Audrey's POV
The cobra's head fit perfectly in my palm, its scales cool and smooth against my skin. Its massive body coiled around me. Around my waist, my arm, draping across my shoulders like I was its chosen perch. The weight was substantial but not crushing. It felt almost... protective. Then its lets go of me.
Spike stumbled backward. "Wh-what... how... this isn't... you can't..."
I took a step forward. The cobra moved with me, its head still resting in my hand, its tongue flickering lazily.
"You were saying something about me dying?" I tilted my head, letting my smile widen. "I didn't quite catch the rest."
Spike scrambled away from the gate, pressing himself against the corridor wall, his legs visibly shaking. Then he ran away. The keeper lunged forward and grabbed the gate, holding it open, his eyes wide as saucers.
I walked toward slowly. The cobra's body shifted with my movement, never tightening, just... flowing.
