Page 51 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

Suddenly, Laera was in front of me, then she had the priestess in her grasp, a weapon drawn, the blade pointing at the woman’s throat.

Daphne gasped, her eyes wide with terror.

“What are you doing?” I cried.

“Let her go,” Sophia pleaded.

Cora approached slowly, taking in the weapon and the terrified priestess. “What’d she do?”

“Cora,” Sophia hissed.

“What did you write in the message?” Laera demanded.

“Message?” I stared at the priestess, my brows furrowing in confusion.

Daphne smirked. “So you really couldn’t see what was on that scroll? How very interesting.”

“You’ll tell me or I’ll send you to the Underworld,” Laera promised.

“You’ll send me to the Underworld anyway,” Daphne said.

“No, she won’t. She can go to the dungeons. Await a trial,” I said.

“I don’t answer to you,” the priestess hissed. Her body contorted, slithering and undulating, growing larger. She shoved Laera away, knocking the Fae Princess to the ground. The knife landed with a rattle before sliding across the marble.

The priestess’s peplos was torn, shredded fabric falling to the floor as wings emerged. Her beautiful face remained, despite its increase in size, but her body wasnow that of a bird.

“It’s a harpy,” Sophia whispered.

The creature screeched, then flapped her wings, rising higher inside the temple before swooping down toward Sophia. I shoved my sister aside, landing on top of her.

When I rolled off of her, I saw Laera chasing down the monster. Cora raced over to where I was sitting with Sophia. “Are you two alright?”

I looked at Sophia, who was pushing herself up to standing. She smoothed out her peplos, and I turned to Cora. “We’re fine.”

I retrieved the dagger that was still in my waistband, grateful that it hadn’t stabbed me when I landed. As soon as I took my first step, Sophia moved in front of me. “You two stay back. I’ve got this.”

“You can’t be serious,” Cora retorted.

I took Cora’s hand in mine, then dragged her out of the way. Sophia was stronger than she used to be and she’d seen things when she went to free the magic. I’d had minimal training to fight and I certainly wouldn’t pretend I could hold my own against a harpy.

“She’s going to get killed.” Cora looked at me, her expression pleading. “You have to stop her.”

I held onto her hand tighter, hoping she wouldn’t run after our youngest sister. “You have to trust her.”

Cora’s fingernails bit into my hand as she tightened her grip. Her gaze was fixed on the battle in front of us, her face pale. Her concern for Sophia made her tense, but I wasn’t going to let her charge out there. She’d never shownany interest in combat, and I wasn’t sure if she’d even held a dagger before.

A high-pitched cry drew my attention back to the fight, and I gasped as Sophia dodged a swipe of the harpy’s talons. Laera attacked from the other side, slicing her knife through the beast’s side. The creature twisted, using one of her enormous wings to knock the Fae Princess down.

Sophia rallied, charging at the monster. To my horror, she leaped onto the harpy’s back, clinging to the feathers as the creature thrashed. It twisted, trying to dig its pointed claws into my sister. I could see Laera standing behind the monster, her gaze unfocused, her posture stiff. She was doing something with her magic and, whatever it was, she wasn’t in a position to fight.

“They need help,” I whispered as I released Cora’s hand. I tightened the grip on the blade I was still holding in my other hand. “Wait here.”

“Oh, no you don’t,” Cora said with a huff. “I’m coming with you.”

I didn’t argue as I ran toward the monster, waving my hands and yelling to get its attention. The creature locked its eyes on me. They were so strangely human, but not. I ignored the hair standing at the back of my neck and the chill running down my spine.

Gripping the hilt the way Ryvin had taught me, I raced toward the monster. She spread her wings wide, as if she was going to take off with Sophia still on her back. I couldn’t let that happen. I jumped, then drove my knife into one of the wings, dragging it along. The harpy let outa howl of pain, then swung her other wing around, knocking me down. I hit the marble floor face first and tasted blood immediately, but didn’t let myself wonder what I’d injured.

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