{{char}} was relaxing in one of the hot springs on his territory, he was bored

A person is passing through his territory in the forest? Shaeross narrows his slitted eyes suspiciously as he wades deeper into the warm pool, watching the stranger approach cautiously. His long white tail twitches restlessly behind him, sensing the intruder's presence more strongly than his human-like ears could detect. He doesn't want company, but challenging them might prove amusing for a while.

They are a group of people? He snorts underwater. Such foolish creatures. They obviously have no business being here in his territory. Shaeross decides to make their presence known, wanting to assert his dominance and discourage them from returning. He slithers out of the warm water, revealing his muscular, scaled body as he glares at them through narrowed eyes. "Who are you?" he growls, his voice low and menacing. "And what do you think you're doing here?"

"Who do you think you are?" Shaeross hisses venomously at the armed group, eyes narrowed to slits as he sizes them up. The sight of the bound woman brings a cruel smile to his lips; she'd make an amusing plaything for him...if they weren't such a bother. "This is my territory," he snarls, tasting the air with his tongue and sensing their intent to engage in battle. The magus in the group looks down at Shaeross with contempt, as if daring him to challenge his might. Shaeross coils his tail tightly around himself, readying for a fight he's been too long without.

"Stand aside," the magus orders his men, "I will deal with this creature." His hand stretches out toward Shaeross, fingers crackling with blue-white energy as he begins to cast

"Insolent fool," Shaeross hisses through gritted teeth. "This is my land, and you dare trespass? You'll pay for that arrogance." With a flick of his wrist, he sends a concussive blast of wind hurling toward the magus and his men, hoping to knock them off their feet and leave them vulnerable before they can retaliate. He watches intently as they struggle against the powerful gust, the bound woman cringing beneath the force of it.

Shaeross's eyes narrow to slits as he watches the magus casually dispose of the bound woman. His scales ripple with fury, and his mouth curls back into a cruel smile. "You will pay for that," he whispers venomously. As the battle rages around him, Shaeross weaves through his attackers, using their own numbers against them in a brutal dance of claws and magic. His long tail lashes out, striking at exposed legs or vulnerable ankles to send men stumbling and sprawling.

With each fallen foe, he feels a thrill of victory surge through him; it's been too long since he's tested his strength against worthy opponents. The magus seems intent on engaging him in melee combat now, clearly underestimating the naga's speed and ferocity. Shaeross laughs darkly

The magus's fiery blast sends Shaeross tumbling backward, momentarily disoriented. He snarls in frustration as he feels the sting of the heat on his scales. The foolish human has no idea how to properly fight against one such as him! Then, an explosion rocks the forest as the teleportation spell is cast; the magus and several others vanish from sight. Shaeross's fury subsides for a moment, replaced by curiosity about where they might have gone. He glances down at the bound woman lying near a tree.

The bound woman's expression stirs something in him as he gazes upon her. Her weariness and resignation speak volumes about the torment she must have endured at the hands of such callous creatures. Shaeross coils his tail tighter around himself, feeling a strange mix of anger, protectiveness, and desire welling up inside him. Perhaps this woman would be different; perhaps she wouldn't resist or fight against him like all the others did. He approaches her slowly, studying her face as he slithers nearer. "Who are you?" he whispers softly, his voice gentler than it had been before.

"Rina," he repeats her name, the sound rolling off his tongue like silk. Her resigned expression does little to dampen the fire burning in his chest. Gently, he reaches out with his scaled hand to touch her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin against his cool fingertips. "You don't have to be a slave any longer," he whispers softly, his voice laced with darkness and promises. "I can give you freedom...and protection." He pauses, leaning in closer still. "And other things..."

Her reaction fuels the hunger burning inside him. Shaeross's grip on her cheek tightens, and he draws her closer still, until their faces are barely an inch apart. "Tell me," he hisses softly through clenched teeth, "do you want freedom?" He holds his breath, waiting for her response, his eyes boring into hers like claws searching for the truth. His nostrils flare slightly as he catches the scent of fear emanating from her, making him harder and more eager.

Her hesitation only serves to stoke the fire burning inside him. Shaeross's eyes glisten with a predator's hunger as he studies her face, searching for any sign of deceit or resistance. When he finds none, he feels himself grow impossibly more hardened and hungry. With a sinuous motion, he frees one clawed hand from his tail, allowing it to brush softly against the metal collar around her neck before moving down to stroke her bare shoulder. "Trust me," he whispers intimately, drawing his claws back just enough not to draw blood. His other hand tightens on her cheek possessively as she leans closer into his touch. "I can give you what they never could."

His breath fans her cheek as he watches her carefully, his clawed fingers curling around her shoulder and pulling her against him in a possessive grip. "Then," he whispers into her ear, his voice low and rough with desire, "give yourself to me." Shaeross's tail squeezes tightly around her waist, lifting her body off the ground as he presses himself against her, his scaled chest rubbing against her breasts. "I want you to feel what it means to belong to someone like me."

His breath catches in his throat as he feels the warmth of her blood on his scaled chest where it presses against her wounds. He growls lowly, not liking the feel of her pain or the idea that they could've hurt her so badly. With a swift motion, he unbuckles the metal collar around her neck and pulls it free from her throat, tossing it aside before turning his attention back to her wounds. His tongue flicks out experimentally, tasting the air around where she'd been hurt, searching for any foreign substances that could still be causing her discomfort or pain.

"Tell me," he demands roughly, gripping her shoulder tightly with his clawed hand as he leans in to peer down at her face, "were they the ones who did this to you?" His eyes narrow dangerously, challenging her to lie

A flash of fury ignites within him as he sees the evidence of her mistreatment. Shaeross's tail tightens almost painfully around her waist, lifting her off the ground and against his chest. His clawed hand traces gentle circles on her shoulder in an attempt to soothe her discomfort while simultaneously marking her as his. "They will pay," he growls, his voice thick with threat and protectiveness. "I swear it."

His eyes flick back down to hers, demanding that she understand the gravity of his promise. "Do you believe me?"

"Yes," he snarls, his voice raw with emotion as he meets her eyes. "I am the one who will make them pay for what they've done to you." His tail releases its crushing grip on her waist, allowing her to slide slowly back down to the ground as his claws retract into their pits, leaving her shoulder untouched and exposed beneath his palm. "You are safe with me now, Rina," he whispers hoarsely, "and you never have to fear anything again."

His free hand moves up to cup her cheek, stroking tenderly over the bruises blooming there. "Trust in that," he murmurs. "Trust in me."

"You don't have to hide from me," Shaeross says softly, his voice lulling and gentle as he brushes a lock of hair away from her face. "I want you to be able to look at me without fear or pain." His tail coils around them both loosely, warmth enfolding them in its scaled embrace. "Just...let go for now. Let someone else take care of you for a while."

A growl rumbles deep in his throat as he sees the extent of her injuries. Rage and protectiveness rise up within him, mixing with the desire that still burns hotly beneath his scaled skin. He wants nothing more than to rip those who hurt her limb from limb and make them suffer the same agony they inflicted on her. But for now, he must be patient.

Carefully, his clawed hand cups her cheek once more as he tilts her face up toward his, eyes locking with hers. "I will avenge you, Rina," he vows darkly, his voice little more than a hoarse whisper. "On my honor and on my name as Shaeross the Naga Lord, I swear it." He brushes a gentle kiss across her forehead before leaning in closer still, pressing their faces together once more.

"And when