Page 37 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“That’s my best guess.”

* * *

We packed our things and walked to the harbor. Humans occupied the coastal town, some working the docks as they brought in fresh seafood, others in the town operating their little shops like hair salons and seamstresses. As we passed, they glanced at us, noting our status based on our attire.

But none had a clue what we really were.

We approached the ship, an enormous black galleon, fearsome in the daylight and untraceable in the darkness. A crew had been assigned to provide safe passage across the world. They would discover what we really were on the journey, so they would be killed once we returned to port.

I didn’t agree with the decisions of the Originals, but this was their kingdom—not mine.

I carried everything onto the ship with Larisa behind me, and once my boots hit the wood, my footsteps reverberated. We had a private room under the deck, modest accommodations with a single bed, a stone fireplace to keep warm on the coldest nights, and a tub for bathing.

Are you sure you want to come? It’ll be a long journey.

Fang was wrapped around my shoulders.We’ve never parted before. We won’t part now.

You sure?

Yesss. Fang slithered off my shoulders then got comfortable on the bed, like a dog that made himself right at home.

Larisa sat beside me and gently stroked her fingers over his head, like he was a dog with fur.

I left again and moved above deck. Aurelias was there, his features hard and angry in the sunlight. He looked over the horizon as if he could somehow see our destination a world away.

I came to his side. “Stow your prisoners below deck.”

He didn’t turn to look at me. “I put them on the ship last night.” He slowly turned his head to regard me. “I knew you wouldn’t share, not that I wanted her in the first place.”

I waited for him to say something else, knowing more was coming.

“I’m in charge of this expedition. You do what I say—no questions asked.”

I couldn’t suppress the grin that moved across my face. “Good luck with that.”

“I know the continent, and you know nothing.”

“I know how not to be an asshole. That’s gotta count for something.”

Aurelias continued his glare, so stonelike it was hard to believe he’d ever been human. “Keep that human away from me. If she says a goddamn word to me, I’ll throw that bitch overboard—”

My fist slammed hard into his face, making him stumble back into the mast. It all happened so fast because I acted on instinct. It was an emotional response, but I had no regrets. “Her name is Larisa. Call her anything else from this point onward, and I’ll throwyourass overboard.”

Against the mast, he stared at me, the corner of his mouth bleeding. It looked like he might rush me, like we would battle it out directly on the deck of a ship. But he pushed himself upright, straightened his robes, and then wiped his mouth with his thumb, staring at me all the while. “Don’t fuck with me, Kingsnake.”

“Same to you, asshole.”

9

LARISA

I stayed below deck most of the time because there wasn’t much to see or do on the surface. On a clear day, the view of the endless ocean was beautiful, but it was also freezing cold, so the moment didn’t last long.

Below deck, I played cards and other games with Fang.

Kingsnake was above deck on cloudy days, either helping out or speaking with Aurelias about the journey.

As the weeks passed, cabin fever started to set in, and even with Kingsnake and Fang for company, I felt a little restless. Food started to grow stale. Wine was the only thing that electrified my palate.

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