Viper's Hope (Anguis Defenders Book 1)(37)

Hope got the feeling he really didn't believe this whole period thing was normal.

"I am well, embarrassed but well. That's the big domed area with all the plants, right?"

Viper nodded.

"Okay that sounds good."

"You are ready?" He looked her up and down as he sniffed the air.

"I'm ready."

Hope wondered if she smelled. She'd just showered, she couldn't stink that bad. Then she remembered Viper could smell her blood earlier and wanted to groan. She'd have to shower twice a day, just, so she wasn't self conscious about BO, especially if Viper was some kind of crazy bloodhound, no pun intended.

Viper walked towards Hope and picked her up, cradling her in his massive arms.

"What are you doing?"

"You shouldn't walk in your condition. Blood loss can make you dizzy."

"Sweet mother of god. I'm fine."

Viper walked across the hall and knocked on the door. Tara smiled wide when she saw Hope draped in Viper's arms.

"Good morning Hope." JP chimed. "Sorry I missed all the fun but as you know I need my beauty sleep."

Viper cast JP a confused look.

"Morning JP. Tara tell Viper I'm fine to walk!"

"She's lost a lot of blood. I don't want her to pass out and fall!"

"Viper's right Hope. Fainting does occur from excessive blood loss." Hope watched Tara's serious clinical face almost crack.

JP's lips trembled in amusement.

"Just you wait!" Hope threatened them as they walked towards the arboretum.



Viper

The smell of Hope's blood nearly overwhelmed Viper. The scent of an injured mate was enough to drive a male mad. Hope implied he was overreacting but Viper didn't care. He couldn't believe such a thing was normal, no matter what the humans told him. How could she bleed like this for days every moon without becoming seriously ill? Viper was relieved Hope didn't protest too much when he insisted on carrying her.

They entered the domed garden and Viper led his guests towards the table reserved for them. He was glad Hope was well enough and agreed to come. Viper hadn't told her this was an informal celebration for their mating. He didn't want her to balk since she hadn't yet come to terms with it and he wasn't quite prepared to announce he'd been rejected. That was a shame he hoped to suffer in private.

"Ophidian keep watch over Hope she is injured." Viper said to his friend. Hope opened her mouth but before she could object he added, "I will show your friends the buffet and bring back a bit of everything."

Viper pulled out a chair for Hope and she sat with a shake of her head.

"I'd be honored." Ophidian replied.

"Oh good we can have you point out what everything is. I like spicy foods and she likes it as bland as it get." JP said as he and Tara followed Viper to the food.

"This is beautiful." Tara exclaimed as she gestured about the room filled with plants from Anguis. The large clear dome also permitted an awesome view of space.

"Look at all the stars whipping by. Oh god Tara I'm going to be sick!" JP said with a hand against his forehead.

"Don't be dramatic. Oooh, that is mesmerizing. Don't look at it." Tara rambled

"Can you believe all of this! I'm still waiting to wake up." JP was almost shrill.

Hope had been through twice as much yet she coped better than this male. The more Viper was around the male, the more he found JP a bit strange. Of course he'd not been around a lot of human males. Perhaps the females were more dominant among their species. That would certainly explain things.

"It is a shock. I am truly sorry for how things transpired." Viper apologized for the dozenth time. "We will do our best to make sure your new colony is a good one." He attempted to reassure Hope's friends.

"I believe that you will." Tara said with a smile.

"We were lucky to have intervention." JP added. "I can't even imagine what might have happened if you hadn't arrived."

Viper decided not to tell them that they'd likely have perished in the mass chaos that would ensue on their planet, if the Morbo didn't kill them first.

Just then one of Viper's men walked up.

"Congratulations Prognatus Viper, may your bond be blessed."

"Thank you."

Tara smiled kindly at the mercenary then turned to Viper after he walked away.

"Hope has told us about this mating thing and I'm glad you didn't accidentally kill her." Tara said quietly. "But if you hurt her again, I'll circumcise you in your sleep. No means No, remember that!" Tara looked at him with daggers in her eyes before turning back to the buffet table.

Viper understood she was pissed at how her friend was treated and even agreed. He just didn't know what she warned him she'd do about it. Viper turned to JP who groaned in discomfort.