Healing Kisses (Sophia and Santiago) novel Chapter 211

210

The change of the weather here is strange. Last night had been humid; it's fresh now. I can feel a storm closing in. Sitting on the cooling sand after playing all evening with the little serpent beside me is a peaceful end to a heavy day. I didn't think I would have as much fun as I did.

He lifts his little head when Ragnar begins to make his way towards us. He then looks up at me and lets out a heavy sigh as if sensing that our time together has come to an end. He lowers his head when I don't react to the person advancing.

"Will it attack me if I come any closer?" he asks, pausing a few feet away.

"I don't know, but you should come on this side so he doesn't try it," I say, patting the sand to my right side.

Instinctively, my hand shoots out when the serpent moves to strike. I catch him around the neck. His mouth snaps shut just inches from Ragnar's arm. I growl at him so he knows I don't like that. He stares up at me for a long while before he finally retreats. I release him, and he expands his body. As he makes his way back into the water, he glances back at Ragnar and shakes out his body so that his scales rattle. He dives into the water and disappears.

"What the fuck?" Ragnar murmurs under his breath.

"Sorry, I genuinely don't know what his deal is," I clear my throat.

"I know what his problem is, and the feeling is mutual," he scoffs. "I brought you some food. You must be hungry."

"Thank you," I say when he holds out a brown paper bag.

Inside is a styrofoam box, but I can smell the spicy BBQ inside. I open it only for my stomach to growl as loudly as it possibly can. He laughs when I reach for the fork. There's another takeout container inside the bag. That one is clear, and I can see that it's fresh fruit sprinkled with chilli powder. There are also two ginger ale soda cans.

"Your grandmother and Ivar have gone home. Kaylee, Anna, and Xavier went with them. They're going to prepare Oliver's homecoming," he says and holds out a file for me.

I take it after scooping a spoonful of macaroni and cheese into my mouth. I set my food down on top of the bag and open the file. It's a DNA sample proving that Oliver is, in fact, who he says he is. I smile and give it back to him.

"I never doubted it was him," I say, cracking a can open. I take a sip and think back to the day I walked through that building's doors. "I knew it was him before I even saw him. Our instincts never forget."

"I know. I just needed it after what happened with the Kings," he nods.

He has something to say. I know I'm not going to like it, but this is his second attempt to try to make up.

This is a way better approach than him trying to blame the way things are between us on me and what I was trying to do for Kaylee and Ivar.

"I named him Gerald," I say.

"Gerald?" he grimaces.

"Yeah, he looks like a Gerald," I laugh.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"The serpent. What did you think I was talking about?"

"The baby," he lets out a relieved laugh.

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