Page 63 of Destined to the Lycan
“Protection and aid for what,” he asked, his tone just as harsh.
“I am terminally ill.”
“Obviously. The stench of death is all over you,” he replied in a factual manner.
The dagger claws at the ends of his massive paws appeared to extrude further, cutting effortlessly into the hard rock of the plateau. The thick muscles of his legs and shoulders bulged slightly. I forced myself to ignore what I could only interpret as signs of his control already waning and focused on his face instead. The Weaver warned me there would be little time to conclude our business before his rage took over any rationalthought. So I dove right in, skipping any small talk I might have otherwise used to ease him into it.
“I have been told that the venom in your snake tail could counter the poison currently killing me,” I said in a controlled voice.
“That is correct. And once it’s done eradicating that poison, my venom will kill you,” he said, sounding a little irritated as if I was wasting his time with something that should be obvious.
“But it won’t kill me if your other venom neutralizes it once I am rid of the poison,” I countered.
Ranael visibly recoiling in surprise at that comment left me baffled.
“What other venom?” the demon wolf asked, seeming confused.
“The one from your fangs and saliva,” I said in a self-evident fashion.
He snorted and made a jerking motion with his head. I didn’t quite know how to interpret it. For some reason, it struck me as hinting at an incredulous laugh.
“The venom from my fangs and saliva will absolutely not neutralize my snake tail venom,” Ranael said, sounding amused and like he was questioning my intelligence. “What they will do is liquefy you from the inside out. You could say they are far more potent than even the most virulent acid known to mankind.”
“What?! That’s not possible!” I exclaimed, feeling my blood drain from my face. “Your bite will neutralize your snake venom. You’re a demon wolf. You cannot lie!”
He bared his teeth at me, and an angry growl rose from his throat. In that instant, I didn’t doubt that without my protection request, he would have attempted to attack me. As I had never drawn a similar magic circle before, I could only hope that, asclaimed by the Weaver, it truly sheltered me from him should he lose control.
Instead of answering me, Ranael suddenly jerked his head to the right in the direction of the semi-cave my mate and I had sheltered in earlier. I followed his gaze only to see him staring at Remus. Partially hidden by the shadows, he was almost invisible.
“Ranael! Focus on me,” I commended, stunned by my own boldness.
But when dealing with beings from the netherworld, showing weakness would almost guarantee our demise. To my utter relief, the demon wolf complied and snapped his attention back towards me.
“I do not lie, you foolish woman. As you stated yourself, demon wolves are bound to speak the truth,” he hissed.
“But… but the Weaver said that your bite would neutralize the venom!” I exclaimed, utterly distressed.
“That’s not what the Weaver said,” he replied in a tone that brooked no argument. “You simply misinterpreted her words.”
“What?! But…”
My voice trailed off as my brain struggled to make sense of his words. The sincerity in his voice was undeniable. And as we had both stated, he could not lie even if he wanted to.
“Conclude your business, human. I cannot last much longer,” he said in a growling tone.
His muscles bulged further, while the reddish glow in his eyes intensified, creating a frightening halo around his massive lupine face. Behind him, his snake tail waved from side to side, the movement almost hypnotic as if it was trying to lull its prey before striking.
“But what did she mean then?” I pressed him. “She said the demon wolf’s snake tail would counter the poison in me. And then the bite of…”
I froze, my eyes widening as I stared in disbelief at Ranael.
“The bite of a sick wolf…” I whispered more to myself before glancing at Remus, although I could barely see him in the shadows.
“Yes,” Ranael replied. “I am not asickwolf. I amcursed. Now hurry!”
Fear finally washed over me when his throat reddened from the fire building in his chest. Teeth bared, wings spread wide, he dug his claws even more deeply into the stone at his feet. Shards of rock flew up where the stone fractured.
“HURRY!” he yelled.
