I felt ecstatic that school was finally over. I leaped through the rainforest, running at top speed as the trees raced past me. I let out a deep growl, allowing my beast to go savage.
Finally making it back to base, I saw the others sitting on a log around the fire, and I changed into my human form.
"King Abel, we're glad you returned," Finn told me.
I nodded in their direction.
Since it was a Friday night, I was sure everyone had plans. Finn, I knew, had a show at a local club tonight, a club with a rowdy reputation. I wasn't precisely happy about the fact that Elias had gotten fake IDs made so they could drink alcohol, but I allowed it because he had one made for me. After all, who wants to sit at a bar empty-handed?
My eyes fell on Annette, who looked pretty daring for her usual self. She wore tight leather pants and a matching black crop top, and her makeup was heavier than normal.
"Where are you going?" I asked her, hoping I didn't come off as overprotective.
"With the boys," she replied, her eyes looking at the dirt.
"To that rowdy club?" I glared at Elias.
"She'll be fine with me," Elias said, his annoyance evident. His eyebrow arched as he eyed me as if to say, "Don't you trust me?"
"Go for it." I knew he was physically capable of protecting her.
"Are you coming?" Annette asked, looking at me sweetly.
"I'm not sure. Perhaps I will stop by later."
"What do you have going on, Abel?" Elias inquired, arms crossed.
"I'm going to meet with the Greenwood clan."
"Alone?" He gave me a questioning look, shaking his head. I knew he didn't entirely trust them.
A frown crossed my face. I wasn't sure if the treaty would succeed, given his lack of faith in them.
"I will be fine."
Elias rolled his eyes. "Would you send one of us alone?"
"That's a simple answer: you're not King."
While the others went to the bar, I found myself walking toward the Greenwood clan's property, a beautiful house on the far side of the rainforest. At the patio of their house, I saw Lane, David Ray, and Nova sitting at a picnic table. Nova smiled as I approached, her beautiful blue eyes analyzing me.
"King Abel," Lane acknowledged me.
I nodded in their direction, trying to offer a warm, welcoming smile. But I knew the reason I came here, and it would be best to get straight to the point.
"What are the other snake people after? Have you guys figured it out?"
"Abby," Lane replied.
"Abby?" I recalled her as the new girl from school. Why would they be after her?
"Why Abby?"
"She is Devin's mate."
A frown crossed my face as I remembered from a previous conversation that Devin was like a king, the one who set all the rules. I'd never crossed him, but I'd heard he was a real son of a bitch.
"How does Abby feel about being his mate?"
David Ray laughed, and confusion gripped me.
"Being a mate isn't like being a werewolf; it's not unconditional love. She appeals to him. He wants to drink her blood. A mate is someone whose blood they would drink at any cost. He will enjoy the taste of her blood the most."
Nova added, "Kind of like you and me." I noticed a twinkle in her eye; I knew she was just teasing. She stepped closer to me.
"Oh yeah," I smirked, pretending to take her seriously.
"I do think he's sexy, though," she said, twirling her hair around her finger.
I found myself wondering what it would be like to fuck a snake person.