nose, he was thankful that his sant responded only very slightly. Extruding without completion was painful, enough to make some males promise anything for relief.

  “I will tell him,” he replied in an uneven voice.

  That was all he would do, and even that was minimal since males did not permit others into their nests. He would be forced to wait and hope to catch sight of the male flying through the shaft as Slengral never took outpost on his ledge. In fact, he was entirely unconcerned about the entrance into his tunnel as long as no one violated it. One way or another, he would let the male know that he was now being hunted in earnest.

  His ability to evade Vekatha was now at an end, and his friend needed to be aware of it.

  Although unhappy with his lack of response, Vekatha grunted and slid from his body, her dark coils slipping over the ground elegantly as she drew back from him.

  “See that you do,” she hissed.

  He watched her warily as she took to the air once more in the direction of the shinara, and then fell back against the stones beneath him to work on stabilizing his breath so that he could fly again.

  He did not know why, but he had a feeling that something had changed and the shinara was now tipping out of control.

  Chapter 20

  Lori didn’t know what to make of Slengral. The gentle way he had been treating her since they discovered the dismembered man practically on their front door showed a side of him that was working its way around her defenses. Ever since he bathed with her, not withdrawing his touch as he sang to and with her, had brought them closer—and the connection she felt still hadn’t left her days later. Not even the sound of stones being cut loose from where they were wedged in the shaft bothered her during the waking hours or brought her nightmares when they roused her from her sleep. Knowing that the work was steadily clearing the passageway helped ease her anxiety, although it always returned whenever he went out to hunt or was called out to assist with the work.

  She hated being left alone in the cave more than ever. Even though he assured her that no one would be foolish enough to enter his nest and she would be perfectly safe in there as long as she didn’t emerge, Lori didn’t feel any safer. There were days when she struggled to breathe after he left. She sat on the padded bench, her fingers digging into her palms as she fought to regain her calm. After several minutes, she was able to get up and go about her day. S
lengral had been teaching her to make baskets with some of the coarse plant material, and so she occupied herself with the repetitive motion. Even then, she never really relaxed completely, not until Slengral ducked into the nest.

  He always had a smile for her—of a sort. The sharp corners of his mouth shifted upward, and he hummed softly in a way that let her know that he was pleased to see her. She didn’t know when she started looking forward to that rather than obsessively looking forward to the day she could escape. Despite his gruff demeanor, he actively drew her out into conversation, wanting to know her thoughts rather than just making small talk.

  It often circled back around to the colony and when it would be safe to go to the surface, but more than anything she couldn’t help being afraid deep underground, no matter how beautiful the plants were. The unnatural quiet of the caves bothered her too, especially when she was alone. It didn’t help that sometimes she still dreamed of falling, or the smear of grisly human remains. Fortunately, the weight of Slengral’s tail coiling around her comforted her when she woke.

  She relished this part of the day when it was still too early for him to venture above ground. Lori glanced over at him as she threaded another cord of tightly twisted grasses through the basket frame as Slengral had showed her how to do. For a change, yesterday she had dyed the grass a surprisingly shocking pink from one of the flowers that grew in the main gallery of their nest. The room boasted several plants that were always brimming with pink and purple flowers, and it didn’t take her long to note that they made excellent dyes.