Page 86 of The King of Frost and Shadows

My stomach roiled. If the snakes didn’t kill me, the fae would because they had access to their wings and magic.

Instead of lifting his sword, Lorne raised his hand, and ice shot out of his palm toward the snake. Like mine, the snake evaporated into the dark mist, and the ice shot through the area, hitting the sandy and gritty floor twenty yards away from us, almost halfway across the arena.

My breathing quickened as Dougal and Lorne took flight, leaving my ass alone down here.

Lovely.

A small part of me regretted telling the others about the snakes since it was clear they had no intention of helping me. Four of them beamed and crossed their arms as they settled in to enjoy watching the three snakes take me on. Lorne scowled.

Was this Eldrin’s way of demonstrating that even the Unseelie who acted against their king were worthier of life than me?

Quite possibly, but I refused to die that easily.

Dougal screamed and descended to the ground. Startled, I jerked toward him. His body convulsed near me. Sweat beaded on his face as whatever the venom was doing to him took effect and spread throughout his body.

My wings moved, trying to lift me off the ground, but the chains clanked. I wasn’t free and probably never would be again.

I swallowed as the wall of mist split into three parts and swirled around me. If I ran through and tried to reach Dougal to save him, the gas would take effect and weaken me for the snakes to kill too. Even though I’d like to help him, I wasn’t willing to sacrifice my life for him.

Raising my sword, I felt my tattoo pulse faster, like a heartbeat. I would’ve thought it was mine—my pulse was rushing in my ears—but it wasn’t beating in time.

As the gas condensed again, I prepared and struck. My sword still hit air like the snake wasn’t even there.

Could they not be killed? That sounded like something sadistic Eldrin would do. The blazing asshole would stop at nothing to have me killed.

Eiric’s voice popped into my head:Don’t waste your energy stabbing at the snakes until they materialize. You can’t kill them otherwise. You have to wait until they attack.

I wanted to stare at Tavish. I had no doubt he was helping me, but the three split sections of air began solidifying again.

They had me surrounded, and I could only hope I found a way out of this. Otherwise, I was breathing my last few breaths.

I turned my head from side to side to keep an eye on them, waiting for the moment. The farthest one on my left seemed to grow denser again.

Without hesitating, I spun toward it and swung my blade where the neck should be. It formed a second before my sword reached it, and its eyes widened as my blade slid through its neck. Though it went against every natural instinct, I continued toward it, hoping my slice had debilitated it—in order to avoid the other two, which could strike at any second.

Black blood squirted from its neck, coating me as Ilooked behind me. Another snake surged toward me. Unable to swing my blade fast enough, I lifted the armor a second before the snake clamped down.

Its teeth clanked against the metal, but the force of its momentum propelled me back and slammed me into the dying snake’s side, where blood poured from its neck and down my tunic and chest. The blood was cold, and shivers racked me.

The attacking snake released its jaw and was rearing up to attack when Lorne appeared right behind it and lopped off its head.

“Lira, watch out!” he yelled.

I jerked my head toward the injured snake, which bared its teeth as if to attack me, though its head wobbled.

It struck, and I swung toward it, using the hilt of my sword to smack it in the head. Its mouth chomped inches from my face, and my right hand jabbed forward, hitting its eye with the long blade.

The snake’s body lurched before it crashed to the ground, sending dirt and sand into my eyes. I blinked to get the particles out since my body was covered in blood. I groaned, but I held up my sword, ready to fight the last snake or anyone else who dared to attack me.

Lorne flew down next to me, scanning me.

My breath caught, and I waited for him to make a move, but he pivoted, so his back was to me.

“The last snake will move quicker now that it’s not coordinating an attack with the other two,” Lorne said as he pressed his back to mine. “Keep your eyes open.”

My body tensed as I prepared for him to turn on me. Before I could call his bluff, through my blurry vision, I sawsomething black hurtle toward me.

I readied myself to lift my sword, but the snake was already upon me. I thrust my armor toward it, but its head dodged, going for my left side. I wasn’t sure what to do, but my feet moved of their own accord, spinning me toward the snake.

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