Page 4 of Dead Heat

“You reside here, yet The Corporation has not captured you.” His tone dripped with suspicion.

“Not for lack of trying. They’re hampered by their own bureaucracy.”

Apep nodded sagely. “It would be wise to return home to strategize first.”

I bit back a smile. Even male giant serpent-devils co-opted ideas as their own. “Smart plan. You’ll take your friends with you when you leave, right? We don’t really have the right climate for them.”

Apep contemplated the serpents and scarabs around him. “I promised some of my followers a reward for their service.”

My pulse quickened at his change in tone. It seemed our meeting of the minds was over. The deity of darkness had returned.

“What kind of reward?”

“You have nothing to fear from them,” he said. “It is only the lower forms they desire.”

The lower forms.

My gaze slid to Paulie and Xander, still seated on the branch of an oak tree, oblivious to this discussion of their fate.

“No,” I said, injecting as much authority into my voice as I could muster.

Apep regarded me. “Their venom is potent. They offer a quick death.”

“This land is under my protection, and that includes itsinhabitants. Those werewolves are to remain unharmed.” I rested my hand on my sword. “If they attack, I’ll have no choice but to respond in kind.”

“Then so be it.” Apep swiveled toward the crossroads and slithered away, accompanied by the scarabs and more than half the serpents. The mist gathered behind them to form a thick grey wall.

The remaining five serpents turned their attention to the werewolves.

“Climb higher,” I shouted.

The werewolves scampered upward as a chorus of hisses filled the air.

“Follow your leader now,” I told the serpents. “If you stay, the only reward is death.”

They slithered toward the oak tree and began to wrap themselves around the trunk. Climbing higher would buy the werewolves time, nothing more.

“Last chance,” I said.

Three of them coiled around the tree in pursuit of their prey while the other two faced me.

“So this is how it’s going to be, huh?”

The serpents hissed in response. The one on the left struck first, its fangs narrowly missing my arm.

“Just for the record, I take no pleasure in this.” My blade whistled through the air, cutting off their heads in quick succession. Purplish-black goo spilled to the ground and pooled at my feet.

“Lorelei, a little help,” Paulie yelled.

I glanced up to see the other three serpents halfway up the tree. Two throwing knives. Three targets.

Stupid math.

I hurled the first knife, and the point sank straight through a serpent’s eye. Its body twitched and uncurled from the tree, but the lodged blade kept it from falling tothe ground. It hung awkwardly, swinging casually in the breeze.

I threw the second knife and buried the blade in the next serpent’s tail. It tried to keep moving but to no avail. The same thick purplish-black liquid oozed from the wound and soaked the bark of the tree.

One to go.

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