Page 20 of The Sins of Silas

Silas shot Roland a warning glare. “Knock it off,” he demanded.

I couldn’t see Roland’s expression, but I felt him tense behind me. “Prick,” he huffed under his breath, certainly quiet enough that the Prince did not hear as he and Erabella’s horse rode forward.

I laughed through my nose. “Oh, come on, he isn’t that bad.”

“You’re supposed to be on my side, Ginger Snap,” he whispered.

“Is that so?” I rolled my eyes playfully, though Roland couldn’t see. “Tell me more of this Weapon, Prince,” I asked loudly, changing the subject and nudging our horse forward so I could speak with Silas.

He cocked a brow and looked back at me, the corner of his lip raising as he replied, “I can’t trust you fully, not yet.”

Roland snickered. “'He isn’t that bad'. Is that what you just said?”

I pivoted, narrowing my eyes at Roland before diverting back and giving the Prince a glare for reciting my quote. “Oh, it’s gonna be like that, is it?”

Silas shrugged, his wife frowning at me from her spot in front of him. “You open up to me; I open up to you.” His golden eyes danced in triumph. “Seems only fair, wouldn’t you agree?”

I scowled at him. “Fine.”

He returned an equally unpleasant sneer. “Fine.”

“Get along, you two,” Edmund teased.

Hendry's horse halted abruptly. “Whoa…what the fuck is that?” Hendry breathed.

My eyes darted over, and a small gasp escaped my lips as we came to a stop.

Along the rock hung several skeletons, and eerie as they were, the most terrifying exhibition was the bodies that hadn’t fully decomposed. A man and a woman. Dry, dead flowers were laced around their limbs and their torsos. Bite wounds were noticeable on what was left of the skin on their necks.

They were shriveled up…but their teeth still remained. These bodies couldn’t be older than a few weeks.

Edmund tightened his grip around Elowen’s waist, his jaw clicking as he studied the horrific display.

“I’d take that as a warning,” Roland said, his tone deep and serious. “I’m surprised there’s not more blood.”

That was a good point. There was no evidence of blood staining the sedimentary rock or anywhere on the ground.

“Seems these vamps aren’t wasteful,” Merrick commented, his nose crinkling from the dreadful scent of decay. He angled his head to the side. “But why the display? Why warn off their food supply?”

“It isn’t a warning,” I whispered.

Silas quickly turned his head, his golden eyes meeting mine. “It’s to show us what’s to come. A promise.”

I nodded gravely, and our eyes lingered for a moment longer before Silas turned his gaze back toward the bodies.

“Let’s get away from this place,” Viola murmured from her spot behind Hendry.

With that, we moved onward, my gaze lingering for a moment longer on the two individuals who’d died not that long ago.

Why the flowers?

Day one was complete, and we were once again setting up camp. The sky was orange, and as I noticed the temperature cooling, I felt dread at the thought of being in this place in the dark. At the thought of those corpses.

We were all sitting except Erabella, who was taking a bathroom break, and Viola, who was standing nearby. She kept atasteful distance from where the Princess was but remained close enough in case she heard anything amiss.

I held my index and middle finger out, staring at the flame I conjured. It danced above my fingertips. A decent amount of wood was tied to the horses, but we still needed to be frugal.

My eyes flicked to the sky. I’d light our fire just before dark.

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