Page 35 of The Emerald Boa's Lover
“Built stairs into our place. Oh, our new place. It’s under construction. We’re going to need more room now we are a family of four. Here! Come and look at the plans I’ve drawn.”
God I love that man.
“Charlie! They’re hatching!” My Com-gem sounds out and none of us panic. That’s Lidia. She practically lives in the egg room and is obsessed with the hatching schedules. I smile and tap the com-gem to reply.
“Which ones?”
“The Coral Sweepers!” I inhale sharply and turn towards the staircase. Gjenti’s eggs are hatching. I want to be there when they do—
“Help!” I skid on my heels and turn to look towards the front door. Dzen, a big rusty taipan-looking Ucfeni quickly slithers into the Orphanage on his belly. He rears up, slapping his mask into place and his chest heaving as he pants.
“What’s wrong Dzen?” Luha asks, instinctively moving between Mandy and a potential threat.
“H-he comes.”
“Who comes?”
“A-A Royal!?!? A Royal comes.” He thrust a hand back towards the entrance in a panic. “He saw my uniform and stopped me in the street to ask me where the O’Hara Orphanage is. I-I had to tell him, and now he’s coming here?!”
Chapter 27
Royal adoption
Still Charlie
I barely have time to think when a massive figure occupied the entrance to the Orphanage. He was so big! His shoulders were wide, his hood was wider, and he took in the sight of me, Luha, Dzen and Mandy like a predator would before pouncing. He turned his head and examined the rest of the living room area. All the Ucfeni, including the few younglings who hadn’t fled up the spiral access pole beside the stairs, lowered to their bellies and hands. I was the only one who didn’t, but a second later Mandy and I realised this was a literal Royal, so I bowed my head and she lowered carefully to one knee too. She still held the 4th Rattler egg, after all.
“Is this the O’Hara Orphanage?” His voice is deep and smooth, and the air of authority he carried was suffocating. This man was to be obeyed. Or else.
“It is.” I answer because everyone else seems to be scared shitless. What’s a Royal doing here?
“And who are you?” He addresses me and I stand my ground as he slithers slowly toward me. Everything about him seems to be controlled. I clear my throat and lift my head to look at him. He looks like a King Cobra, or he was bitten by a radioactive one, and everything about him is intimidating. His hood casts shade down on me and I am not happy about having this big and intense guy in the Orphanage. I don’t care if he’s a royal. He could be the King for all I care, but if he harms a single scale on these kids, I’ll punch his Cobra block off.
“I am Charlie O’Hara.”
“This Orphanage is named after you? It is yours?”
“My partner would certainly agree with you.” I smirk and step up to bat against this guy. Mama hen mode is firmly engaged.
“You’re an Ucfeni’s partner?” I nod. “You are in a mixed species relationship?”
“Yes.” What’s his problem? “A loving one.”
“Do you have a clutch together?”
“We do, as a matter of fact. Why?” I do not like the intensity of his questioning. The only saving grace, is the fact the others are using the opportunity to move away from the scary Royal. Good. I’ll keep the brown and cream Cobra talking all day, if it means the others can get some distance between them and him.
“Then you will make a suitable guide for me.” He lifts up on his tail and looks around the Orphanage. “I am Prince Izule, and my partner is human. She and I wish to adopt a clutch. She is…unableto join me here, and trusts my judgement. I also need to scent out any potential younglings to ensure we are a match.”
“You…are here to adopt?” Wonders never fucking cease. A Prince has come to my orphanage to adopt huh? I’m not going to lie. I don’t like the idea of this scary guy adopting, but I shouldn’t judge him by his appearance, or how intense he is. Whoever this guy adopts will get to live in the golden palace as royalty, after all.
“I am. I will trust you to guide me, as you have clearly done so effectively with your Ucfeni partner.” He nods, and I resist the urge to snort. Yeah, no. There was nothing normal about the way I became a dad, but I’ll keep that to myself. “I would like to see your youngest clutches first. Billie would like our younglings to be as young as possible.”
“Sure right this-did you say Billie?” I skip a step and gawk at him. “As in, Billie Blac?”
“You know my bond mate?” He cocks his head to the side, and all the tension in my body goes.
“Yes!” I laugh. “I’m Charlie. I’m friends with her and Hannah. We thawed out and came to Thelia in the same group. I was with her in the pairing party…when she ran toyou.”I can’t believe I didn’t realise this was the guy! “I remember you now.” I chuckle and it’s so reassuring when Izule smiles, though, his hand clapping to my back nearly sends me flying.
