Page 70 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

Rvyin and Vanth leaped from his shoulders, landing inthe dirt nearby. We all stared at the monster, as if waiting for him to rise and charge us again.

“I think he’s dead,” Vanth said.

Ryvin returned his weapon to its sheath, then bypassed the fallen monster to reach me. He pulled me into his arms and I relaxed into him, feeling nothing but relief that I’d saved him. It didn’t matter if it cost me my own life. He’d get to keep living, and that was enough.

Thunder rumbled overhead, and I felt the first drop of rain on my arm. Instinctively, I looked to the sky, but with the incoming storm, there were no stars. Raindrops hit with more frequency, making the fire flicker and sizzle.

“We should get inside,” Vanth suggested.

Ryvin kept his arm around me as we entered the cave, which helped me appear steadier than I was. My hands were shaking, though, and I felt both too hot and too cold. But he was alive, even if I wasn’t going to be for much longer.

“Do you think the entrance is in here somewhere?” Vanth asked, already searching the walls.

“It might be.” Ryvin moved away from me and sent several fae lights into the space, brightening it as if we were outdoors under the midday sun.

The walls were splashed with dark dried blood and every bit of the floor was covered in bones. How long had people come here and ended up as a meal for this monster? I didn’t even know this sorceress existed before this, but she must have had a lot of people coming to her over the years. Had the Fae King done that? Come hereand appease the cyclops somehow so he could meet with the sorceress? Or had she gone to him?

I carefully waded through the piles of bones, trying not to think too hard about how many had died to leave behind this many.

We scoured the walls, brushing fingertips over the stone, searching for any signs of expansion or secret passages. As I moved along, I noticed a breeze that didn’t belong. Like someone was blowing at me.

Kneeling, I found the source and passed my fingers in front of the small hole. Dirt fell as I brushed my fingers around it, trying to determine if it might be something of importance.

Suddenly, the room rumbled.

“What’s happening?” Vanth called.

“I think I did something,” I stood and stepped away from the wall, running into Ryvin who’d already come to where I was.

A gap appeared in the wall as a door slid open.

“Good find, Ara,” Ryvin said.

“Let’s hope she’s home,” I replied.

I braced myself for another tunnel but was surprised to find an open space enclosed by tall rocks. A hidden open cave of sorts, buried in the stones. The ground was covered in lush grasses and fragrant flowers. A warm breeze blew past, bringing the scent of salt to mingle with the strong florals.

“What is this place?” I looked around in awe. It was an oasis, a paradise hiddenaway from view.

It wasn’t a large space, but it was big enough for a small home, no larger than the shacks that lined the poorest areas in Athos. Outside the building, sitting on a bench, was a woman clothed in flowing white fabric. She had long, dark hair and a pale complexion that made me wonder if she was even actually here. She might as well be a phantom.

“None of you are supposed to be here.” The woman stood, the fabric of her dress moving in opposition to the wind. A phenomenon I’d seen once before.

“You’re the sorceress?” I asked in disbelief.

The Fate smiled, her mouth was full of black teeth. I shuddered and took a step back.

Morta had always been intimidating, but compared to this fate, she was a warm and welcoming presence. This fate radiated death and destruction. I could feel it and I knew it wasn’t just the fact that I was knocking on the door of the Underworld as we stood here.

“You’re not allowed to take sides, Nona. Why would you give my father something of such power?” Ryvin asked.

“Why did Morta help you all those times, Prince of Darkness?” The Fate took a step closer, setting her dark eyes on me. Though she didn’t appear to be blind like her sister, she had the same penetrating gaze, like she was looking through me.

“Morta has never aided one side over the other. She’s given me advice, mostly in the form of riddles, but never any gifts. Nothing that would sway my path.”

“Except for keeping this one alive.” She pointed a gnarled finger at me. “She was meant to die.”

“Is this your retribution for that, then?” Ryvin asked. “If it is, take it out on me, not on all of Athos and Drakous. My father doesn’t deserve the gifts you’ve given him.”

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