Page 3 of Delivered to My Serpents

“Those for me?” Drake asked, shutting the door to the basement behind him. It had a keypad entry system and only we knew the code. There were layers upon layers of confidential information down there. We couldn’t take a chance.

There was information in our basement office that could topple societies and bring down the financial structures of at least two countries.

The thought was heavy, but it also provided a sense of job security.

No one would fire us. We knew too much.

“Yeah. It’s not enough though. I’m still hungry.”

Drake nodded while inhaling one of the sandwiches in two bites. He finished chewing and then said, “I got it.”

“Did you finish up?” I asked while he took out the eggs and a few other things.

“I did. It’s all sent. I sent a copy to myself and a blind copy to our encrypted email. Everything is on a drive and already in the safe.”

I snorted. “My stomach must’ve really been bothering you. Once I left, you made quick work.”

He sighed. “It wasn’t your stomach. It was me. Sometimes I hesitate when finishing up a report because that means it’s a start of a new one.”

The monotony of our lives had slithered under our skin. Humans. Shifters. All creatures needed routine, yes, but it was the surprises that made life worth living.

There was another issue, of course. Our serpents were hungry for a mate. We’d figured out through our animal’s bond that we were meant to share a mate between us, which made sense. We were best friends. Had endured what hells life had to offer and come out on the other side. We lived together. Worked together.

It didn’t make sense to me that we would do anything other than share a mate.

Except, how in the fuck were we supposed to find a mate when we were holed up in our den all day, only coming up for air and sustenance.

The only other person we saw was the errant delivery driver or some person trying to get us to subscribe to their pest control.

We were serpent shifters. We were the pest control.

“Are you done for the night?” I asked Drake as we dug into our second dinner of eggs, pancakes, and bacon.

“Yeah. I’m gonna grab a book and sit outside by the fire.”

I nodded. We could’ve watched movies or TV but, after a long day, the last thing we wanted was another screen. “I might join you.”

Chapter Three

Jasmine

“You know we haven’t forgotten, right?”

My stomach instantly curled into a knot. I knew what my friends were talking about, of course, but I would plead ignorance.

Couldn’t they have just let me finish my dessert first?

“About what?” I played the innocent card as well as a lifetime criminal, grasping at any straw to get me out of this.

Beth paused with her fork halfway to her mouth and gave me a dirty look. “That’s not going to work, Jaz. Tell the truth or let me see your phone.”

I snorted. “I thought you two were too drunk to remember.”

“Well, we weren’t. Let me see the phone.” Anya put her hand out, palm up.

Damnit. I was caught. “I didn’t actually sign up for the app,” I confessed.

“You could’ve had a mate by now. Besides, you accepted the bet.”

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