Page 36 of Serpent King's Revenge

His children, for instance.

"I've got friends," I said, deflecting.

"Friends," he echoed, and in that moment I worried more than ever for Erika. I may have just accidentally put her in danger. "In this city, friends can be more dangerous than enemies. You should be careful who you trust."

I clenched my jaw, forcing a laugh though it felt like choking down shattered glass. "I appreciate the concern, Kenny," I lied, leaning back in my chair to mimic his casual demeanor. It was all pretense, and we both knew it.

"Let's cut to the chase," I said after a moment. "You know why I'm here. Nathan needs to be free—what's your price?"

Kenny's lips curled into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Straight to business, I like that. But that isn’t for your ears, little girl. If we do break Nathan out, I want him here.. He has some ground to make up after his colossal fuck-ups over the past few weeks, and I know he probably wants to spend his time sampling your sweet pussy…”

My cheeks flared at Kenny's crude words, but I refused to let him goad me into a reaction. I held my ground, meeting his icy gaze with steely resolve.

He got up and walked toward me, sitting on the edge of the table so he towered over me.

"But," he continued, leaning down so that his iron gaze was level with mine, "Nathan needs to pay his dues. Once he's paid them to my satisfaction…then you can have him back."

I tried to swallow, couldn’t.

Kenny put his hand under my chin, tilting my head up. It took everything in me not to recoil…or slap him in the face. I didn’t want to piss him off–he was so dangerous, there were guards posted outside, and I couldn’t exactly fight him off without risking the baby. “You said you wanted to know what my price is. I’m going to tell you.”

I held my breath, looking up into Kenny's cold eyes.

"Tell me." My voice was steady despite the fear coiling in my stomach.

“If Nathan doesn’t do what I want,” he said, holding my face firmly and looking right into my eyes. “I am going to need an heir. Another boy. One who isn’t a monumental fuck up.”

My heart dropped at his words, a cold terror gripping me. But I knew better than to let my fear show on my face. "And what makes you think I'd agree to that?" I asked, my voice steady despite the storm raging in my stomach.

"Well, Abby," he said with a chilling smile, "Because you're smart. You want Nathan out of jail and if you want to keep him from getting killed, you'll do as I say."

I jerked away from Kenny's grip, springing up from my chair. "You're sick," I spat at him, my blood roaring in my ears.

He laughed, throwing his head back. “I like a girl with spunk. It’s more fun when you fight,” he said, then walked toward me. I staggered back until he’d cornered me against the wall, and it took everything in me not to push him away from me. I had to keep playing the part of cornered, innocent waitress if I wanted to stay alive. If I wanted Nathan to stay alive. “I’m going to send some men to get him during transport and you’re both going to come right back here. But here’s the thing, Abigail. If either of you fuck me over…I’m going to put a baby in you anyway, and I’m going to make him watch.”

Chapter Sixteen: Nathan

They’d hurt me more than I thought.

I blinked open my eyes, the world a blur of white walls and beeping machines. I was in the infirmary, that much I could piece together. The rest was a haze of fists and feet—my own private beatdown that left me sprawled on the cold ground, then shrouded in darkness.

The pain hit me hard, like a punch to the gut that never stopped. My body was a mess of hurt, and I couldn't tell if the room spun or if it was just my brain doing somersaults.

One thing was clear; I was in bad shape.

As doctors buzzed around me, needles pricked my skin and voices merged into a single drone. But there was something else in the room with us. A chill crept over my spine as I saw her in the corner—the gui po, my mother, a demon. She crouched behind the flurry of white coats, her eyes hollow and glazed white, watching me.

"Ma?" The word caught in my throat, a whisper lost in the clatter of the infirmary.

She didn't speak, didn't move, just kept staring with those empty eyes.

And with every second, she edged closer.

"Stop…" I wanted to shout but managed only a hoarse croak. I tried to lift my hand, to ward her off, but it felt like lifting a sack of bricks. I blinked, praying she'd vanish.

Needles pierced my skin…something cut into me. My body was a bruise.

I slept…and in the darkness, I felt something crawling over my bed, a sensation that had me recoiling in terror. My heart hammered against my ribcage as I tried to fight it off.

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