Page 83 of Artemysia
“Owlfred let you feed him without biting you. That means something,” she says, propping our torch on a rock outside the entryway.
I rearrange the grip of my blade with extra flair, spinning it. “I’ll control thingsmyway.”
She refrains from the eye-roll I know she wants to do and begins a side-shuffle toward the winged serpent.
It flashes its golden eyes and raises its head, swaying hypnotically, exactly as a cobra would do before striking. I send it telepathic thoughts, ordering it not to bite us. I feel stupid, because I have no idea how Syf influence wildlife.
Delphine starts to talk to it in a soothing voice. She’s good. It almost soothesme.
Who is this woman beside me? She’s the first to wade into a dangerous situation if she thinks she can help. Damn her great big heart.
The black serpent stares wide-eyed, unblinking, as its tongue flicks out to test the air.
Fuck.Hello, agonizing death.
Miraculously, it allows us to approach the fallen rock, though I’m betting it’s only waiting for us to get closer before impaling us with its stinger.
We roll the rock toward its tail end.
Once the Lindwyrm is free, a great roar escapes its mouth, rather than the hiss I expected. It bares its blade-sharp fangs.
“Run! This fucker’s going to attack!” I holler, pulling Delphine back by her wrist.
Delphine shrieks and sprints away as the serpent spreads its wings.
It jabs at us with a golden stinger that emerges from its tail. I knock away its tail end with the flat of my blade and yank Delphine into a dive through the cavern entrance.
The Lindwyrm emits a high-pitched scream as its wings beat, stirring up the smaller rocks around us.
We don’t look back as we race back down the tunnel. Delphine has the wits to scoop up the torch, and neither of us stops running as I call out which way to turn. Thank fuck for my impressive memory and chalk marks. We sprint all the way back to our campsite. Due to its size, the Lindwyrm can’t pursue us through the narrower spaces,but the adrenaline from encountering a supposedly mythical creature keeps us moving our legs as fast as we can.
When we finally reach our camp, Ivy’s snores are vibrating the tent she shares with Throg.
Delphine stumbles to the rock wall and braces herself against it while she catches her breath.
Folded over with my hands on my knees, I’m just as breathless.
Anger wells in my chest, replacing the heady adrenaline.
I lose my temper.
“For all your efforts—wow—it was just so grateful to be saved,” I heave. “It not only tried to sting me to death, but also practically bashed you into the rocks. You don’t always get back the goodwill you give, you know.” Annoyed that she keeps endangering herself for others, I default to petty sarcasm. Why can’t she get this into her head?
She’s too winded to answer.
Unable to catch her gaze, I drop back onto a rock and try to look as menacing as possible to drive my point home. “What did wejustsay about you needing to stop saving everyone but yourself?”
“We agreed my way was best, and you admitted you were the a-hole,” she pants, straightening up but looking pale.
“You tricked me with your sweet lips on my cock.”
She lunges over in two swift strides and jabs me in the gut.
This is what makes her terrific, because it’s exactly what I need right now. My vile mood vanishes as I wheeze a chuckle.
This woman accepts my flaws and quirks, but never lets me get away with nonsense. Blood flows to my cock, even as I’m doubled over.
She fixes me with her own look of death. “Don’t be vulgar. You would leave it there to suffer and die?”
