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

  “What?” he hissed.

  Slengral shot the male an irritated look. “She is human, one of the beings who came from the sky.”

  “You mated a violator? And how?” The male jerked his head sharply to clear it and groaned. “Now your cautioning makes sense. You had your female even then and knew something we did not.”

  Snapping his crests in agreement, Slengral leaned in to whisper, his hand tightening on his friend’s arm.

  “The moment I had her cornered in my tunnel, I knew. All she had to do was speak and I knew, even though I did not at first know her words. The moment I spoke in return, she magically was able to speak back—rough though it was at first—and that confirmed that their species was not what we thought. And the moment I drew in her scent, I knew what she could be to me and wanted her,” he growled.

  “The shinara will never stand for it,” Kehtal whispered back. “They are interlopers, violators and intruders, uninvited and unwelcome. The females will want her dead as an example for the rest of her species.”

  “She is mine!” Slengral argued, his voice dropping into a rattling snarl that made the other male recoil. “The shinara has no power over the right of capture, and no authority over the males outside of their territory.”

  Kehtal sighed, twisting his arm until Slengral released it. He looked at Slengral with sympathy.

  “If you do this, you will never be welcome in the shinara again. They may even oust you from Aglatha’s mouth. What would you do then?”

  “Then I will take my mate and find an unsettled cave system to rebuild my nest,” Slengral snapped.

  His friend gaped at him, his gavo losing their rigidity and quaking in horror. “You would truly leave?”

  Slengral hissed, his eyes straying down toward the depths below once more. The head covering could not have fallen much further. There were several large ledges in this part of the shaft.

  “To keep my mate, I would,” he stated.

  Adjusting his wings, he dropped once more. He assumed that would be the end of the discussion, but he had miscalculated Kehtral’s persistence and curiosity. As he descended, he was aware of the presence following close at his side. Knowing that he would not be allowed any peace, he let out a frustrated snarl. Glancing over, he met the other male’s eyes.

  “The only things that keep me nesting near the Aglatha shinara is convenience of trade with the females and the traditional ways of our people.”

  “The caves would be different with you gone,” Kehtal commented unhappily. “There is no knowing what unpleasant male might take over your nest as his own, and all the tunnels in the main shaft will be disrupted.”

  Slengral stole a look at his friend and hummed to himself.

  “You would be welcome to make your nest near ours,” he invited cautiously, “should you wish to. You and Daskh both.”

  Kehtal’s head snapped around in surprise, making Slengral’s tail twitch uncomfortably through the air behind him.

  “You would trust us near your female in such isolated conditions?” Kehtal whispered in awe.

  Snapping his teeth in annoyance, he glared at his friend.

  “Why would I not? You have never cheated me or stole from me. Nor have you invaded my nest or attempted to harm me. You are my… friends,” he admitted. “There are no others I would trust as much as you.”

  Kehtal’s mouth widened in a grin. “You honor me… and Daskh, though he is not here to say so himself.”

  His body whipped through the air with an impressive agility in full demonstration of the emotions overwhelming him, a bark of happiness escaping him. His wings snapping wide, he slowed and sailed over to Slengral’s side once more, his wings tipping leisurely as they descended at a careful pace. He gripped Slengral’s forearm with a firm squeeze.

  “I will stand with you in the face of the shinara’s displeasure and do all I can to assist you,” he vowed. “Anything that you need, I will do what I can to provide it.”

  Eyeing the other male, Slengral rumbled in approval. “I am pleased to hear this. You can assist me now, in fact, if you are willing.”

  “Of course!” Kehtal agreed readily.

  Slengral tipped his jaw toward the darkness below them.

  “I am attempting to see to the necessities for keeping a human mate.” He explained. “First, I am required to find my female’s head covering. She lost it when she fell through the shaft. Second, I need to find someone willing to guard her when I need to leave the nest to hunt.”

  Kehtal’s eyes widened. “You wish for another male to enter your nest?”

  Slengral gritted his teeth. There was no idea he hated more. “No, but my mate becomes easily frightened when she is alone, and she says that it is damaging to her species to go long periods isolated. I do not wish my mate to suffer any damage. I will compensate you with a share of my hunt,” he offered, aware that his friend was still gaping at him.

  When the male continued to stare, he growled deep in his chest, voicing his displeasure. “I know that this is much to ask…”

  “No, it is fine,” Kehtal corrected. “I would be honored to be so trusted. I do have my own tasks that I have to see to every so often, but perhaps Daskh and I can take rotations. I am certain that he would be amenable to such an arrangement. Although he is a formidable protector, he is not always successful as a hunter due to his size. He would appreciate the barter to guard your nest.”

  Slengral hummed thoughtfully. It was not a bad idea.

  “Very well. Let me find my mate’s head covering so she does not fear the darkness away from the galthie.”

  Kehtal made a sharp sound between his teeth. “It is that bad? She fears the dark?”

  “No,” Slengral snapped defensively. He did not like the implication that his mate was so weak. “She is not afraid of the dark, but her eyes are weaker than ours and she cannot see even a fraction of what ours can. She needs the light… and the suns,” he added, though the thought of the latter still made his scales itch unpleasantly.

  Kehtal hummed in return, the soft little more than a soft vibration. “And this head covering allows her to see well?”

  “Yes. The aliens that come down into our caves wear them so they can see while they mine our tunnels.”

  “Clever,” his friend murmured. “They compensate for their weaknesses to allow them to work below the earth. And they need the suns?”

  “Yes,” he confirmed.

  “I am curious to meet your human. The only things I have seen of the aliens are the terrible remains dragged through by hunters or watching them working from a distance. I would have sworn from the way they worked in formation for such long periods that they were beasts of labor like the akanth that serve the shinara. I have so many questions.”

  “Just do not make my mate flee to escape them,” Slengral grumbled.

  Kehtal laughed and they descended together the rest of the way in silence until the faint glow from the overturned head covering drew them to their prize. With a victorious grin, Slengral seized it in one hand and shot back up toward his nest, Kehtal following just behind until they parted ways at the entrance of his tunnel.

  It was only temporary. Kehtal would return soon with Daskh, leaving Slengral with just enough time to tell his mate. He was certain that his mate would be pleased with his gifts to her. Now she would see and no longer be alone; she would be happy and never wish to leave him.

  Chapter 22

  Lori jumped to her feet as whispers echoed in the tunnel, but unlike the soft, indistinct noises that made her heart thump erratically when she was left alone, this one progressively got louder, and was accompanied by a glow that progressively got brighter. Unnerved, she scrambled further from the entrance, but before she could even begin to hunt for a weapon, she heard a familiar hum and relaxed.

  Two red eyes shone in the dark, as did his beautiful bioluminescent spots and gavo. They were faint at first but brightened as he got closer. As the distance between them rapidly de
creased, she was able to see the shine of his dark scales and the hard lines of his lower face thanks to the helmet he carried tucked under one arm.

  His mouth widened in his strange, inhuman version of a smile, and he whipped the helmet out, holding it by the strap as he presented it to her.

  She looked down at it in surprise, oddly touched by the gesture. She had complained about her inability to see, and Slengral had immediately gone out to fetch it for her. No wonder he had been gone so long. It was a miracle he had even found it at all.

  Gingerly she took it, her fingers skimming along the surface. It was dented in several spots where it had obviously struck hard against rocks, but the light functioned, and the inside was undamaged and wearable.

  Now if there were any sort of emergency, or any strange noises, she wouldn’t be completely at the mercy of the cave. It was such a relief that she felt tears spring to her eyes, only to be impatiently swiped away by her fingers. She wasn’t about to cry and make herself appear weaker than he already had to see her. Instead, she smiled up at him gratefully.

  “Thank you, Slengral. This is incredible!”

  “You are pleased?” he asked cautiously, his eyes trained on her face.

  She jerked her head in a rapid nod. “Yes, I’m very pleased.” A giddy little laugh escaped her. “I can’t believe you found it. This is a wonderful surprise! Thank you!”

  She beamed up at him as his wings fluttered with unrestrained pleasure, the tip of his tail curling around itself as it stretched forward and brushed her leg. It curled around her ankle, a lilting song vibrating in his throat.

  Lori stepped closer, enjoying the sweet sound of it washing over her body. Although this song was different than the one that had ignited her desire, she still inched closer to the source until her body pressed against his, her breasts flattening against his upper abs. The vibration startled, leaping before it shifted and settled in something that curled her toes. Still not too much, still not overwhelming. A shameful part of her wished for the other song that made her want to writhe against him. To be uncontrolled for once in her life and truly chase the culmination of her desire.

  Sadly, Slengral was obeying her utterly, his song remaining warm and affectionate and nothing more as his arms settled around her, enfolding her within his embrace. Her body quivered under their weight and touch. His claws skimmed over the top of her uniform. For the first time she actually regretted the fact that he had eventually capitulated to her wearing clothes again. He still didn’t like it, and if his growl was any indication, their presence was frustrating him as much as it was her. She wanted—needed—to feel the erotic scrape of claws against her skin.

  A heat struck low in her belly, spreading through her and sending a tingle between her thighs as she was caught under an unexpected wave of arousal. She clung to him, her breath coming out in little gasps as she pressed further against him. His tail twisted higher up her leg, the tip teasing her inner thigh.

  Lori gasped and moaned under the sensual touch, and a rattling purr-like sound vibrated through his chest on a low hum.

  “This pleases me too,” he murmured. “I wish nothing more than for you to know great comfort and happiness with me. I hope you are just as happy with my second gift.”

  She sighed against his scales, unable to stop the warm, melty feeling from returning in her chest. Her heart and sex seemed entirely in agreement, tempting her far more than she dared to act on. The warmth lasted only a moment before her ardor suddenly cooled and she blinked as her brain caught up with the rest of what he said.

  “Second gift?”

  He smiled at her again as the rasp of scales against the cave floor met her ears. Sounds that were not coming from him. Her fingers tightened on her helmet’s strap as she slowly looked over toward the entrance and froze. Glowing citrine and emerald eyes stared back at her as two large males slipped in. The first was a little smaller and leaner than Slengral but still an impressive stature compared to a human; the second that entered behind him nearly eclipsed the other males in the room. The enormous Seshanamitesh nearly blocked out the light of half of one wall as he drew closer to her and stared down at her with a flat gaze.

  “Oh… my,” she choked.

  She was feeling lightheaded, and it was a wonder that it didn’t just fail right there on the spot. As if her fear was leeching every bit of strength out of her body. Maybe she was about to faint. Was that one of the symptoms? She couldn’t remember. Or maybe it was seeing spots, but it was too dark to really tell if she was seeing spots in front of her eyes.

  Her breath panted as she stumbled back from Slengral’s side, her eyes darting back and forth between them. Why had he brought them? Had he lulled her into a false sense of safety and then brought these other two for some nefarious reason? She shook her head. That didn’t even make sense to her. Why bring her helmet so that she wouldn’t be afraid just to go out of his way to terrify her by bringing strangers into the nest?

  “Your female does not look well,” the big one rumbled in an impossibly deep voice, cutting a hard gaze toward Slengral. “Have you not been properly caring for her?”

  Slengral looked toward her in confusion, his eyes searching her face. He stretched an imploring hand to her. “What is wrong, ashlava? Do not be frightened. This is my gift to you.”

  “What?” she croaked, her voice quivering. “How is the presence of two strangers a gift to me?”

  The smaller citrine-eyed male glanced over at Slengral, his mouth dropping open in what could only be surprise.

  “Did you not tell her we were coming? I thought that was the reason you went ahead while I retrieved Daskh, so that we would not frighten her!”

  The large horn-like spines on Slengral’s head and the fanned edges of his ears twitched with discomfort. His red eyes turned toward her, the pupils widening as he bowed his head apologetically.

  “I had not yet had the chance. I was enjoying her pleasure of the first gift and not yet had the opportunity,” he admitted.

  The larger male—Daskh—grunted and turned his head to peer down at her once more. A low resonate hum rose within his chest. It vibrated through but only briefly before it silenced once more. She blinked in surprise. Did they identify and greet each other by a humming vocalization too? She had experienced several distinct varieties of Slengral’s song, but she hadn’t realized that there might be one that identifies them as a greeting. She knew that voice quality alone in human singers made it easy to distinguish one singer from another. It would make sense though considering the world that they lived in that they would take this even further.

  So much of the Seshanamitesh seemed to be defined by vocalization and singing that it awed her. They literally lived their lives fully within music.

  “I am Daskh,” the big male said immediately after his song quieted, confirming her speculation. “Slengral was to have told you that he asked me, and Kehtal,” he nodded toward the other male at his side, “to help keep you company and watch over you so that you are not alone when he must leave the nest.”

  She blinked again. She was doing a lot of blinking, it seemed, but her brain just struggled to keep up with all the craziness she was being introduced to. These males weren’t, strictly speaking, a gift. He brought her security and companionship so she wouldn’t be alone and scared.

  “Wow,” she breathed out, overwhelmed.

  Lori looked at over Slengral to find him watching her, his body language tight with worry. He was dangerous and dominant, and yet his uncertainty in wanting to make her happy was far too endearing. More so because it was so clearly genuine. There didn’t seem to be a drop of guile within him.

  She swallowed as she met the eyes of the two other males waiting expectantly. “So you’re going to just… remain here… with me any time that Slengral leaves?”

  Kehtal flicked his head spines. “Yes, on rotation. Daskh and I will alternate days that we are here with you. Slengral insisted that this was necessary for your comfort and
health.” He cast a cunning look toward the male in question. “And I think it will calm his mind as well knowing you are protected.” His mouth split in a grin. “I may not look as strong, but I am very capable of keeping the nest safe.”

  Lori’s swept her eyes over him without thinking and flushed. “I think you look more than capable, actually,” she said.

  The male’s eyes sparkled with delight, and he laughed, the raspy sound tickling the inside of her ear, making her smile in return.

  “I thank you. It is not often that I enjoy a female’s admiration,” he replied, his own eyes taking her in leisurely.

  Slengral stiffened, his tail whipping around her as his jaw dropped in a terrible rattling growl. Although Daskh’s tail twitched uncomfortably, Kehtal’s grin was unrepentant in the face of the male’s ire.

  “Do not be offended, Slengral. I know that she is your ashlava,” he soothed. “I will not do anything to violate your nest or mate.”

  Lori considered pointing out that she was not, in fact, Slengral’s mate but common sense stopped her. She didn’t know what other males might do if she contested Slengral’s right of capture. Would they consider her fair game?

  She certainly didn’t want anyone trying to take her from him.

  Daskh then inhaled, drawing her scent against the roof of his mouth with his tongue. His brow ridges lowered.

  “She does not scent of you like a female should. Nor do you scent of her adequately. You have not fully initiated mating with her. You lied, why?” he growled.

  Slengral’s tail snapped against the ground so sharply that she jumped as he rounded on the larger male, undaunted at all in their size discrepancy.

  “She is mine,” he snarled. “I have agreed to follow the mating process of her people and wait until she is ready to join with me, but I have claimed her with all rights due.”

  “He’s right,” Lori broke in. “I did ask him to, so that we have time to get to know each other. We’re not even the same species,” she reminded them all.