Boomslang (Naga Brides Book 5) by Naomi Lucas

Author:Naomi Lucas [Lucas, Naomi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-TWO

GONE

Azsote

Smells assail me, human smells. Exhaust, sweat, copper, ammonia. Humans are distinct.

The nagas have several paths through this region, and none of them are safe. If we continue, dust and rocks will shift in our wake. To the watchful eye, Laura and I will be visible if we are not careful.

Having humans both on the ground and above will make it hard to avoid detection. There will also be bears, boars, and mountain cats. I look over my shoulder at her, soothing my unease. I will not be gone long. Laura has my spear and supplies.

When I see the bonfires between the trees, I creep closer.

Three figures come into view, laden with guns, their gazes on the shadows around them.

There are more by a central fire. To my left, there is a broken ship. The Winged Ransom, Laura called it. It is the one she arrived on. Tilted on its side, one of its wings is bent sharply inward, and a jagged indent defaces its side. There is a dirtied man tied up in front.

There are white tents with piercing lights, and several robots, similar to the ones used at the facility. Beside the tents is another ship, unbroken in its appearance that is similar to the one that snatched Syasku.

He is not here. I neither smell nor sense him. And if he were, nothing here would have contained him, not for long at least.

There are sixteen humans upon the first count, and at least two robots. There is a large swiveling gun that continuously clicks. The three lookouts take turns, roaming the perimeter. They are wearing headgear that has a green glow to them.

I am outnumbered three times over. Picking them off one by one would be the best course of action, but their weapons have range…

Attacking them outright will be dangerous.

One of the men sitting at the bonfire calls out, and the rest of the humans pause what they are doing and join him. He shows them something.

They all turn in my direction, tensing, raising their guns.

I shift back as one of the humans fires a shot into the sky. Anger floods me. My fangs fill with venom as the muscles in my tail strain, snapping outward. I am not one who is seen, nor one who flees, especially from beings who are much smaller and weaker than me.

Yet, even in the darkness, these humans know where I am.

Radars. Laura’s words come back to me. Heat sight. I hear them yell.

I spit, darting into the mountains, creating a chaotic trail.

Laura and I need to leave this mountain tonight.

Staying out of sight of the ships that flew above had not been a concern to me. Now, I question everything. The humans should not have been able to see me. I think of the orbs and their many uses, wincing at my naivety. The orbs see much. Most nagas destroy them on sight. They are as useful as they are dangerous. But their uses are limited, and they never work for long, often needing sunlight before coming to life.

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