Page 88 of The Serpent’s Shadow

Leading me to Elayina had been one of the endgames of his deception. From there, after I talked to her, I was promptly captured by Huscarls, and then elves.

The soldiers had wanted to bring me back here for questioning. Torture, maybe, if I didn’t give them what they wanted to know.

Why is Elayina so important to the Hersirs? Clearly there’s something I’m missing here.I intended to find out what it was.

But not right now. I was on a separate mission.

“Well, little fox?” he asked, staring at me. “If you’re not here for violence or love, what are you here for? Certainly my face isn’t pretty enough right now to deserve a stop-off.”

I snorted, trying to show my disgust, even though it was only so I could hide a laugh. Like him or not, Arne was a funny motherfucker.

“Are you still interested in winning me over again?” I asked dryly.

Light shone in his bright eyes. “Of course.”

“How far are you willing to go?”

“As far as you make me,” he said, and then started to stand from his bench. “I’ll do anyth—”

I put a hand on his shoulder and shoved him back down to keep him seated. My eyes darted over his head, taking in the rest of the hall to make sure no one had started watching us. “Sit down, man. Don’t draw attention.”

Conversation down the table continued like normal. People laughed. Others argued. One girl’s hands in line gesticulated wildly in the air, distracting me as she regaled a group of boys with a story.

Arne gulped, craning his neck to stare up at me, food forgotten. “I’ll do anything I have to,” Arne repeated, nodding like a good little hound. “I’ll go on my hands and knees and kiss your feet, if that’s what you wish, little fox.”

I scrunched my nose, eyes narrowing dangerously. “Groveling is fine and dandy, Arne, but if you want my forgiveness, I needactionfrom you. Show me I can trust you. Prove yourself to me.”

It didn’t feel good talking down to him. Itdidfeel righteous having all this control. I worried if I ever got any more authority over these men, my big-ass head would cause me to float away into the clouds.

“Tell me what I must do.”

A thought came to me. I pursed my lips. “Who’s to say you’re not still on the academy’s payroll right now, hmm? I can’t even trust you now, Arne.”

“Well, you could ask Sven.”

I perked an eyebrow. “Huh?”

“Pretty sure the wolf has been tailing me every minute since we returned. He’s sneaky . . . except it’s hard to stay hidden out in the open when I’m walking down the cobblestones in broad daylight.”

I tilted my head, curious about that. It was so odd to me—leaving here with Sven Torfen my greatest enemy and bully, and returning with him as my most threatening ally.

I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.I’ll need to speak with him soon, too. Find out what the hell has changed since I was taken by the elves.

Sven was still a grade-A asshat, yet at least his ire wasn’t directed at me. I much preferred the obsessive wolf shifter directing it at Arne.

“The Hersirs have not spoken to me since you’ve returned, Rav,” Arne said, his face taking a serious expression. “I promise.”

“I can’t trust your promises, Arne. That’s what hurts me the most.” A claw wrapped around my heart and squeezed. Withanother heavy sigh, I said, “Let’s see how far we can go. Walk with me.”

“All right.” He lifted his hands as he started to move. “Can I . . . stand?”

I smirked at the silly bastard. “Gonna be hard to walk with me if you don’t, isn’t it?”

Once he was on his feet, he brought his bowl to the rubbish table, left it there, and dusted his hands off. We walked outside into the brisk night. I shivered in my short-sleeve tunic and crossed my arms.

Walking a step behind me, Arne said, “Here, it’s cold out. Take my jacket.”

He wore a blue long-sleeve coat to protect his slender frame from the elements, which he started to take off. It was more of a fashion statement, I’d always thought.

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