The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 87

**Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 87**

Nina was curled up like a tiny kitten, her small form nestled comfortably within the soft, luxurious fur of Shadow, the wolfdog. The warmth radiating from him enveloped her, creating a cocoon of comfort that made her cheeks flush a delicate shade of pink. Her face was buried deep in the warm hollow of Shadow’s neck, and the rhythmic rise and fall of his breathing lulled her into a peaceful slumber.

Her long, dark lashes fluttered gently, resembling delicate fans that cast soft shadows beneath her closed eyes. The car was filled with a gentle warmth, wrapping around them like a cozy blanket. Even Quentin, who usually wore an expression of stern concentration, found himself entranced by the tranquil atmosphere. His eyelids felt heavy, and for once, the tight lines of his brows softened, revealing a more relaxed demeanor.

As Quentin drifted into a light sleep, the world outside faded away, leaving behind the serene hum of the car’s engine and the soft sounds of Nina and Shadow. No one noticed that the large backpack carelessly tossed onto the carpet had quietly slipped open just a fraction, revealing a hint of mischief within.

From the gap, the tiniest water snake, known as Third Snake, cautiously peeked out. Its scales shimmered with a cool blue hue under the soft glow of the overhead light, capturing the essence of a hidden treasure. Third Snake flicked its tongue in curiosity, gazing up at the dazzling, starry ceiling of the Rolls-Royce. “Damn, where am I? This place is way too fancy! There’s a freakin’ starlit sky inside this car!” it exclaimed, its voice a mix of awe and disbelief.

Just then, Second Snake squeezed out through the gap, its tiny bead-like eyes darting around in wonder. “Ms. Summer’s all snuggled up with that big wolfdog, fast asleep,” it whispered, a hint of admiration in its tone.

At that moment, the two little snakes pushed the opening of the backpack even wider, and the largest of them, First Snake, made a grand entrance. He slithered out with a swagger, as if he were a true boss making a dramatic arrival. His eyes narrowed as they landed on Quentin, who was peacefully dozing nearby. “Who’s this male two-legger?” he mused, curiosity piqued.

The water snakes were accustomed to their cozy home in the reptile house and had never laid eyes on Quentin before. Third Snake, its tone filled with wonder, remarked, “Man, this guy’s a looker. Fingers crossed, Misty Fang—that crazy lady—doesn’t start chasing after him.”

Second Snake slithered closer, its tongue flicking eagerly as it whispered, “Hey, do you think this hot human’s Ms. Summer’s boyfriend or what?” The excitement in its voice was palpable.

First Snake chuckled, his confidence radiating. “Come on, you know nothing. If he were her boyfriend, would it be the dog snuggled up with her right now?” He cast a glance over at Quentin’s face, a smirk playing on his lips. “If he was, he’d have her in his arms ages ago.”

Third Snake’s attention was suddenly drawn to the sparkling Patek Philippe watch on Quentin’s wrist. “Whoa, his watch is glowing! That’s gorgeous!” it exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration.

The trio of snakes continued their gossip, hissing excitedly about Quentin’s appearance. Second Snake chimed in, “That watch, his clothes, and even that black obsidian ring on his finger—they all scream money.”

First Snake’s eyes gleamed with greed. “This dude’s seriously rich!” he declared, his mind racing with possibilities.

Suddenly, Third Snake shot its tail straight up, flicking its tongue with a hint of mischief. “Misty Fang once told me that when the alpha wolf in the forest likes someone, he just snatches them up and hauls them back to his den!” It curled into a heart shape, creeping through the shadows toward Quentin’s feet, excitement sparkling in its eyes. “Why don’t we just kidnap this guy and deliver him to Ms. Summer?”

First Snake smacked him on the head with his tail, annoyance gleaming in his beady eyes. “You dummy! What, you think we’re a pack of wild hyenas out here snatching mates?” He jabbed his tail toward Quentin, lowering his voice. “This dude’s pure alpha wolf material—if anyone’s dragging him home, it’s gotta be Ms. Summer herself!”

Suddenly inspired, First Snake began to perform an exaggerated impression of a snake in full show-off mode, his body undulating in a sinuous dance. “Just like our neighbor, the lady King Cobra—she wraps up her prey with her tail first, then coils herself around real slow,” he boasted.

Third Snake glanced over at the sleeping Nina. “But Ms. Summer’s so skinny—there’s no way she could manage that!” it protested.

“No worries, we’ve got her covered!” First Snake exclaimed, his mind racing with a brilliant idea. “Why don’t we just kidnap him ourselves and haul him back to the zoo? Then Ms. Summer will never have to worry about money again!”

Second Snake instantly gave a thumbs-up with his tail. “Boss, you’re the best! Your big brain always comes through!”

To make matters worse, a snake’s tail was slithering around just below his collarbone, probing and testing as if it were determining its next move. Three snakes—each one wrapped around him, refusing to let go.

Quentin’s pupils dilated in shock, and his Adam’s apple bobbed reflexively. Recognition dawned on him as he recalled the moment he helped Nina with her backpack, remembering the sound of water sloshing inside. The only way snakes could end up in the car was thanks to that little troublemaker—Nina, who was now curled up with her dog, sleeping soundly.

“Nina?” Quentin managed to croak out, his voice barely a whisper, strained by First Snake’s beefy coils squeezing his neck.

He darted a glance at Nina and Shadow, both blissfully asleep beside him, and felt a surge of frustration. ‘Seriously, what kind of exotic staff does this girl have on payroll?’ Quentin grumbled inwardly, ‘Are they for real—kidnapping customers now?’

He knew these snakes were Nina’s prized crew, so there was no way he could just start tossing them aside. Jaw clenched in annoyance, he reached over, found Nina’s sleeping hand hanging down, and gave it a frustrated squeeze.

“Mmm?” Nina mumbled, her eyes fluttering open, still heavy with sleep.

But as her vision sharpened, she gasped, her breath catching in her throat. The sight of Quentin, trussed up by three water snakes, was so astonishing that she nearly forgot to breathe. The largest snake was coiled smugly around his neck, while the other two wrapped tightly around his wrists, their tails swishing back and forth like they had just scored a major victory.

“What the hell are you guys doing?” Nina exclaimed, wide awake now, her voice shooting up an octave in shock.

The three snakes turned their heads toward her voice, their shiny bead eyes gleaming with excitement. “Ms. Summer’s awake!” they chimed, all three slithering up eagerly, jostling for her attention and hoping for some praise.

First Snake loosened his grip slightly, lifted his head, and flicked his tongue in triumph. “Check it out—we grabbed you one seriously high-quality male! Pretty cool, huh? Bet you didn’t see that one coming!”