Those eyes—that voice.... Flesh chilled and crawling, Roya took a slow step—another....
"... And another step, fair one ... one more ... just one more...."
Roya took another slow step—into those arms.
"... Relax, fair one ... relax ... relax...."
His scaly arms tightened about her. His fingers moved over her. His scaly chest pressed against her breast. His slimy legs touched against her. His facile tail coiled up around her flesh. Her legs quivered....
Roya's senses reeled. If only she could speak ... one word....
"Toka!" Roya heard her scream as from a distance. "Tok—" Ophid's slimy lips were on her mouth....
Ophid glanced up as his den door slammed out. Battle-ax swinging and rage flaming through him, Toka leaped the overturned table. With one convulsion Ophid hurled Roya at Toka, kicked aside the mossy nest and plunged through the floor. Fast as thought Toka dropped his ax and caught Roya.
She met his anxious gaze. "I'm all right now, Toka."
Snatching up his ax, Toka hurried Roya for the doorway. As he braced Ophid's den, the haze momentarily thinned, revealing the next door, a considerable distance beyond, had been braced—by Rok as he had begun on that sector. Taking Roya's arm, Toka hurried through the shifting haze and stalagma.