Chapter 7
The tribal doctor's verdict was a relief: no fractures, just a severe sprain that required immediate rest.
Before they left, the elder handed over a bundle of medicinal herbs with strict instructions to crush them into a poultice for her ankle. Luce gave a curt nod of thanks, scooped Euphoria back into his arms, and glided out.
Once they were clear of the healer's hut, Euphoria tugged firmly on Luce's muscular arm. "Could you please take me back now?"
Luce's icy gaze drifted down to meet hers. After a heavy silence, he asked tonelessly, "Back where?"
Euphoria blinked, thrown by the question. "Back to Wayne's place. To his tribe."
Luce looked away, his expression unreadable, and began moving in a new direction. Euphoria assumed he was complying, but after several minutes of travel, his voice cut through the air. "You aren't going back there. From now on, what belongs to me is yours."
Excuse me?
Euphoria stared at him, certain she had mistranslated the orcish dialect. "What did you just say?"
Luce looked down at her, and for the first time, a glimmer of something resembling tenderness softened his cold eyes. "It has always been the law of the world," he said calmly. "The strong have the right to claim a mate first."
The realization hit her like a physical blow. Are all the men in this world out of their minds? "Put me down!" she barked, beginning to struggle. Strength be damned—she wasn't anyone's prize to be claimed.
Luce remained entirely unmoved, his grip tightening just enough to secure her as he continued his steady glide.
Euphoria felt a surge of genuine panic. Luce was exponentially more powerful than Wayne and far more calculating. Wayne was a naive "puppy" she could manage; Luce was a predator she couldn't predict.
She began pounding on his arms, but it was like hitting a wall of cold marble. His skin was unnaturally cool, radiating a chill that seeped into her own. Luce simply ignored her protests, moving deeper into the wilderness.
They traveled far from any signs of civilization, following the winding river until they reached a secluded mountain stream. Tucked away in the rock face, about ten meters above the ground, was a hidden cave. With a single, effortless leap, Luce scaled the cliff and deposited her inside.
Euphoria didn't care about the scenery. She scrambled to a sitting position and glared at him. "I'm grateful you saved my life today, and I intend to repay that debt. But I am not staying here, and I am absolutely not mating with you!"
Luce's red eyes narrowed. He leaned down, his face inches from hers. "I saved you," he stated with chilling logic. "Therefore, I have the right to claim you."
His long, forked tongue flickered out, tasting the air near her skin. "When your heat arrives, you will be mine."
Euphoria's hands balled into fists. Logic didn't exist here—only instinct. She limped to the cave entrance and looked down. Ten meters was an easy drop for a special forces soldier under normal circumstances, but with a wrecked ankle, it was a prison.
"Come here," Luce's voice drifted from the shadows. "The medicine needs to be applied."
She ignored him, staring out at the forest. Luce didn't argue. He finished grinding the herbs, then simply let his thick snake tail coil around her waist and draw her back toward him. The scales were icy, but his strength was so precisely controlled that it didn't hurt; it just made resistance impossible.
He sat her on a flat stone and began applying the poultice to her swelling ankle. His touch was unexpectedly light, almost reverent, as if he were afraid she might break. Euphoria remained stiff and silent. Fine—she would let him heal her. The moment she could walk, she was gone.
The cave was naturally air-conditioned, providing a sharp chill compared to the jungle heat. Luce noticed her shivering slightly and left, returning minutes later with armfuls of soft, dry grass to create a thick bed.
He left again, gone for a much longer interval this time. When he returned, he was carrying a stone bowl filled with roasted meat.
"Eat," he said. The meat was deboned and sliced, though the edges were unappetizingly charred.
Euphoria hadn't eaten since morning, and the adrenaline of the wolf fight had left her famished. She took the bowl and bit into a piece. She looked up at Luce immediately.
He was watching her with a rare flash of nervousness in his eyes.
"I... I will roast more," he said, sensing her critique. This was his first attempt at cooking; he had already burned through three rabbits before producing this bowl.
"No, it's fine," Euphoria stopped him, picking off the burnt bits. "This will work."
As she ate, Luce's gaze softened further. She was an anomaly. Most females were famously demanding; if a meal wasn't perfect, their mates were subjected to scoldings or worse. But this woman was different.
He had been captivated since he saw her fighting that wolf. Other females were helpless, relying entirely on males for survival. But she had fought a predator twice her size and left it bleeding. She was a revelation.
When the greasy meat left her thirsty, Euphoria hesitated. She hated being dependent, but she had no choice. "Could you... get me some water?"
Luce agreed instantly. He returned with water and a handful of strange, crunchy fruits that were sweet enough to cut through the heavy fat of the meal. After eating, the soft grass and the full stomach finally did her in. She drifted into a deep sleep.
She woke to the orange glow of sunset. Beside her, Luce had shifted into his full serpentine form, a massive white python coiled into a protective circle. Hearing her move, the snake's head rose, and for a moment, the human Luce looked out from those reptilian eyes.
Euphoria still felt a primitive shiver at the sight of the beast, but she was struck by how handsome his human features remained even in transition. He was, objectively, the most striking male she had seen in this world.
The sound of familiar bird calls interrupted her thoughts. Luce glided to the cave entrance just as a dead wild boar hit the ledge with a heavy thud.
Luce looked up at the sky, where Vyn was circling, then snagged the boar with his tail. He headed down to the river to clean it, determined to practice his cooking.
Vyn landed near the fire, shifting into human form. He nearly tripped when he saw the Level 3 snake-man tending a spit. "Are you actually eating cooked food now?" Vyn teased. "Did I hit you so hard yesterday you forgot you're a cold-blooded reptile? Hahaha!"
Luce didn't look up. "I've been craving eagle meat lately."
Vyn jumped back, his laughter dying. "You're a real piece of work, Luce! Just wait until our next spar!"
"I'm always ready," Luce replied with a cold smirk.
Once Vyn flew off, Luce carefully selected the best cuts of the boar. He brought the bowl up to the darkened cave, moving with the silence of a shadow. Euphoria only knew he was there when the smell of fresh pork reached her.
She wasn't hungry, but the aroma was too good to pass up. As she finished the meal, she noticed the meat was much better this time—no char, perfectly juicy. Luce felt a surge of quiet pride. He was a fast learner; he would make sure she never had to eat a bad meal again.