Page 61 of Of Serpents and Ruins
"Why are you in such an infernally good mood?" I demanded.
"I’m just remembering how to breathe. And how much I love you."
"We used to fight kapis, didn’t we?" I narrowed my eyes at him, conflicting emotions flaring through me.
"One of our first dates, brash seer. This time, instead of me testing to see what your skills are, I’m desperately hoping you remember."
The way he looked at me set my heart pounding faster.
He leaned closer, his posture still strong and guarded as he remained aware of the kapis. His voice lowered to a conspiratorial tone. "But this time I’m not threatening to leave you. I’ll die before I let anything happen to you here."
"Funny thing to say," I smirked, unable to help myself. That giddiness was starting to take over me again. Not so unmanageable. The terror seemed to balance it out. "Especially when we’re on a countdown before the curse takes over and you kill me."
"Fair." He inclined his head, his eyebrow arching. "But seeing you again, I’m starting to remember just how much we’ve already been through. All the impossible things we’ve already done, Stella. I don’t know how, but we’re going to make it through this." He nuzzled me, his nose tracing a line from mycheek to my neck. "Now…do you remember why this chamber we’re in is the better location for fighting kapis?"
I shivered, my gaze fixed on his face. Despite the familiarity, I couldn’t catch any specifics within the stream of my mind. "Tell me, arrogant king."
His smile went absolutely devilish as the gurgling, hissing grumbles of the kapis intensified. They were getting closer. "There’s one thing this chamber has the passage did not—room to be epic."
STELLA
As Brandt winked, his body tensed. Blue energy arced out of the red and black ring. Muscles rippled beneath his garments as his body lengthened and stretched, melding effortlessly into the black-and-red water serpent form. He tossed his head back and roared.
The kapis lurched away, the leader crouching down as its long scaly tail swished back and forth.
Brandt tossed his horned head and leaned forward.
Damn. That man was sexy even as a gigantic water serpent, especially when his attention was focused on the kapis ahead of us and protecting me rather than murdering me.
At the same time, a deep pang of loss struck me. Another memory of sorts. An impression. As if I should be right there with him. Like a less terrifying echo of what I felt when I’d launched myself off Buttercup’s back at the tyrannosaur.
My jaws and skin itched. My muscles tensed. An image flashed into my mind. Was it a vision or a memory? I saw myself side by side with Brandt, both of us in water serpent form, draped over one another in a bold, dual-sided attack formation.
Yes, that was where I belonged. That was where I belonged. On his right. Part of the arch. Part of the battle. The yearning to fight at his side was almost as strong as the desire to be with him.
As Brandt struck at the air in front of the kapis and drove them back, I knotted my fingers in the soft fabric of my dress. He let out another thunderous roar as he reared up, towering over the crouched kapis. His long, serpentine body undulated as he lunged forward, jaws open wide. All but the leader of the kapis scattered back with grunting hisses, but the leader braced its legs against the ground and straightened. Its head moved down into a straight line with its spine as its jaws moved open.
Brandt lashed forward, moving his massive body between the kapis and me. His powerful jaws snapped menacingly, razor-sharp teeth glinting in the dim blue light.
That beat and pressure inside my chest returned. I followed its tug, moving to a marble column with chunks of pale stone like popcorn clusters. My heart raced faster.
Once again, Brandt charged forward and snapped, driving the kapis back. The leader closed its eyes, its body tensing as another guttural groan followed. It had almost flattened itself against the cavern floor, but it wasn’t moving back. The other three halted in the passage.
Brandt coiled and stretched out again, his massive, scaled body forming a living barrier while also showcasing his size. He snapped his jaws with a heavy click.
The lead kapi tensed then lunged for Brandt’s throat.
"Brandt!" The scream tore out of me. I dropped to the ground and gathered up loose stones. Maybe I couldn’t be a water serpent, but I could help.
I’d no sooner straightened than Brandt had whipped his head down and seized the leader in his jaws. His coils spun around the creature, twisting it about so that its heavy jaws snapped shut on empty air.
The kapi thrashed in Brandt's grip, writhing and twisting but unable to break free.
The other kapis milled together back in the passage. Their yellow eyes glinted and narrowed. As one darted forward, I flung a rock. It struck the beast between the eyes, startling it just enough it hopped back.
That had worked.
Not the best but sufficient.
