Page 10 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

A bird called in the distance, the sound making the hair on my arms stand on edge. Or maybe that was from the chill in the air.

“I’ve got it,” Laera said from nearby. Even I couldn’t see where any of my friends were. The shadows concealed usfrom each other just as well as they did from the outside world.

I caught movement as she breached the veil of our dark cocoon, but she was swallowed by the night almost immediately.

The bird sounded again, the call forlorn and haunting in the darkness. Even though I knew to expect the Dragon’s liaison to make the noise, I didn’t trust it.

“We’re good,” Ryvin suddenly said. “Laera confirmed it.”

I didn’t want to know how he knew that information. There was a lot I still didn’t understand about Laera’s magic.

The shadows dispersed, slowly fading away until we were able to see each other again. I crept forward, staying close to Ryvin and Vanth as we made our way to where Laera was waiting with a uniformed man. We left the sand behind, climbing onto the rocky shore, each step getting more difficult to navigate.

“Your highness,” the man inclined his head.

“Not necessary,” Ryvin said, “I’m Ryvin, this is Ara, and Vanth. You already met Laera.”

The man’s jaw tensed, looking uncomfortable at the familiarity, but he nodded. “I’m Rashid. I’ll take you to our camp.”

We followed him silently, continuing to make our way over the rocky terrain. Loose rocks rolled away, clattering down. I glanced backward and realized we’d climbed higher than I thought.

It was getting a little harder to catch my breath as we continued the incline, but just as I was wondering if I’d need a break, we reached a trail.

It wasn’t a road, it was flattened plants and shifted rocks that told us a large group had been through here. I frowned. “Not exactly hiding this location, are you?”

Rashid looked over his shoulder. “We have five hundred dragons gathered in one place. There’s not a lot we can do to fully hide.”

“Good point,” I conceded.

Ryvin gave my hand a quick squeeze. “The Fae King isn’t going to come for us here. He wanted the city. And he’s vain enough to think that he can wait for them to attack him. He’s got the advantage where he is. If he leaves, he loses that.”

“That’s what we’re counting on,” Rashid said.

We walked so long, my trousers were nearly dry and I was no longer shivering. The sky turned a faint pink, the early signs of dawn approaching. I glanced toward the sunrise, a twisting sick feeling making me uncomfortable. Was I ever going to be able to appreciate a sunrise again?

As we crested the top of another hill, I caught the sight of simple tents and figures moving around. A few more steps and I could see the whole thing. My lips parted as I took in the sight of so many soldiers gathered. We’d seen their camp in Athos, but somehow, it looked larger and more impressive on the top of this mountain.

“You really don’t think the king will come here?” It was impossible to hide this many dragon shifters.

“He can try,” Rashid said.

My brows lifted in surprise and I glanced at my friends. Ryvin shrugged and Vanth didn’t even seem fazed by the dragon’s confidence.

“They have plans,” Laera said with a smirk. “Well, I suppose we go find their king and figure out the new way we tempt the fates.”

I shuddered as I recalled Morta’s words. I felt like all I’d been doing the last few weeks was tempt fate. It was impossible that I was still alive.

“This way,” Rashid gestured, then led us through the tents.

Shifters watched us, not bothering to hide their stares. Many of them had been on the shores of Athos not long ago, and now we were at theirs. We traded one battlefront for another.

My shoulders slumped as I realized how little progress we’d made. It was difficult not to feel defeated.

I recognized Bahar seated on a large boulder, surrounded by a group of men and women. They were hanging on his every word as he gestured toward a large paper that looked like a map.

A couple of the people around him noticed us and turned their attention in our direction, causing Bahar to stop speaking. He stood, then faced us, a smile growing on his face immediately.

“You found us,” he said.

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