Page 74 of Their Blood Rite

Dorian steps back, bumping into the counter and visibly pales. ‘What the hell is that thing?’ he stammers.

I get the impression he isn’t a fan. I hold her up, admiring her, and he and Archie both recoil.

‘She’s just a little snake,’ I laugh. ‘You two are immortal warriors. Surely you’re not scared of her.’ I hold her closer to them, and they both step back.

‘Where did you find her?’ Shaw asks, putting down the tray and coming to take a look for himself.

‘She came to me.’ His eyes shine as he looks at her. He actually smiles. ‘Back home, we’re taught never to disregard a gift from nature. It’s sacrilege. And when a living creature comes to you, it’s an honour. Not sure what kind of snake she is. I’ve never seen one like her before.’

‘She’s a Kedar,’ Shaw says, taking my elbow and lifting it. ‘A very rare breed.’ He blinks and looks from her to me. ‘She’s also the most poisonous creature on the planet. One bite delivers enough venom to kill a hundred mortal men.’

‘Could she kill you?’

His lip twitches in a smile. ‘No, Pixie. It would hurt like hell but wouldn’t kill us. So don’t get any ideas.’

His hand wraps around mine so our forearms touch. The hairs on my skin stand up, and I erupt in goosebumps.

He’s too busy watching the snake to notice.

The Kedar slithers across to him and wraps around his arm. Her tongue darts out as her head lifts, and the two look at each other for the longest time. Unblinking. Unmoving.

‘Ronan?’ Archie says nervously.

Shaw doesn’t answer but continues in this strange stare-off until she breaks away and returns to me.

‘Kill the fucking thing, Ronan!’ Dorian hisses.

I hold her closer to my chest, feeling strangely protective over her.

‘You will not kill her!’ I insist.

‘If that creature bites her, she’ll be dead in a second,’ Dorian reminds him.

‘The snake’s a familiar, Dorian,’ Shaw replies, walking to a cupboard and pulling out a liquor bottle. ‘Its markings mimic her kindred. Almost all kindred witches have a familiar.’

‘I’ve never seen a witch with a deadly snake before,' Archie says. 'They’re usually cats or something.’

‘Well, hers is a Kedar. And the only thing that snake may kill is a threat to our Pixie.’

‘So…you?’ I counter, hitching a brow and suddenly even more fond of my snake friend.

‘Obviously,’ Shaw scoffs, pulling free the cork and drinking heavily from the bottle. ‘That’s why she just bit me. Sit, Pixie. Eat.’

The snake slithers from my arm and lands on the table as I sink into a chair.

Archie tucks my chair in as the others prepare a plate.

A full meal is placed before me, and they sit. All three look on, watching with anxious excitement. Three huge men, covered in scars that drink blood, all on the edge of their seats as I pick up a fork.

‘It’s not poisoned, is it?’

‘No.’

‘This is the strangest breakfast I have ever had.’

‘Get on with it,’ Archie grins, stabbing a slice of meat with a fork and then shoving it into my mouth.

‘Oh-my-gods!’ I moan loudly and without restraint, losing myself to the tenderness of it on my tongue, the full-bodied taste and utterly delicious seasoning. When I go to take the fork, he smacks my hand away and gets some of the vegetables. He feeds me another mouthful, and my whole body explodes in goosebumps.

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