Page 19 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

“It’s a distraction. And it’s bait. For us. He must know we’re trying to reach him. It also could mean he knows exactly how much I can see.” She looked around at the group. “To be honest, it might mean we’re about to fail spectacularly if we go now.”

“What is the distraction?” Bahar demanded.

She sighed, a resigned sound that was so different from her usual confidence and disregard for others. Her mouth tightened, and she looked like she was at war with herself.

“What is it?” I asked softly, moving a little closer to her.

She glanced at me, then turned to the dragon shifters who were staring at her, unblinking. I could feel the weight of their anticipation around us like a heavy cloud of dread.

“They’ve been torturing your sister,” Laera announced. “And they all gathered to watch her execution.”

8

Ara

The roarthat exploded from the dragons was so intense the ground shook, and debris fell from above. I covered my ears with my hands, squeezing my eyes closed to keep the dust away.

It crashed around us, like a wave breaking against the cliffs, before receding into an echo, a ripple of pain so enveloping that I felt like my own heart was breaking.

When I released my hold on my ears, I looked up and found both dragon shifters were already on their way out of the cave.

“Stupid shifters,” Laera mumbled as she walked after them. “This is why I didn’t want to tell them. They’re going to charge in there and get themselves killed.”

I followed her, then grabbed her shoulder, pulling hertoward me. “You said this is bait. That means your father knows what you can do and knows you’re watching.”

Vanth and Ryvin were chasing after the dragons, trying to stop their progress. I left them to it while I stood there with Laera. “They’re waiting for us. We’ve lost all element of surprise. We have to change the plan.”

“What are you suggesting?” Laera lifted her chin toward the dragon shifters. “They’re not going to wait.”

Ryvin and Vanth had managed to calm the dragons enough to get them to return to where we were standing outside the cave. They were both so tense I was certain they were holding their dragon forms in by sheer will. And I wasn’t sure how long they’d win over the beasts within.

“You have an idea, princess?” Bahar asked through gritted teeth.

“You’re still a king and the Fae King has allies based on treaties and protocols and expectations. He can’t lose face in front of the others or he’ll lose his army,” I said.

“So?” Bahar asked.

“I think I know what you’re getting at,” Ryvin said. “I think it could work.”

“What could work?” Kabir asked, his tone clipped.

“You go in publicly. Let your people see you arrive. Let all the Fae King’s allies see you arrive. You go in with the intention of creating a treaty. An alliance. He would put everything at risk if he took you down if you went peacefully. He’d show his allies how untrustworthy he was and risk them turning on him.”

“You want us to surrender to the fae?” Bahar looked incredulous.

“I want you to get your sister out,” I clarified. “And see if you can get close enough to end him.”

“This could work,” Kabir said. “He won’t expect us to come in level-headed. He’s expecting fire and brimstone. Proof that the dragons are as uncultured and dangerous as he’s told all his allies.”

“Lying bastard,” Bahar snarled.

“He’s not going to let me and Laera near him. We’re traitors,” Ryvin said.

“Not if you return with me as your prisoner and an agreement with Athos for their submission to him,” I countered.

“This isn’t going to work,” Vanth said.

“You have a better idea?” Laera challenged.

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