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He wiggled his fingers at the flames.

“I’m really sorry, but I don’t understand.”

An annoyed growl vibrated from his throat. He didn’t know how else to explain it.

Giving up, he leaned back until his humanoid torso rested against his lengthy lower half. He placed his head on the top coil to sulk while staring at her.

She gave him a weak and apologetic smile, and he huffed at her for it.

I wish I could speak to her.He likely would have scared her off his territory that first day, but now he’d like to just be able to converse with her.

Since Nathair couldn’t communicate what his ‘Nathair speak’ gestures meant, he was aware that they would mean very little to this female. Even if she did know this country’s signing language, the language of Nathair would only ever be one of Tenebris – a realm which existed within the plane of a hungry god’s stomach.

Perhaps I can teach her?He’d rather she learn his, since he was the one who needed to speak it.

A rather dismal gloom crested over his forehead when he thought that may be a waste of time.She will eventually want to leave.He was starting to feel rather sour about that prospect, but he was merely waiting for her to state her desire to abandon him.

Her enjoyment of his home would be temporary.

Humans didn’t like the darkness. She’d soon long for the warmth of the sun, and the comfort of her own people.

Nathair smacked his tongue inside his mouth in irritation.I give her another day.Despite the weird pang in his chest at the thought, he wouldn’t get his hopes up.

She was a pretty human, and she’d soon long for the freedom to find a mate. Someone with a face of flesh who had two legs.

Dark orange flared in his sight at the thought of keeping her trapped here against her will. He shook his head, clearing himself of such a horrid idea even if it was swiftly becoming a greedy desire of his.

Which is why you will not put her in your nest.Or place her on his body to rest upon. On the outside of his wrappings should be fine, but if he placed her weight on him... and helikedit, he may want to keep her there and strangle the desire to leave him from her.

He already had the niggling itch to sniff all the places she’d left her peach-and-vanilla scent upon him.

His gaze slipped to the ruby earrings dangling from her lobes, watching them sparkle in the firelight.I will be taking those from her, though.Should she desire to leave, he would consider them a parting gift.

They would remind him of the human he’d saved. If he couldn’t add her to his treasures, he’d make sure she left a mark somehow.

Nathair watched the human rise to her feet, even when he’d been content to sit next to her by the fire. He was a simple creature who desired very little and didn’t particularly long for movement. She, however, was a fidgety little thing, constantly moving, craning her head around, and warily eyeing his closeness.

She was beginning to do the last one less and less.

“Alright, Nathair,” she sang, as she walked over to the fresh lake to wash her hands of the food she’d just eaten. “Instead of sitting here and letting my mind wander, would you care to show me the rest of your home?”

She turned to him and placed her hands on her hips. Her smile was gentle, not grinning in mischief, but not small enough to show it was fake.

I don’t particularly understand her.She was a human sharing such an expression with a Mavka. He also didn’t understand why her shining it at him made a dull throb lance his groin; it was nothing but a smile.She has a lovely smile. At least, when it was genuine.

He knew other Mavka had gained brides, so it wasn’t totally strange, but they could speak to them. In his opinion, he’d thought all those humans may be unsound of mind.

Linh didn’t seem completely sane, considering she’d rather beg a monster for help than find her own kind. That was like a bunny asking a wolf for help, and not expecting to have its cute, fluffy body ripped in half.

With a sigh, and dipping his head to the side purposefully to show his reluctance, Nathair unfurled himself. Waving his hand to gesture that she should follow, he slithered to the side.

“Wait! I need to grab my shoes and jacket,” she stated, her feet pitter-pattering against the stone as she ran to her bag.

He waited for Linh to don a pair of black flats and return to his side. Eyeing the top of her dark hair, he noted the double braids she’d twisted into two low buns that sat on the back of her head. Her hair looked thick and glossy, even in the shadows that had befallen them.

She shone a thankful expression up at him since he’d waited.

“I don’t know why, but I keep forgetting you’re so big,” she said with an awkward laugh, that wariness rising in her features.