Unlikely Companions

Chapter 12

Yuta limped back to the slave quarters, his torn shirt doing little to hide the angry welts crisscrossing his back. Each step sent fresh waves of agony through his body, but he clutched the large black snake protectively against his chest. Despite his pain, he'd managed to scoop up the beautiful creature before anyone else could see it.

The other slaves looked up as he entered, and Ren's eyes went wide with shock—not just at Yuta's obvious injuries, but at the massive serpent coiled in his arms.

"Yuta! I was looking for you! And what in the seven hells is that thing?" Ren gasped, scrambling backward on his bedroll.

"It's very cold outside," Yuta said softly, wincing as he carefully lowered himself onto his thin mattress. "This beautiful creature can't stay out there in the night air."