Page 94 of Bite The Power That Feeds

“We had to tell him,” he said. “He already suspected everything.”

I nodded. “I understand. You shouldn’t have to lie about our transgressions. We take responsibility for the crimes we committed—even if we were unaware of them at the time. We are happy to make reparations—if your father is willing to listen.”

“You destroyed the obelisk,” he said. “Those are your reparations.”

I turned to look at him in the distance, seeing how much ground their horses had already covered. “With both our armies, we should prevail. But I’d rather not slay your father—as would you. I know what it’s like to have your father killed in battle—even if he did deserve it. I don’t want that for you.”

His eyes softened, turning into clouds heavy with rain.

“Perhaps we can speak to him.”

“I know he’s unreasonable right now, but I don’t think he’d ever hurt me or my brothers.”

I nodded. “I agree. Otherwise, he’d be a lunatic.”

Cobra climbed back onto his horse. “Let’s ride together.”

I moved back onto my white mare, and we left the line of Ethereals and moved into the grasslands between us. We brought the horses to a stop and waited for his father to meet us. As we stood there, the beating hooves grew louder, and the earth trembled.

Cobra and I didn’t speak to each other, just stared at the oncoming vampires.

My heart raced in unease, seeing these powerful nightwalkers coming to destroy my brethren and my home.

Cobra must have heard my racing heart because he said, “I won’t let anything happen to you, baby.” He said it without looking at me, his eyes focused ahead.

His father came into view, wearing shiny black armor and a helmet that obstructed most of his face other than his eyes. His armor was similar to that which the others wore, but his plates had more intricate designs. On his chest was a Golden Serpent.

All he did to slow his army was raise one hand.

They all stopped. Every single one of them.

He moved ahead, bringing his horse to a slow walk. He took his time, eyes locked on Cobra’s. It was like I wasn’t even there, which was fine by me. He finally stopped the horse, and his gaze bored into his son’s face.

Cobra stared right back.

Neither man spoke. The horses flicked their tails and shifted their weight. It was quiet, too quiet.

King Serpentine broke the silence. “Get out of my way, Cobra.”

“No.”

“You think you’re enough to stop me?”

“Since I’m your son, I hope so.”

The staring contest resumed.

“That was fucked up, what you did,” Cobra said. “Screwing Kingsnake over like that.”

“I taught him a lesson. Never keep secrets from your wife—because she always finds out. He should have been the man I raised him to be and spoke the truth without hesitation. If she left, then she wasn’t right for him anyway.”

“That’s bullshit, and you know it,” he said. “You just wanted him to be distracted.”

He stared for a while. “A king is never distracted from his people. That was his error—not mine.”

I had no idea what they spoke of. Perhaps I would ask later…if there was a later.

“You’ve come to Evanguard to murder innocent people,” Cobra said. “They had no association with what transpired here.”

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