Page 28 of Champion of Cards

He grinned. “It is when you have to slip out first thing in the morning. Once you’re in a relationship, it’s a lot less exhausting.”

Too bad I would never have one of those.

“Ready to go?” he asked. “Said goodbye to Lana?”

I nodded. “She asked to see me again. I told her I’m not from around here. She looked sad.”

“It’s how it goes sometimes,” Kingsnake said. “Don’t feel bad about it.”

“She’ll get over it,” Larisa said. “Maybe you’ll see her next year.”

“Next year?” I asked. “I was already lucky enough to do this once. I don’t need to do it again.”

Kingsnake smirked. “Let’s see how you feel next year.”

We left the pub and walked to the stables, where the horses were waiting. After we packed our saddlebags, we left the Kingdoms and rode through the countryside, covering as much ground as we could before the sun rose too high in the sky. Then we napped in the shade of a tree, and I knocked out until Larisa woke me up hours later.

We continued the journey, riding past Raventower and then under the mountain. A day later, we returned to Grayson. Based on my math, this was the last night I would be human. When I woke up tomorrow, I would be a snake once more.

We returned our horses to the stables then walked to the palace of Grayson, where we all resided.

“How’d it go?” Viper clapped me on the shoulder.

“I won.” I grinned and pulled the necklace out from under my shirt.

“Wow.” Viper regarded the card then smirked. “Good for you, man.”

We entered the study and had a drink. It was just Kingsnake and me because Larisa was tired and went to bed. Kingsnake poured me scotch and it had a much stronger taste than the ale at the pub, but I drank it anyway, the fire warm against my back.

“So…are you dreading being a snake again? Or are you looking forward to it?”

I took another drink then licked my lips. “Being a human is nice, but I do like being a snake.”

“Didn’t think you’d say that.”

“I’ve spent fifteen hundred years that way. Life is much simpler.”

Kingsnake gave a nod in agreement. “Honestly…I’m gonna miss this.”

“Really?” I asked, my head cocking.

“Yeah. You’ve been my closest friend for so long. And now I can hear your voice, go to the pub with you, hug you… It’s nice.” He dropped his chin, avoiding my stare when the moment became too intense. “I can spend time with you in a different way…is all I’m saying.”

“I’m still here, Kingsnake.”

“I know…I know.” He looked down into his glass before he took a drink.

“And I can’t protect you as well as a human.”

He released a quiet laugh. “If I trained you, you’d be a killing machine, Fang. You’re a big man.”

“Even if I wanted to be a human permanently, I can’t.”

“I don’t know. I’m sure the witch could make it happen if we paid her price.”

“Yeah…maybe.”

“But if you’re happy being a snake, then that’s all that matters. I want you to be happy.”

“I wish I could be both,” I said. “Change at will. But I don’t think such a thing exists.”

Kingsnake stared down at his glass again. “Maybe we could ask the witch someday…”

“Maybe.”

Kingsnake lifted his chin and raised his glass. “To the Champion of Cards.”

I smiled before I tapped my glass against his. “To me.”

* * *

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