Page 23 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“Aurelias is the favorite.”

“But I’m the next favorite.”

“You know you’re going to help me, so quit the bullshit.”

He gave a smug grin. “You know me so well, brother. Fine, let’s take a trip to Crescent Falls and pay our old man a visit.” He looked at Larisa. “Are you going to bring her?”

“I’m definitely not leaving her here.”

“Aurelias will smell her a mile away.”

“And Aurelias will have to get through me first—and he knows that’s not happening.”

6

KINGSNAKE

When I entered the bedchambers, our bags were already there. The fire in the stone hearth was bright as it burned a pile of logs. A tray had been placed on the table, the food covered with silver domes. It was more for Larisa’s benefit than mine, but it was still a sign of great hospitality.

The room wasn’t as cozy as I was used to since it had no windows and the walls were literally made of stone. The plush rugs on the floor helped, along with the artwork on the walls and the grand furniture.

Larisa immediately removed her armor, like she couldn’t wait to remove the excess weight from her lithe body. She piled the pieces on one of the armchairs and stripped off the rest of her clothes.

I knew she was desperate for a bath, but I could take her right now if she wanted.

She must have felt those thoughts, because her eyes suddenly connected with mine. “I haven’t showered in two days. I look terrible.”

My feelings didn’t belong to me. I missed the privacy I’d once had, but it was also nice that she knew exactly how I felt and when I felt it. She knew I thought she was beautiful even when she thought she was hideous. “You clearly don’t look terrible to me.”

She broke eye contact and walked into the bathroom buck naked, that perky ass tighter than a summer peach. The water ran, and I gauged she was filling a tub based on the sound of the water.

I removed my armor and clothing as well and stepped into the shower, seeing her lounged in the oversized tub, bubbles floating across the surface and hiding her bare skin. Her head rested on a folded towel, and her eyes were already closed.

I invited myself into the tub, joining her on the opposite end, the warm water scalding against my skin.

Her eyes opened to see me across from her, propped up against the back of the tub, the bubbles stopping just below my chest.Her hair was wet and slicked back, and her skin had a beautiful blush from the warmth. Now that she was submerged in heat, she was more relaxed.

I didn’t make conversation, because just looking at her was entertainment enough.

Her eyes stayed on mine for a long time until she finally looked away. She slipped under the water altogether and stayed there for seconds, letting the heat flush against the skin of her cheeks. She came back up a moment later, water dripping from her face, her eyes glossy. Her palms wiped the excess water from her face. “Your brother is an interesting character.”

“I know.”

“I don’t have siblings, so I’ve never understood those kinds of relationships.”

“What kinds?”

“The ones where you constantly give each other a hard time, but the second trouble stirs, they’re the first one to show up in your defense.”

It was hard to describe, but anyone with a sibling understood perfectly. “We don’t always like one another, but we always love one another. That’s the best way to put it.”

She gave a subtle nod. “What about you and Viper?”

“We don’t always get along, but we get along better than my other brothers. There’s also mutual respect there. Our politics are different from the others, so it’s two versus two.”

“Cobra and Aurelias think the humans are there to serve them.”

“Essentially.”

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