Page 105 of Snake

Nim

“Where are we going?” I ask, frowning out the window of Knox’s X7.

They put me in a white dress this morning. The fabric is soft and clingy, but it’s a very modest cut. Like something I’d wear to an interview, if I’d paired it with a smart jacket. I think the heels are a bit much, but Knox gave me a very dark look when I asked if I could just wear a pair of pumps instead.

There’s something suspicious going on with them. After a glorious wake-up call where they decided to coat me with their seed like some goddess of fertility, Mason cooked us a gourmet breakfast. He also had a plate, despite his cute remark about how he’d already had breakfast in bed.

I shiver delicately at the memory, and when I look to the side, Mason hurriedly averts his eyes. His hand has been on my thigh the entire trip already, but he’s been a very good boy and he hasn’t even tried to put it up my skirt.I’m not sure how long that self-control will last, but I love how twitchy he gets every time I cross or uncross my legs.

We’re going up into the mountains. I almost thought we were on our way back to Vicky’s house—Knox’s house—when I saw a sign for the Silverash forest, but we passed that turn off a few miles back.Now we’re heading up a long, sweeping road that winds through the multitude of pale silver pine trees cloaking this part of the mountain.

I was excited...but now I’m starting to get uneasy. Especially when the guys refuse to answer my question.

“Hey, I’m serious. I want to know where we’re going!”

It’s Silas who turns to me and says, “Deep into this town’s black heart.”

Knox scoffs. “Christ, you can be so fucking melodramatic.”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

“You’re wrong,” Knox says immediately, but his voice lacks confidence. We lock eyes in the rearview mirror. “You look breathtaking,” he says. “And no matter what happens, you remember we’ve got your back.”

My stomach drops out the bottom of the fucking car. “No matter what happens?” I grab the driver’s seat and haul myself forward, wedging my shoulders in the gap between the two front seats. “What do you think’s going to happen?”

All it takes is a dead-eyed stare from Knox before it falls into place.

Mason guides me back into my seat with gentle hands. “We’re almost there.”

“It’s them,” I murmur. “You’re taking me to my sponsors.”

Knox shrugs. “I know where I’m going, but I don’t know who’s going to be there.” Then his black eyes find mine again, latching on. Before, when he’d look at me like this, it was like he was stealing my soul, piece by piece. Like a vampire, teeth sunk deep.

But now? Now it’s like he’s filling mewith a dark, cryptic energy.

I sit back, wrap my hand in Mason’s. I turn back to the window, unfocusing my eyes so the trees blur into a smudge of black and gray.

“But no matter what happens, the Serpents have my back,” I whisper.

I didn’t mean for the words to carry, but Mason squeezes my hand and says, “That’s right, baby girl. Nothing can touch you now.”

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