Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“Yes, with that little crystal they all wear,” the Serpentine woman said, nodding. “I’m going to get one of those before I go. So useful in keeping track of your cycle!”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Sky’lar said and then the two of them began talking about the difficulty of keeping one’s cycle straight and various other female topics that Torin really had nothing to say about.
The male Serpentine seemed to feel the same way, but he politely continued the conversation with Torin.
“We’re fucking for pleasure,” he said casually. “We wanted to dedicate an egg to the Shrine, but my wife doesn’t have one ready at the moment. But we can still honor the Mother of all Serpents.”
“Uh, yeah. I guess so,” Torin muttered noncommittally, not sure what else to say. He really didn’t want to talk about this—he was trying to take his mind off it. But the Serpentine male didn’t get the hint.
“Have you ever done this before?” he asked. “Because we have and let me tell you, it’s an experience. When you breathe the Fumes of the Goddess, you can’t help but give yourself to the pleasure of your mate filling you.”
“Wait…Fumes of the Goddess?” Torin frowned. “What in the Seven Hells are those?”
“Oh…the pleasure gas that comes from the base of the Great Serpent Mother’s statue,” the male explained. “The Fumes enhance the experience immensely. Why, I’ve never come so hard in my life as the last time my wife fucked me here! It helps you shoot more seed, the better to fertilize your mate’s egg if she’s got one,” he added helpfully. “Or just to honor the Goddess if she doesn’t.”
“But…does it cloud your thoughts?” Torin didn’t like the sound of this.
“It doesn’t make you hallucinate or anything like that,” the Serpentine male assured him. “And the effects wear off as soon as you leave the Sacred Chamber. It’s just to increase your pleasure. Why else do you think so many people are so eager to come worship at the Shrine?”
“I don’t know—because they’re devout, I guess?” Torin muttered.
The little male seemed about to answer but just then the vast stone doors opened and a white-robed priestess came out.
“Ah—group three?” she asked and everyone nodded. “Good. Will you all please follow me? Everyone keep your voices low, though. The first half of group three is finishing up and we wouldn’t want to interrupt their sexual sacrifice by being loud, all right?”
There were low murmurs of agreement and then they all followed the priestess into the Sacred Chamber. This time, Torin noted, they were going down the ramp to the chamber floor instead of up to the observation deck.
To his surprise, he felt someone take his hand and when he looked down, he saw Sky’lar entwining their fingers. She didn’t say anything, just gave his hand a squeeze, which Torin found oddly reassuring.
We’re in this together, the gesture seemed to say. I’ve got your back.
He squeezed her fingers as well. Thanks, Darlin’.
It was nice to know he wasn’t alone in this strange experience. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as he feared—though he still intended to take himself away.
As they reached the stone floor, he thought he caught a hint of some sweet fragrance swirling in the air currents. Could that be the Fumes of the Goddess that the Serpentine male had been talking about?
Before he could figure it out, a Serpentine priestess with black and white scales came up and asked for their number.
“Fourteen,” Sky’lar told her.
“Very good. And are you honoring the Mother of all Serpents with procreation or pleasure today?” the priestess asked in a businesslike tone.
“Er—it depends on if my body has released an egg for fertilization or not,” Sky’lar said. “I was told you could let us know using your crystal?”
“Of course.” The priestess removed her crystal and waved it over Sky’lar’s lower abdomen.
Torin wasn’t a bit surprised when it flared yellow without even a hint of pink. By now, he was resigned to his fate.
“Well, it looks like you’ll be honoring the Great Serpent Mother with pleasure today,” the priestess said, replacing the crystal around her neck. “Let me get you a phallus for penetrating your spouse.”
“Wait…” Sky’lar put out a hand to stop her.
“Yes? Is there a problem?” the priestess asked.
“It’s just that…my spouse isn’t used to being penetrated yet.” Sky’lar shot a glance at Torin as she spoke. “So if you have a phallus that’s on the small side…”
“I’m sorry, but all our phalluses are the same size,” the priestess hissed with a flicker of her tongue. “So you must take what we give you.”
“All right.” Sky’lar nodded. As the priestess bustled away, presumably to get the phallus, she looked up at Torin. “Sorry, Giant—I tried.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Torin kept his face stoic. “Doesn’t matter what size it is.”