Page 59 of Serpents of the Night

Kehtal’s gavo snapped happily as he smiled and gestured to the other room where Hashal played with Veer and Sheeri. “Yes, I think so. I am the smallest male here, but no one looks at me as if I am less, nor has anyone tried to threaten me or push me with their larger size. If this place makes our mate happy and keeps her safe, I am very content to remain.”

“Then it is decided,” Therxian rumbled happily as he lifted from his cushion, his eyes fell upon the comms on Kehtal’s and Slengral’s wrists however before he offered them an apologetic smile. “There are rules, however. The comms will have to be deactivated.”

Lori nodded and swallowed. “I just need to make one call.”

Therxian sighed heavily as his gaze swung to her. “Lori...”

“I know you’ve already made an exception for me once,” Lori quickly interrupted, “but I just need to use it once more... to say goodbye to someone I care about.”

Slengral’s brother sobered as he stared at her for a long moment before he released an even heavier sigh and nodded. “The same time constraints apply,” he grumbled. “Even if Raza has Seshanamitesh dwelling with them, no colony can know our location.”

With those parting words, he left. He wasn’t forbidding it, but it was clear that this was the last time he would allow it. And Lori was grateful regardless.

Sara gave Lori a sympathetic glance as she rose and helped her mate gather their nestlings. “We will leave you to it then.”

Lori nodded and watched her friend leave before gently taking the comms from her mates’ arms and setting them in front of her. Kehtal’s, she disabled and set aside, but Slengral’s comm she pulled to her, her emotions rising to her throat as she looked down at it. Laying her fingers over the link channels, she found Vi’s comm and initiated the uplink.

She hoped that Vi would forgive her, but this was the best choice for all of their futures.

The hologram blinked as the connection was made, her friend’s bleary face popped up as Vi rubbed her eyes sleepily.

“Damn Lori, you really need to remember that some humans are still on a normal sleep cycle. But it’s good to see you. You had me really worried when I couldn’t uplink with you. Have you got things resolved in the shinara? Are you coming home soon... or do I need to come and get you?”

Lori drew in a deep breath and laughed shakily. “I’m fine, Vi, though I would recommend not mentioning me or us to the shinara if you want to still peacefully utilize the mine. Just pretend like you haven’t heard from us at all and presume that we are dead. You will remain safe that way.”

“What, why? It can’t be that bad, Lori. What happened?” Vi protested as she moved rapidly, presumably stumbling out of her bed. “Let me get Eddie and we can think of something to...”

“No, Vi,” Lori interrupted. “Trust me. We are safe and we are happier, but we want everyone in the colony and all of the innocent lives in the shinara to also be safe. Which means we are not coming home. We’ve found a new home and are staying.”

“Lori, please,” Vi whispered, tears falling from her eyes. “I swear I will come get you. I can protect you from the shinara. Please.”

“I’m sorry. Please live a good life. And make up with that male. You deserve every bit of happiness,” Lori replied as her fingers trailed to the deactivation button. “I love you, Vi. I want you to be happy and to know that I will be too. And be safe. Don’t provoke the shinara. But do not follow me. Do not try to follow me.”

“Lori, I won’t promise that. I refuse,” Vi bit out. “I don’t care if I have to hog-tie Ehsash and force him to help me find my way to you. I will!”

Lori laughed despite herself and shook her head in amusement as she could clearly see Vi doing exactly that. “Bye, Vi. Be good. I will miss you.”

Her finger tapped against the deactivation button and the hologram blinked out, the comm’s light dying completely. She would still be able to receive things from time to time caught going over the air, but no one would be able to track her, and she wouldn’t be able to call out anymore. It was for the best.

Pushing the comms aside, she turned to her mates with a smile as Hashal wiggled up into her arms, his warm cheek pressing against her neck.

“I love you all.”

It was time for them to look forward to a lifetime of love and peace. And nothing sounded more like heaven to her than that. She would rather have them and the vast night of the Zir Mountains than anything else. She and her serpentine mates would have their free and endless night there among the Vehal, and she couldn’t wait to get started on that future.

Epilogue

Daskh’s wings spread in a leisurely stretch and Slengral gave the male a disgusted look from his perch.

“We are supposed to be on guard duty,” he reminded his nest brother peevishly.

“We are guarding nestlings,” the male argued as he pointed to nestlings playing below among their tenders. “It is not exactly a demanding duty. Truthfully, I would rather be down there playing with them than stuck up here on this ledge with you,” he grumbled.

Slengral huffed but he smirked despite himself. “What you desire is to go down there where you can convince our mate to let you hold our nestling for endless hours,” he pointed out.

Daskh scoffed but grinned unrepentantly as he peered down at the scene below. Slengral could not entirely blame him. Being with their little nestling was far more appealing than being stationed on guard duty, but all the Seshanamitesh took their turns, and he knew that it made Lori feel better knowing that they were taking the protection of the nara seriously. And Daskh was not wrong, guarding the nestlings was a more pleasant task than the long flights along the mountain that they did on other rotations.

Sneaking a glance toward their mate, he smiled. Soon his replacement would come, and he could descend and join her. Although she still bemoaned her green coloring that had never faded, in his eyes she was more beautiful with the passage of every day. He teased her that it made her easy for him to spot among the other humans from the air—that and the gold dishana that she had turned into a pendant and took to wearing around her neck, even if it made an excellent target for their nestling’s curious fingers.

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