Page 18 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

“I need that. I need that ability to turn it off and fight.” I thought about how I’d found my way there outside the Opal, but those deaths still haunted me. Even now, as I prepared for more destruction, their faces still occupied my mind. They’d wanted me dead. Tried to kill me. And I still felt guilty for my response.

Ryvin kissed my forehead. “No, you don’t. Keep as much of yourself as you can. Let us take this burden for you.”

“I don’t want you to have my mistakes added to yours,” I said.

“They’re not mistakes. And even if they were, I’d gladly take them all to lighten your load. That’s what you do for someone you love.” He pressed his lips to mine and I relaxed into him, letting the safety of his arms wash away all the anxiety of the moment.

He jolted and pulled away, an annoyed look on his face. I followed his gaze and found Laera staring down at us. “Can you maybe not while the rest of us are in here?”

“Leave them be. They deserve a moment together before we face what might be our death,” Bahar said.

“I didn’t think you’d be the hopeless romantic type,” Laera said, wrinkling her nose.

“He wasn’t before. I think it’s that mating bond. Makes you soft,” Kabir said.

“I’m glad I don’t have that problem.” Laera sighed, then crossed her arms over her chest. “Is it about time to go kill my father? I’m not sure these two will keep their clothes on if we stay here much longer.”

“It was just a kiss,” I said, but I could feel the need burning low in my belly. Ryvin had a way of making me forget about everything else and crave him, even when it wasn’t the ideal time for those kinds of distractions. Maybe a mating bond really wasn’t always the best thing.

Ryvin stood, then offered his hand to help me up. I accepted, then brushed the dirt off my trousers. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Careful what you wish for, princess,” Kabir said.

Vanth and Ryvin both growled.

“I wasn’t threatening her,” Kabir replied.

“They get that way sometimes, despite the fact that I try to remind them that Ara can take care of herself,” Laera said.

“Again, I’m right here. I can speak for myself. And yes, I can take care of myself.” I hated when they did that. At least the lust was extinguished. “Can we stop discussing me and focus on why we’re here?”

“Right.” Bahar moved closer to the rest of the group. We all formed up in a circle and my insides twisted with anxiety as reality hit. We were actually doing this. We were actually going to breach the palace and assassinate the Fae King. There was a part of me that was excited at the prospect. I wasn’t sure what that said about me, so I shoved the rising glee away, focusing on Bahar’s words.

“We’ll enter through the lower kitchens. If there’s staff still alive, they won’t say a word when they see us. It will give us access to the rest of the palace from there. Any guards will be killed quietly and quickly as soon as we find out where the Fae King is in wait.”

“He’s in the throne room,” Laera said.

Everyone looked at her.

“What? Isn’t that part of why you want me here?” She shrugged.

“What else do you see?” Kabir asked.

Laera’s expression slackened, her eyes going glassy and dreamy. I could tell she wasn’t aware of her body anymore at all. Whatever skill she was using was risky. If she did this around people who wanted to harm her, she’d be inserious danger. I also knew it was the skill that made her such a useful spy.

When her vision returned to normal, her face paled and she wore an expression unlike anything I’d seen from her. My heart thundered in my chest. She looked worried. Or scared. I didn’t think that was possible for her.

“Most of the fae are gathered in the throne room. There’s a spectacle they’re gathering to witness. It’ll mean less obstacles for us to get there, but a lot of threats once we reach the king. He’s going to have a lot of people around to defend him,” she said. “We might be better off waiting until he’s retired for the evening. There’s too many guards.”

“What’s the spectacle?” Rvyin asked carefully.

She glanced at him, then swallowed hard. Her face returned to its normally bland expression. “It doesn’t matter.”

“What is it?” Bahar asked.

She looked over at him. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does.”

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