"How long to decide, if this will then last, what promises made, should our priorities clash." The giant snake wasn't so foolish to believe she would bond to him so quickly. Considering she had access to both a monarch's control and god's sun fire, her reason for bonding to him were suspect.
Beloved pouted as she crossed her arms, then tapped on her chin as she paced around, "Hmm, a few days to decide, on the third sun rise, our bond we do break, or to mingle our fate."
The giant snake narrowed his eyes, three days, he glanced at the still darkened sky. Either she only needed him for a short period… or she would have her answer within three days. Hardly time to learn about a potential mate… even his previous brides had taken up to a full year before trusting he wouldn't eat them. Most had taken longer still to form any kind of attachment.
Beloved put her hands on her waist as she raised her nose to the sky, "I am not human, my judgement is just fine, what will determine our bond, is more than just time. I will listen to your heart, should it sing for me, then in your hands my faith, my belief."
The snake widened his eyes as his body started to coil and shrink. So, his heart would decide… not hers? "And if your heart does not sing?"
Beloved looked started, then fell on her stomach as she grinned at the large snake, "Big Snake you are silly, such a snakey concern, as long as you're willing, my heart will in turn." She then rolled around on his face, "I like your varied colors, I like your concern, it is still early, three days there is much to still learn."
Ashton leapt up as the snake continued to shrink, "How stormy our meeting, how strong were the winds, so early in the morning, the day has yet to begin. Come sleep with us big Snake, come stay warm in our nest, we've invited you here with great hope, much earnest." Ashton grinned as he also laid out on the colorful feathers beside his Beloved.
"He is so soft, his feathers so warm, I thought you'd be cooler, come sleep in our swarm." Beloved coaxed as he continued to shrink. Soon he would fit perfectly in their nest! She stifled a yawn.
"Oh it's so early, the day yet to greet, come sleep with us big Snake, this bond dreams sweet." Ashton agreed as he also fought back a yawn. Ashton settled in as the big snake slithered into the hunting grounds, right up to their nest.
To Ashton's surprise, instead of slithering into their nest for cuddles… the big snake lowered his head so they fell in… then he coiled up a few feet from their nest. Ashton and Beloved poked their heads out of the nest, bleary eyes blinking in confusion. The large snake only coiled more tightly before a clear layer settled over the beautiful purple, orange eyes. "Cheep?"
Beloved suddenly wasn't tired anymore… she glanced around her nest, then back at the big snake… he… should fit right? Beloved turned to Nix with a determined frown.
Ashton straightened up as he tried to measure out the big snake… if they tightened the coil… he should fit…
Sebastian stumbled as the once capital crushing snake shrank to about Lord Kaveri's size. He was still a large mound of snake… but if he rolled over, one might survive his passing. Just as he was about to tell his grandchildren to settle in for a few more hours of sleep… Lord Reece and his Beloved hopped out of their nest to circle around the snake god.
Leonard wanted to curse both of them as bird brains, Beast gods above! Could they not see the crushed mountains? The uprooted or crushed trees for miles? The Beast god had not even used any spells! Now they… they! They were actually picking it up by its head?! Leonard clutched his chest as a squawk of helplessness escaped.
Jaxon gritted his teeth as the flung a small pebble at Marquis Silas, if Ashton and his woman wanted to wake the damned god, let them, if Leonard did, he'd smack some sense back into the man!
Sebastian's lips twitched as Lord Reece was literally chirping at Lady Beloved, then she started to sing a soothing lullaby… as she started to pull on the giant Snake head. For a moment, the clear film over one eye retreated causing everyone to hold their breath. But as Lady Beloved crooned out her song, plastering his large head with kisses… the film settled back over the eye. It was unnerving to know that even "asleep" the snake eyes could still see.
Beloved continued to soothe her big snake as Nix started feeding his tail through a rift, then they slowly adjusted his body to curl around the edge of the nest, then slowly layered him up like a hollow cone of ice cream! Beloved gently followed his body through the rift, then settled his head. All the while she continued her lullaby.
Ashton stood on the edge of his nest, it would be better if the big snake were just a bit smaller… he could… Ashton sighed, no need to be so intrusive. They would settle in around the big snake. Lifting a large wing, he realized the big snake had a single claw at the elbow of each wing. Which he was using hook behind his head to keep the wings flush with his body.
Beloved changed into her bird form, then she and Nix settled under one of the wings. She let a yawn escape as she cuddled into both warm bodies, how nice that her snake was warm.
Sebastian closed his eyes, rubbed his face, glanced over the enormous mound of snake in the already giant nest… then shook his head. "Let us pretend we will sleep until sunrise."
Aaron shuddered as the three Ophion priests stayed kneeling on the ground. They looked as if they had lost all will to live.
Lucian had to stamp down the urge to skewer the giant snake as it slept. As it was, his eyes had gone full dragon. It had taken Jaxon, Charmaine, Leonard, and Devlin to get him inside. Lucian kept pacing around the room like a caged lion. No, a caged dragon.
"Your Majesty, you're feeling territorial, there is no threat." Leonard coaxed for the umpteenth time. At the very least, this was a sign that perhaps… the snake god might be a good candidate to worship. If the snake stayed, then Lady Beloved would remain, in turn, so would Ashton.
Aaron was leaning back in a chair with his eyes closed, just watching his Majesty was making him anxious. If the snake god remained, they could perhaps convince the Ophion priests to migrate to the empire, that would encourage them to help remove the holy enchantments.
"The priests won't move. So that's a conversation that will also have to wait." Devlin announced as he walked back inside. "Are we sure we should be inside… I mean, the sunlight burning away the holy influence…"
"There's no sun out right now Mage Devlin, we should also keep our conspiring away from the ears of Lord Reece, and the snake god… do we know its name?" Leonard asked on a sigh. He really wanted a scolding hot cup of tea but didn't dare drink anything before they learned how to test for influence. Beast Gods above, his stomach was queasy knowing he'd consumed human remains for who knows how long.
"If anyone knows they aren't sharing. Missives area already coming in from the capital… panic has once again broken out after everyone saw the giant snake god." Devlin added dumping a sack of letters on the table.
"How long until sunrise?" Lucian demanded ignoring the chatter. The overwhelming need to kill the giant snake was making his bones itch. If something didn't change quick, he may have to be restrained… Realistically, he knew he couldn't defeat that snake even if it stood still.
Devlin hesitated, "I could cast a distortion spell your Majesty, it would dull your instincts… but…" Devlin wasn't sure how to say he thought his Majesty was liable to make a suicidal attack that would get everyone in the empire eaten. He wasn't sure the Snake would turn the other cheek if attacked.
Lucian stilled, closed his eyes, then begrudgingly nodded.
Everyone was silently relieved as Lucian was able to calm down. They went through the missives, organized replies, as well as sent updated instructions. Stacie was ordered to oversee yet another task force to scrounge for any information regarding the Ophion snake god.
Devlin sighed as he wiped his face. Beast Gods above, please let this be the break they needed. A disgruntled? Hiss had everyone sharing a look, then opening the window to see what fresh catastrophe had descended upon them.
The Snake God awoke in the nest. He glanced around spotting the latest high priest, then turned his attention to the bulge under his wing. Due to him being coiled tighter than usual, his wing was at an awkward angle. Slowly lifting his wing he saw three groups of birds all nestled together sleeping. The Snake God narrowed his eyes. He expected to startle the birds into fleeing for their lives. Instead, the largest, Nix, frowned as he reached out.
Ashton felt the cool wind, without opening his eyes he started feeling around for the covers again. When none were in reach he opened one eye, then stilled. That was a very big, very displeased snake.
The Snake God hissed his displeasure as all the birds woke but didn't move. They all stared at him with their large eyes, as if bewildered with his displeasure. A few of the smaller birds even started looking around as if they could not possibly be the creatures of his ire.
Ashton scooped up his Beloved along with the two golem chicks as the Snake shifted. Soon they were all in the center of his coils as his head rose up, crest feathers flaring.
"Explain yourselves~." The Snake God demanded as all the birds were caught in his coils.
Beloved glanced around confused, "I didn't want to sleep alone, we have a nest, was it not warm?" She leaned forward placing her hands on his body as she blinked up at the upset snake. Her upset snake.
The Snake God glanced between all the birds, showing off their wide eyes as if that was all the answer he should need. He continued to stare at them, unwavering.
Beloved blinked as she bit her lip, "Do you not like nests? Is that not a good place to rest?" She gripped the feather beneath her palm… maybe snakes… didn't like to sleep in nests. She felt his displeasure grow.
Ashton watched the interaction, not exactly how he thought they would greet the morning. Though he was not exactly sure why the big snake was upset, best to learn now.
"We can sleep on the ground, or sleep in a cave, I'm not sure what you prefer, can you now say?" Beloved asked tentatively as she blinked back the excess water gathering in her eyes. This was only the first step to cohabitation! She must be understanding!
The Snake God continued to watch the birds, where they had slept had not been the issue. "Why move me into the nest?" They all looked up at him confused. He was territorial by nature, if they thought this was funny, he would risk facing the irrational Ru.
Beloved blinked as she tilted her head, "You are mine, the nest is ours, where else would we be, if not together?"
The Snake God stilled, tightening his coils, flexing his body until he separated his would be mate from the flock. "Why did you move me little bird?"
Beloved refused to blink, she would not let the water overflow. "You are now mine, I am now yours, we sleep together, no matter the fight." She insisted gripping his feathers.
"That is the result, not the reason." The Snake God insisted as he tightened his coils around the remaining flock. He saw no reason for creatures not even fit to be food to use him as their nest. To his confusion, the first tear slid down the female's reddening face.