Page 39 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

“Let’s see if your mother made a mistake by letting you live.” Nyx reached out and yanked the serpent necklace from my neck, then tossed it on the ground.

My hand went to my neck protectively, then I moved toward the fallen necklace. Nyx’s arm blocked my progress. “No magic from anyone else while you’re here.”

Her gaze dropped to my chest. “Give me the other one.”

I covered the small leather pouch that was hidden under my peplos. “No.”

She smirked. “No?”

“No. These were gifts from my mother.” I wasn’t sure what the pouch contained, but if there was ever a time I might need to use it, it was while I was trying to prove my worth to Nyx.

The goddess sighed, then leaned down and picked up the broken necklace. She dropped it dramatically into her other palm. “I will return both items to youonce you’ve completed my tasks.”

I stared at the broken chain in her palm, already feeling the loss of the necklace. When I looked up at the goddess, her expression was calm and reserved. Her beautiful face was free of lines with high cheekbones that could have been chiseled from marble. Her eyes were the same as Ryvin’s. Swirling, endless pools of silver. Like they were made of the very stars.

“I have your word?” I asked.

Her brows lifted. “You doubt a goddess?”

“I’ve known too many gods to trust any of you,” I snapped.

She smirked. “You might be smarter than I realized.”

“Your word.”

She nodded. “You have my word. I will return both items if you successfully complete my tasks.”

“I want to know how many tasks before I give it to you,” I replied.

She looked like she might laugh. “Yes, you are smart.”

I waited, giving her time to argue with me.

“There will be three. You complete the assigned tasks, and I will return your items,” she explained.

I nodded, then lifted the leather cord over my head. It took me a few breaths before I could talk myself into depositing the leather pouch into Nyx’s waiting hand. I had a feeling I was going to need that item to save my life sooner rather than later. It had been a comfort to carry it with me, and losing it felt like I’d been stripped of a layer of protection I’d come to depend on.

Nyx closed her hand and the items vanished.

My eyes widened and I sucked in a startled breath. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to the various powers the gods held.

“We begin now,” she said. “You must get Obsidian to deliver you to your next task.”

Nyx vanished.

I raced up the path, trying to chase the goddess, hoping for another clue. As soon as I broke through the trees, I halted and my heart fell into the pit of my stomach.

Standing in front of me was the largest and most beautiful horse I’d ever seen. No, not horse. Pegasus. It stretched massive, black feathered wings from its body, making it look even larger than it already was. “You must be Obsidian.”

It reared up on its hind legs, then landed, its hoofs stomping into the dirt, kicking up clouds of dust. The creature grunted and snorted, clearly irritated at my very presence.

I held my hand out, hoping to calm the huge pegasus. The horse swung its head and stomped its massive hoofs, moving closer to me with each step. I had to back up so I wasn’t trampled.

My heart raced and I knew he could sense my fear. All animals could feel it, couldn’t they? I didn’t even know if he had any additional magic, aside from being a flying horse.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I said, trying to mask the fear in my voice.

The horse exhaled through its nostrils, as if annoyed. Ifrowned, then crossed my arms over my chest. How was I to ride this creature if it wouldn’t even let me approach it?

---