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He lifted his sight to the large mountain backing the village. Just beyond the curve of the cliff wall, Nathair knew this mountain contained water. He’d followed it deep beneath the ocean’s surface to discover much coral and reef wildlife attempted to live around it.

He then turned his head to the right, examining the grass and very few trees. It looked like the world suddenly fell away, when really the cliff wall became the beach. Just a little more east, and he could easily locate where the entrance to his home was.

He shifted his sight to the left, where the hills and mountain collided. The village was in a dangerous location, as the sun would only truly shine down upon it until a little after noon.

Behind him, up a large incline, sparse trees dotted here and there before the forest further south shielded everything.

Even now, Nathair could scent Demons on the wind, as if the mountain that partially protected them was filled to the brim with void monsters. Yet, the village still stood, strong and protected due to its chain canopy and other fortifications.

When humans choose to be, they are rather inventive.

Give them plenty of resources, and they’d make sure they’d survive, no matter how. But, as he once said to Linh, humans were selfish, greedy cretins.

Her home was safe from Demons but not from those who wore the same face.I’ve seen how vile humankind can be.He’d tried to rip his own skull off in the face of it.They call me a monster, yet bite and snarl at each other.

‘You’d be a fool to trust a monster.’Was he the fool or the monster in this scenario?

With a groan, he covered his bony brow as his orbs turned a darker orange than normal, only for them to shift to deep blue.I don’t trust them.He didn’t trust anyone. He’d just given what he cherished the most in the world... to the very creatures that had let her be harmed in the first place.

Watching Linh come out of her shell, going from a reserved and frightened pixie to one that rode him like a wanton little bunny, had taken weeks.I don’t want her inside the village.

Nathair wanted her in the coils of his tail, where she was safest. Where the only thing that could harm her was him. Guilt clutched at his gut more than ever when he realised, despite this being the worst, it had not been the first time he’d hurt her.

Her arm. Her delicate neck.But should she remain unafraid, he truly didn’t think he would ever hurt her again. She was wiser around him now; she knew how to manage him,tamehim even.

If everything else left them the hell alone, he wanted to believe Linh was safe with him.

Or am I just telling myself that because I don’t wish to let her go?Even after envenoming her, Nathair was... selfish enough to not care. So long as she returned to him, eyes bright and lips smiling, he would risk his venom with her again.If she just gives me her soul...

He could save her himself.

I want it. I want it more than I can bear.

The gates opening once more broke his spiral of thoughts. The robed Anzúli from before walked forward with a graceful saunter to greet him, with two new guards in tow. Once more, they wore hide armour, but one did have an additional steel or iron breastplate and helmet.

Under her arm, the Anzúli held a ceramic jar with a cloth lid and twine to keep it secure.

“Thank you for waiting,” the Anzúli woman stated.

Nathair hated that he couldn’t see her expression, and the only thing he had to gauge her on was her mild yet feminine voice.

“All you need to do is lance this with your fangs.” She pushed the jar forward. “Try not to press too hard, as I’m assuming you are rather strong. Just enough to express your venom.”

When the two males with weapons tried to crowd him as she approached, Nathair reared back with a growl bubbling in his throat. He didn’t trust them, or her – or anyone, for that matter.

“For the love of the holy maiden, please stand back, sirs.” The Anzúli female tsked as she shook her head, looking over her shoulder at them through her mask. Her black robes fluttered with the wind, revealing a blue dress beneath them.

From those I saw in Tenebris, they usually only wore white.Or was that only the lower level of their hierarchy?

“If it wished any harm, it would not have brought Linh here, nor would it be offering assistance.”It. She calls me an it.When they stepped away to give him space, he could hear the roll in her eyes as she whispered, “Fools, the lot of them. They all share one singular idiotic brain.”

She reached forward with the ceramic jar, and Nathair let her place it in the centre of his palm. He positioned the side of his finger next to its base, slipped it up and down, then waved his hand to the side.

“Are you wanting to know how high to fill it?” she asked, leaning her head to the side. He nodded in answer. Her tone was coy as she stated, “To the top.”

To the top?He snorted a singular huff.Doubtful they need that much.They likely wanted to experiment with it since he was so willingly offering it.

Regardless, Nathair removed the cloth despite her earlier instructions. Then he retracted his claws and parted his maw.