Page 5 of The Emerald Boa's Lover
“…Alaric is next to me.” I hiss, knowing that meant that this Charlieishot, but Rerasha didn’t want to risk upsetting his mate. Alaric was the jealous type, which did it for my cousin, but I find a real turn off. “He has blonde hair, green eyes, Iguessthatsome peoplemight think he’s tall and muscular—”
“How about we just point him out when you get here?” Alaric’s gruff voice came over the com-gem, and then I heard the distinct noise of a breathless moan. Gross. They’re getting frisky with me on the com-call. No thanks.
“Sure. See you there.”
“You better leave now then, if you’re going to make it.”
“Ah huh.” I hung up, not interested in hearing any more of my cousin’s happy noises. I hurry like a man on a mission, slithering at pace out of my home and to the nearest travel basket. I coil up tightly in the basket and let the operator know I want to go to the main palace. On the way up I feel my excitement building. What if this is it? What if I find myself a sexy nice guy, my better and improved version of Alaric, to fall in love with and settle down with? I’ve tried coupling plenty of my own kind, and I’ve not found what I was looking for there. I’ve never courted a human before. Rerasha and Alaric have no issues, so mating won’t be a problem. It will be everything else that we’ll have to figure out. I chuckle, getting ahead of myself. I haven’t even met this Charlie yet. For all I know, I might get there and he may stink like rotten flesh. Or…he might have a nice scent…green eyes, Rerasha said. Maybe that’s a sign? Call me a fool, but I hope so.
Chapter 5
The pairing party
Dalahan
I regret coming. Rerasha greeted me when I first arrived, but then he quickly slithered off to meet and greet more important guests that he wasn’t related to. I didn’t mind, and for a while I was entertained by listening to the newbie Sponsors in the room. It was funny when I overheard them talking in worried whispers about having a human in their nest. Would they climb the walls and leave their fluids around the place to scent mark their nest, like a Gissok did? Tabitha hated when anyone compared her to a hairless Gissok. She said it was akin to calling her something called a Gorilla. She said that was an animal found on Earth with similar ancestry but they were far from the same level of sentience. She told me Gorillas were small compared to Gissoks, but then again humans were small compared to most creatures on Thelia.
“Thank you.” I accept a glass of sweet liquor from one of the servers, likely to numb the anxiety in the new sponsors to keep them mellow as the humans started to arrive. I smile, remembering my first pairing party and meeting Tabitha. Everything with her had been so easy. Maybe this Charlie would prove to be at least a good friend? I can’t put all my hopes on finding someone to become my future nest-mate, just because Rerasha suggested this forward human he met might be my type. I am just considering how foolish I am to have come in the first place, when the doors open and the humans start to process in. My emerald eyes look intently at each human as they walk down the main carpet in the middle of the pairing party. Each wearing overalls and looking around in either shock, awe, fear, or all of the above at their first glimpse of Ucfeni. There were many of my people looking the same way at the humans. I sip my liquor and chuckle. I remember being so astounded at seeing my first human that I excitedly threw my weight forward on my tail to get a closer look. I also remember how I balked at the rancid stench of them. Only Tabitha smelt okay, which is why I started a conversation with her.
“Awww look at the little youngling. She smells nice enough. I’m very good with young. I have two clutches of my own.” I casually approach, waiting for the first wave of excited new sponsors to flood forward, and for the second wave to flee from the overwhelming pheromones ahead of them. Now the first rush has gone I knock back the rest of my drink, place it onto the tray of a passing server, and headed closer to the central carpet. “Oh, but your scent…I could take her, but not you.” I hear some of the Ucfeni starting to engage the humans.
“We come together, sorry.” A human woman declines the maternal Ucfeni. I find an open space at the railing further ahead of the humans so I can watch them long before I have to scent them. Most are walking on alone and happily (or warily) engaging the Ucfeni who called out to speak to them. I looked them over and as they passed me I scented a few. None were a good enough match for me to take a risk, and most who weren’t repugnant to my scent pits were female, so I politely smiled and let them pass me by. I sweep my eyes up and down any male that I can see before they reach me. Blonde and brown eyes. Brown with green eyes. I wondered if perhaps the one Rerasha described to me was in fact already taken, when finally I saw my quarry.
A human man with thick blonde hair combed backward. He held himself like a sentry guard, and certainly had the body of one too. Even with two legs rather than a tail, this man was muscular beneath his overalls. My mouth watered at his strong jaw and square face. His eyes are piercing green and he has the masculine edge of authority about him. He’s not alone, this man. He has two women with him and he is definitely escorting them. The smallest female is in the middle and seems meek as she holds hands with the taller female. They have a familial resemblance that makes me think they could be sisters. Neither woman looks anything like the blonde male. I find myself hoping this is Charlie with every step the trio take towards me. I watch him as he carries himself like a protector.
“She’s so cute! Is she your daughter?” Another Ucfeni engages the one I hope is Charlie and I frown. No! Don’t let him be chosen before I even get to speak to him?!
“No, she’s my friend.” Charlie answers and I chew my gums together, before making the decision that now is the time to take another risk. I hurry down the line, twisting and slithering around other potential sponsors to get to him.
“What’s your friend’s name? Is she a juvenile? She’s so tinyyyyyy.” I hurry, trying to get there so I can make an offer to sponsor him if this female doesn’t. Or if he turns her down. I don’t know why I’m getting so anxious about letting this stranger slip through my fingers, but by the ancestors, I am. I might even challenge the Ucfeni for the right to be Charlie’s sponsor, and I’m not one for violence. My kind are constrictors and go for the slow kill, so we’re good at wrestling. My venom is more of a suppressant than toxic, though, and with how bright her scales are, I’d wager her venom is potent.
“No, she’s fully grown. Her name is Billie.Myname is Charlie. What’s your name?”
I am elated to have confirmation that this is Charlie. A homosexual male like myself, who is also looking for a partner. Someone to have a meaningful connection with. “And I’m back.” I am relieved when I see he has not lingered with the female Ucfeni. “She said she didn’t like my smell and turned me down like I’d asked her out or something. Weird huh?” Ah, that would explain it. They were not a scent match. I feel my heart racing as they are nearly upon me. His laughter is so charming I want to swoon, and then it finally happened. They reached me.
“I won’t I promise.” I lift up on my tail and then swing my upper body over to block Charlie’s path. “Oh,hello?” His green eyes look into mine and I…am speechless. His plump lips have a cheeky curve to them and his eyes are fresh forest green. Ancestors. He’s gorgeous. Not only that, but his pheromones hit me and caress my scent pits. He evensmellslike the forest. Crisp and fresh. Charlie chuckled and spoke, his voice as smooth as silk. “Erm, hi?” My smile must be dopy from the amused way he looked at me. “That’s a littleclose,don’t you think?”
“I am Dalahan.” I blurted out, introducing myself and swallowing the excess drool from my mouth. I know then. This man was meant for me. He is like the sun peering through the canopy of the jungle and seeping warmth into my emerald scales. I have to have him. I put my hand up to stop him from walking around me. “My friend Ambassador Rerasha says you might like to get to know me?”
“D-did he now?” Charlie cleared his throat nervously. “I can’t imagine why?”
“I think you know.” I drop my voice with a seductive edge. “He was right. I would find you…interesting.” The new voice chuckled. “You smell alright too.” I chuckle and hope I’m coming off coy. “Come here and let’s talk.” I reach for him, desperate to have him choose me as his sponsor, and try to grab his shirt.
“W-wow there now hang on?!!” He stumbles backward and bumps into the smaller human female. She seems to startle and screams, running down the walk way. Her sister runs after her and a panicked tangle of Ucfeni follow. Charlie tried to go as well but is blocked by a wall of scales. “Let me pass! Billie! Hannah!” I shove the railing over and slither over to Charlie quickly. In the panic he swatted by the thick tail of a rattler and lands on his right side. Another tail nearly comes down on him, but I throw myself over him so my back takes the tail strike instead. Mother shucker, that hurt. “What the fuck is happening?!”
“Panic.” I answer and shove my right arm around his waist. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”
“Like hell you will?!” Charlie scowls and the fire in his forest eyes makes my pouch swell. He probably wants to resist me, but doesn’t get the chance. I hurry to lift him off the floor and carry him in the opposite direction to the main crowd. I carried him, despite his colourful protests, but lingered long enough for him to see his two friends become sponsored by other Ucfeni. The younger tiny one is very lucky. She has honoured Prince Izule with choosing him to sponsor her. That one will want for nothing and live in the palace. What a privilege! Charlie wanted to stay when his other friend went up after her sister, but the hall was being emptied.
“Everyone needs to leave now.”
“What?” Charlie tried to argue with one of the Elite guards. “My friends are still here. I—”
“They will leave with their sponsors, just as you now need to leave with yours.”
“I don’t have a—”
“You heard the guard.” I cut in with a flustered chuckle and carry Charlie’s wriggling body in my arms. “We all have to leave. Don’t worry Charlie. I’ll take excellent care of you.” He eyes me suddenly, like he’s realised I’m already enamoured with him. I lean forward on my tail and slither at pace with the rest of the pairing party out of the palace. I am filled with pride and joy and I can’t wait to get to know this tantalising hunk in my arms. Every time he tenses and flexes in my arms I can feel how firm he is.
