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Chapter 38

Even before Nathair crested over the grassy hill, he could smell the devastation on the wind.

He paused and stared down at Linh nestled in the safe cradle of his arms.

There is blood and smoke,he thought. He didn't want her to have to witness it when she'd already suffered a terrifying night.

Not only had she been taken, but she'd been forced to face a Demon in human skin. Her protector had almost turned on her – would have, if things had gone even just slightly different. Yet, like she'd been waiting forever to be embraced in his coils, she'd found peace in the arms of a monster. One who would contend with all her enemies. One who would place this female on a pillar of worship and guard her ruthlessly for all time.

When he didn't move forward, Linh lifted her face up to him, and he had the deep urge to push back the loose hair swaying across her cheek.

Her brown eyes grew so light in the sun that they bordered on hazel and honey. They glittered with precious life. Her dark brows drew together in concern, somehow making her soft, gentle features look even sweeter. Her full, pink lips flattened, until the bottom one pouted forward in the adorable fashion she often displayed.

Nathair swallowed a groan at her face. My bride is so beautiful. The fact this female had chosen him in return boggled his mind.

It made little sense, and he didn't fucking care.

She was his. Every inch of her soft and tender body was his to touch, taste, and hold. Ever since she'd gifted Nathair her soul, his entire essence had locked into sensing hers. Her voice, her smell, her touch, and heat. Even her heartbeat was louder, constantly thrumming in his mind like a playful drum.

Even if she was insane to have chosen him, a Duskwalker, then that was luck on his part.

"Nathair?" she asked.

He leaned back and bundled his tail under him. He placed her round backside on him to free up one arm.

"We can go to my cave," he signed, before he cupped the side of her face.

Her lips tightened knowingly, and she turned her gaze in the direction of her village. "Is... is it bad?"

She gave him her attention so he could answer. "I am not sure."

When she only wrung her hands in response, Nathair knew what she wanted. He sighed, lifted her, and continued forward.

Black smoke rising into the air was visible before her village came into view. Two homes were on fire, and at least three others were nothing but charcoal foundations. The gates Nathair had damaged were completely broken off their hinges, and part of the chains above their village were caved in and broken. With his sensitive sight, he was able to see multiple claw marks and streaks of dried blood leading from the village.

"Oh my god," she cried, covering her face and burying it against his chest.

Unsure of how to comfort her through this, Nathair continued around the peak of this hill, descended it, and then he began to climb the incline to her village. Shouts grew louder, just as a new gate door was lifted. They were attempting to refortify before night fell – only for it to likely be attacked again. The sun was shining, but the moment its protective light disappeared, Demons would swarm upon them.

Without aid, these people would be picked off night by night until there was no one left or they abandoned it.

Linh trembled in his arms, and his orbs darkened in their orange hue. I should have just come after her sooner. If he'd entered the village despite his worries and uncertainty, he could have possibly prevented all this. He absolutely shouldn't have broken the gate, either.

He bumped the end of his snout against her forehead, and she peeked up at him. He shifted her in his arms so he could circle his chest in apology.

"I-it's not your fault," she rasped. "If it wasn't for me..."

The growl that barked out of him immediately quietened her. It wasn't her fault. She didn't ask for any of this, and likely would have tried to prevent it in any way possible.

When they finally rose onto the flat ridge of earth leading to the village, Nathair and Linh both flinched as a roar of cheers and clapping filled the area. She turned her face just in time to see her father, who had been directing the men fixing the new gate, almost trip over his own feet to race to them.

"Linh!" he yelled, one arm raised in the air as he waved.

"Dad!" she exclaimed back, wiggling in Nathair's arms to be put down.

She sprinted for him and forced the man to catch her when she leapt into his widespread arms. He picked her up and spun her before settling her onto her feet with his nose buried into her neck.

"I'm so glad you're safe." When Nathair came upon them, the male looked up at his skull through the strands of her hair and reached out to him. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"The village..." she started, only to cut short when Kai pushed back to grab her shoulders.

"I told those idiots we'd riot if they took you again."

"Daaad," she whined. She gestured behind him. "But now look at everything. How are you going to survive this?"

That indeed was an important question.

She cares about them a lot, Nathair thought, as he lifted his sight to the peak of the wall.

Linh had asked to come here today because she wanted to ease everyone about her safety. To say a temporary goodbye to her people, her friends, and even family. She'd chosen to come be with him in his home, a place that was comfortable for him.

He promised they'd visit, as he saw no issue with this. So long as she rested with him each night, and let him lavish as much affection as he wanted on her, he didn't mind visiting these humans.

They would die, whether that be now or in fifty years, and she would continue to live on – with him.

A few years was not a big ask in comparison.

"Don't worry about it, Linh," Kai stated with an unconvincing chuckle. "We're mountain people. We're sturdy like rock."

No. You're made of nothing but sand.Easy to claw into. Easy to slip through the hourglass of time.

"Come," Kai stated, reaching forward.

Nathair thought he was only grabbing Linh, but his clawed fingers were gripped by an unfamiliar touch. He looked down to observe Kai holding Nathair's hand with both of his, just as he pulled as if he wanted to drag his heavy body within the village.

"Everyone wants to thank you," Kai said up to his skull.

Linh's lips pouted in confusion at her father, only to laugh when Nathair remained unmoving. The male kicked at the ground, childishly pulling despite knowing it was futile.

Nathair hissed and retracted his arm when Kai grabbed his wrist and accidentally dug his fingertips into a deep wound.

"Be careful," Linh stated, placing her hand on top of her father's. "Nathair is really hurt."

I thought that would have been obvious,Nathair complained.

A day had not yet passed, and he was littered with gashes and many more puncture wounds. He'd been stabbed repeatedly in the chest, abdomen, and neck by either swords or daggers. Part of his throat was still gaping from a bandit who had shoved a dagger in and sliced sideways, not to mention what Bragg had done. His tail fared little better.

This time, Linh placed her hand in Nathair's so she could pull him between the gates.

"This is not a good idea," Nathair signed, shaking his head while remaining unmoving.

"My father speaks for our people, Nathair," Linh stated softly, supplying him with an inviting smile. "He wouldn't have offered for you to come inside if they did not want you to enter or didn't trust you."

Reluctantly, Nathair slowly slithered forward. He followed her pretty gaze as she walked backwards, his heart swelling when her smile deepened. He looked up at the wooden threshold, ducking beneath it.

His skull met many faces, all of them gawking.

A light tangle of fear entered the scents of many, but it was mostly mild. Their expressions appeared to be of awe more than anything negative.

Her mother stood off to the side, unarmed, but her face was pinched with exhaustion. A young female at her side went to run forward, but Tahlia grabbed her arm and tsked at her.

"Go slowly. Don't run at a predator."

Predator.That was how they saw him, yet both females approached. The younger one kept her eyes on Linh, a teary smile filling her features, while her mother's stern face looked up at Nathair.

The younger one tackled Linh with a loud cry, and they hugged each other.

Her mother bowed her head towards Nathair. "Thank you for saving our daughter."

A choked grunt punched out of him when the younger female tackled him and hugged his waist. She started rambling, showering him in gratitude as his orbs turned white just as the crowd before him fucking cheered again. He winced when it collided with his fragments.

He was uncomfortable with all this, and the young female was pressing against multiple wounds. Thankfully she quickly backed up under the direction of Linh, who once more spoke about his injuries.

"We want you to know that you are welcome to return here any time," Kai stated up at Nathair.

His heart constricted, and he grabbed Linh's forearm. He gently tugged her closer, showing them that he had no intention of leaving this female here. He did not save her for these people, but for himself, for her.

Kai placed his hands on his hips, tilted his head back, and let out a bellowing laugh.

"Yes, we figured as much," her mother said, eyeing her daughter cautiously. "After what we learned from Linh, and the, uh" – her mother coughed into her fist – "the Priestess, we know your feelings are not one-sided."

Linh's gaze grew bashful, and she turned to Nathair as if she wanted to hide her expression.

"Look, if you are who my daughter has fallen in love with, then so be it," Kai said, shining a grin up at Nathair. "Even if you are a little spooky."

The male grunted when he was smacked in the stomach by Tahlia. "The fact is, she's safe. That's all we care about."

Nathair's hold on Linh loosened when he absorbed their words. They are accepting me? He'd thought there would be outrage that he had bonded with their daughter and had no intention of letting her go. She was his, no matter what they thought or desired.

He did not expect their relationship to be welcomed so readily.

"See?" Linh said, casting him a coy, yet mischievous smile. She waved her hand at her family and then the rest of her people.

Sure, many faces looked appalled, but Nathair didn't mind. Her family were the ones who could whisper in her ear and cause a painful rift between them.

Nathair lifted his hands, but his fingers just twitched in front of his chest. He didn't know what to say, how to respond. He was completely at a loss for words.

He couldn't stop the way his orbs shifted to bright yellow, overcome with relief and joy that this wasn't as hard as he'd expected. No, instead, it was rather heartwarming to be accepted like this, especially as he knew what he looked like to them.

A faceless monster. A dark, venomous serpent. A menacing creature that brought death, destruction, and chaos wherever he went.

Someone who had found love in a fragile, delicate little female and was completely besotted by her. He was thankful they saw that and hoped they knew he would cherish Linh.

Her soul was his to protect, and he'd protect it fervently.

"However," Kai stated in a low murmur. "We don't really want her to leave."

All the relief that had just swirled within him rushed out in a gust. Nathair folded his arms across his chest and leaned back on his tail to show his annoyance.

"I'm sorry, but I've already agreed to go with him," Linh stated, and his chest puffed with pride.

"But he's of no danger to anyone, right?" Kai asked, his brows furrowing. "I don't see why you both have to leave."

A chuckle vibrated behind Nathair's sternum. "You just want something to protect you," he signed in indignation.

He bit out a growl when he realised only Linh would understand what he'd insinuated. His bride placed her hands on her hips and gave Nathair a disappointed glare.

"What did he say?" Kai asked, which caused her to narrow her eyes further.

"He said you're only asking for him to stay to protect everyone," she answered truthfully.

"Sure, the help would be appreciated, but we don't really need your aid." Kai sighed, shaking his head. "We plan to send an urgent message to the villages south of here. With the bandits gone, we only need to keep the Demons out for two or so nights. After that, we'd likely have competent soldiers helping us until we've managed to truly fix our fortifications."

That actually sounds like a very good idea.All of it made sense and would likely help them. They didn't need Nathair, so... why bother asking him to stay? What did they gain out of it? They didn't know what he could do, nor the magic he possessed, as not even Linh knew the full strength of his capabilities.

His sight fell on Linh, who still had her hands on her hips, and she was shooting her father a sour look now.

"I cannot stay with these people, Linh," he signed at her. "I tire of constant chatter, and there is much of it here."

When her father asked, Linh translated.

Tahlia scratched her neck as she blatantly pondered a solution. "If you don't mind lots of water, there is a cave just north of here. It's not far from our village and would be quieter."

"He's aquatic," Linh answered with a small laugh. "He has gills and breathes underwater."

"A water serpent," the younger female rasped. "That's so cool."

If she thinks that's cool, then she is easily impressed.

A small growl of irritation bubbled up his throat. "How far?"

"It's about five hundred metres from the northern wall of the village," Linh answered, as a big grin curled her lips.

He was faltering, and she knew it.

That is close. But it should be far enough away to bring him peace with her.

Nathair looked up, only to audibly sigh so they would all know he did it.

"Where is the centre of the village?" he signed roughly to show his lingering annoyance, lowering his skull to Linh. She pointed towards the mountain. "Take me to it."

She explained what he wanted to her family. After sharing a few confused and uncertain looks, Kai nodded and led the way. As he did, Nathair slithered behind with his hand covering his snout.

This village is by no means small.It appeared to be at least three and a half kilometres in diameter, if not more. It is even larger than the one to the east of these mountains.

He looked up and hummed in thought. Maybe it is possible? I doubt the other Mavka have tried.

When they brought him to the centre of the village, Nathair headed north for what he guessed was six hundred metres. They followed him until he stopped at a random and unassuming home.

He turned to Linh, her family, and the growing crowd of people who had come to gawk at the monstrous Duskwalker slithering through their village.

"You wish to keep your daughter safe?" Nathair asked Kai, knowing Linh would translate for him. "Your people?"

"Of course," he answered, his brows furrowing as if Nathair had asked a stupid question.

"P-r-o-v-e it." He held both his hands out.

The male looked at his dark palms warily. When Nathair wiggled his fingers expectantly, the male eventually placed his own into them. Nathair found that rather courageous, especially since he hadn't told Kai what he'd do.

"Nathair?" Linh asked, and he merely lowered himself to lick at her cheek to let her know it would be okay.

Although what he was about to do was for her, she would not be the one he asked to participate in this gruesome bargain.

When Kai's palms touched his, Nathair shot his arms higher until he was near the male's elbows. He gripped his soft flesh, then sliced his claws into the male's forearms until he slit them open to his wrists.

Kai roared in pain, and many backed away in fear. But he obtained what he wanted, blood – and lots of it. He heard Linh's shout in the background, but it quickly died.

When orange magic glowed upon the ground, Nathair let the man go and shoved his hands into the two crimson puddles. A hiss resonated from the back of his throat as he poured all his might into the spell and a dome began to form. It grew in width and diameter.

It slowed its forming, and Nathair knew it wasn't enough. A roar exploded from him. His fins lifted to their full lengths, his scales puffed and vibrated in aversion. His vision split as a wave of nauseating dizziness rolled through his body.

It felt like he was sucking out his own life force.

The dome doubled in size, growing wider and taller, as the blood against the ground sucked away into the magic. The more he took, the bigger it grew.

Cold pain lanced up his arms like a lightning bolt travelling through his veins. He halted when the agony became too much and his sight wobbled. The voices in his mind grew louder, and sickness rolled in his gut as he quaked in his fight to keep them at bay.

"Kai!" her mother shouted when the male, who had gone deathly pale, collapsed backwards.

Nathair dived forward and held his ankle to heal him of his wounds. He took them, but not without cost. I've used too much magic. He was too injured for this.

Belly down, he shuddered against the ground, as blood poured from his already aching arms. Any heat in Nathair's body dripped out of him, and he lay huffing through strangled breaths.

That fucking sucked.

"What is this?" Linh asked in both surprise and concern, her brows unsure if they wanted to rise or furrow.

He was sure she was angry at him, like the rest of her people were. They brought Kai to his feet, despite the male now being full of life, whereas Nathair suffered.

When he realised he'd ruined the tendons in his arms, therefore making movement in his fingers minimal, he licked the inside of his maw in agitation. With what little strength he had, he wrote in the dirt with a single finger, "Protect."

"Oh! It's a protection ward, like what the other Duskwalker offers for a bride!" Linh exclaimed as she knelt next to his prone body.

Nathair felt tired and drained, but it was sure to fade soon. His body just needed to adjust to his new wounds, loss of blood, and whatever damage he'd done by pushing the boundary of the dome with his magic.

"You gave my people a protection ward," she whispered, biting at her bottom lip as her eyes glittered with appreciation.

He snapped his maw and pointed a claw at her.

She placed her fingertips against her sternum. "It's for me?"

Nathair nodded. All I do is for you. He managed to push up with his elbows, and Linh uselessly tried to help him rise.

Now that the humans understood what he'd done, why he had harmed her father and then healed him, they were no longer displeased. Surprisingly, a few ran forward to aid Linh so he could at least prop himself up on his own tail.

"Does this mean we can stay here?" The hope in her voice told him all he needed to know; he'd made the right decision.

With Nathair towering over Linh, he leaned forward to brush his snout against her cheek. Yes, little nightingale. He licked across her lips with his forked tongue, uncaring of who saw him kiss his bride. Wherever you go, I will follow.

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