Free Snake Charmer by Zenina Masters Page B

she was going to spend every minute taking control of her environment.
     
    Her car had grudgingly started and her trip to the grocery store had been quick. When Yvena got out of the car, she was no longer alone.
    Her mother silently approached and took the bag from her. “Good afternoon, daughter.”
    “Mother. Thank you for caring for my home while I was gone.”
    Yvetta Kastric inclined her head. “Your sister helped.”
    “How is Yvonne?”
    “She is well. I am assuming that you picked up some wine; shall we go inside?”
    The offer to behave normally was just what she needed.
    “Please.”
    Once inside, Yvena assembled a cheese and fruit tray while she let the pinot noir breathe.
    She carried it into her living room where her mother was perched on the edge of the sofa.
    “You look well, considering your travails.”
    “Thank you. You seem to be keeping well. New man in your life? You have that certain glow.” She returned and got two glasses and the bottle.
    “I am carrying again. This time it is a boy.”
    Yvena smiled, “Congratulations. At long last you will have the son to carry on the family name.”
    “I never wanted that, Yvena. You know that I treasure you and your sister.”
    “I know. Thank you again for taking care of my home.”
    “You are welcome. I only wish that your disappearance had been noticed sooner. I will not let that much time pass between us again.”
    Yvena reached out and touched her mother’s hand. “I would like that.”
    Yvetta scaled her hand over and wove her fingers against her daughter’s. Yvena did the same to her own hand and emerald green met with emerald green in a measure of trust.
    Yvena felt her fangs unfolding and her vision shifted. A mother could call the snake out of a child and her mother was doing just that.
    Yvena jerked her hand back, “Stop.”
    Yvetta looked hurt. “You used to love twisting together in a knot.”
    She rubbed her neck and winced, “That was before I was pinned to a board by my hood and had my venom milked every three days. It took weeks with healers to get my teeth back.”
    Yvetta paled. “They just said you had been captured, they didn’t tell me…oh scales.”
    “It’s…well, I can’t say its fine, but it is over. I was one of dozens. They were harvesting other shifters for use in spells.”
    Her mother nodded, “Revenge spells. Of course. I had heard about the shifters that were found, but I hadn’t realised how long you had been there. We had to guess at when you had disappeared by what was in your fridge and the state of the fruit on the counter.”
    “Two months of imprisonment. In the span of a life, it doesn’t seem like much, but it was an eternity that effectively tainted my love for my other shape. I am dealing with that, as I am dealing with the aftereffects of seeing others tortured the same way I was. It is a process that I have to go through.”
    She poured the wine and smiled when her mother took it. “Aren’t you worried about the little one?”
    “He is exposed to one of the strongest venoms on Earth on a daily basis. He can handle some wine and cheese.” Yvetta sipped and sighed. “You always did have the best taste when it came to wine.”
    “Go by the flavour, not the price.” Yvena grinned.
    “At least I taught you that.”
    They laughed and worked their way through the platter. When they reached the halfway point, Yvena confessed. “I am glad you are here, Mother. In four days, I leave for the Crossroads.”
    Yvetta spluttered. “Really? So soon?”
    “If the last few months have taught me anything, it is that life is not predictable. You have a limited time on the planet and you need to make it count. I am going to look for a mate. I am not interested in another snake; I just want someone of my own that I can depend on to be there.”
    The smile on Yvetta’s face was softer than any of her other expressions had been so far. “I could depend on your father. Carlos was always there, even