Page 2 of Naga Warrior's Mate

“Just doing my job.”Dernin shifted positions, maintaining his vantage point over three different clinic entrances simultaneously.“Someone has to keep these streets safe.”

A group of warriors passed beneath his position, their tails leaving distinctive patterns in the dusty streets.Kress spotted him and waved.

“Show-off,” Kress called up.“Some of us have to patrol at ground level.”

Dernin’s low chuckle carried down to them.“Maybe if you’d paid more attention in tactical positioning training, you’d be up here, too.”

“Speaking of training,” Voss cut in through the comm, “the other warriors could use some pointers on urban surveillance.Care to demonstrate your technique later?”

“Of course.”Pride swelled in him at the request.His methods had already been noted and approved by command.

Later that afternoon, Dernin demonstrated proper positioning techniques to a group of warriors from another sector.His tail coiled beneath him as he explained the importance of multiple sight lines and escape routes.

“The key is to remain visible enough to deter trouble,” he instructed, “while maintaining the tactical advantage of height and coverage.”

One of the younger warriors raised her hand.“But what about when we need to move quickly?”

Dernin responded by executing a fluid movement across three different levels of architecture, his powerful form making the complex maneuver look effortless.“Your tail is your greatest asset.Learn to use it instinctively, and you’ll never lose your balance.”

The admiration in their eyes fed his confidence.He’d earned his position through dedication and skill, and now he could pass that knowledge on to others.This was what being a warrior meant—not just protecting but leading by example.

As dusk settled over Sector Seven, Kress slithered up to Dernin with an eager expression.“Hey, I hate to ask, but my mate’s wanting to have an early dinner.Mind if I head out early?”

“Go.I’ve got this covered.”

“You’re sure?It’s against protocol—”

“When have I ever not handled things?”Dernin’s strong tail coiled beneath him.

The final hours of patrol passed smoothly, and Dernin soon made his way back to the barracks.As he slithered through the streets of Jorvla, satisfaction coursed through him at his abilities and leadership.His mind wandered to the training session he’d led earlier, replaying the admiring looks from the other warriors.

The attack came without warning.

Something sticky and cold wrapped around his torso, pinning his arms.Before he could react, more viscous tendrils ensnared his tail.His nostrils filled with the putrid stench of Jorvlen secretions.

“What the—” His words cut off as a thick, slimy appendage forced itself between his lips.The taste made him gag as another tendril covered his eyes.

Dernin thrashed, his powerful muscles straining against the restraints.But the more he struggled, the tighter they became.His heart hammered in his chest as multiple hands grabbed him, dragging him somewhere.

The ground changed beneath him—metal became stone and then dirt.The air grew colder and damper.His tongue flicked out instinctively, but the gag prevented him from picking up any scents beyond the overwhelming Jorvlen stench.

Voices muttered around him in the Jorvlen dialect, too low and gurgling for him to make out the words.His warrior training kicked in—count the steps, note the turns, maintain awareness.But the Jorvlens seemed to move in circles, deliberately confusing his sense of direction.

Shame burned through him.He’d let his guard down, gotten cocky.If he’d followed protocol, insisted Kress stay...The thought of his fellow warriors discovering his capture made his jaw clench against the gag.

The journey continued for what felt like hours, and his muscles screamed from the awkward position.Without his sight, every sound, every change in temperature or air current became magnified.Water dripped somewhere nearby, the echo suggesting a large, enclosed space.

This wasn’t a random attack.They’d known his patrol route, known when he’d be vulnerable.The realization sent ice through his veins.Someone had been watching him, waiting for precisely this moment.

Chapter 2

Dernin

Asharpstinginhis neck was the last thing Dernin remembered before darkness claimed him.His consciousness returned slowly, like swimming through murky water.The cold stone beneath his coiled tail brought him fully awake.

“Where...”His throat felt raw.His tongue flicked out and sampled his surroundings.The air tasted stale, carrying traces of mold and decay.

The holding cell measured barely ten feet across.Moisture seeped down rough-hewn walls, creating dark streaks in the stone.A single light panel flickered overhead, casting uneven shadows.

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