Page 36 of Crown of Serpents

“Do you understand?” His voice was a low rumble, a promise and a threat.

“I do,” she forced herself to say. Anything to get out of this wretched cell.

He lowered his blade, releasing her from his grip. Slowly, Medusa turned on her heel to face her enemy up close for the first time. The man that towered over her was not at all how she had imagined her captor. Instead of the cold gaze and cruel sneer, Perseus' hazel eyes sparked with curiosity. He was younger than she had imagined, with only a hint of stubble on his chiselled chin and dark tousled curls framing his slender face. His only imperfection was the slightly crooked nose that looked like it had been broken during a fight. She couldn’t deny that he was …beautiful. But then again,hehad been just as beautiful as he was wicked, cruel, and terrifying.

Perseus cocked his head, a lazy grin spreading across his lips as he raised his thick eyebrows. His expression was the epitome of male arrogance.“Like what you see, priestess?”

Medusa glared at him, ignoring the heat creeping into her cheeks. She hated that his gaze made her heart flutter. Even after all these years of hunting men, being so close to one struck a chord of terror in her. Or so she told herself as her palms grew clammy.

“I was just waiting for you to remove shackles on my ankles as well,” she retorted, “or do those belong to the attire of Apollo's priestesses?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The brilliant light of the throne hall blinded Perseus as he walked through the gilded doors. The warm glow of the torches danced off the turquoise and gold tiles covering the floor and illuminated the intricate mosaics adorning the walls. He recognised some of the scenes depicted as famous myths, tales his mother had told him when he was little. There was a fresco of the epic battle between the Olympians and the titans. Another illustrated the abduction of Europa by Zeus in the form of a mighty bull, yet others remained unfamiliar.

He couldn’t fathom how much drachmae the Joppan rulers had spent to build a palace this magnificent, nor who had paid for this display of wealth. At least King Cepheus knew how to spend his citizens’ money with taste. Polydectes’s residence paled in comparison to Joppa’s palace.

At the centre of the room stood two cedar thrones, decorated with intricate carvings of vines that intertwined them with one another. Another smaller throne stood beside them, where theJoppa’s rulers lounged, waiting for Perseus and his company to approach.

Before he stepped into the splendor, Perseus shot Medusa a wary glance. He gripped the hilt of his adamantine sword. It had been idiotic to let her come, yet when he saw her slightly parted lips as she drank in the details of the throne room, he had to suppress a smile. In her flowing gown, loosely hugging her curves, Medusa looked nothing like the monster he knew was crawling beneath her skin. Perseus averted his gaze to avoid staring at her for too long.

Kleos muttered under his breath as they approached the royal dais, “At least we know they can spare a ship or two …”

Perseus grinned at the remark, but Kleos did not meet his gaze. Instead, his narrowed eyes remained fixed on the gorgon, who seemed oblivious to his hateful glare. Not that Perseus could blame him. After all, his face still bore the marks of their last encounter.

Finally, they reached the foot of the dais where King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia held court. Perseus made to step forward into a bow, but two guards lowered their spears before him.

“Hand us your weapons before you address the king and queen of Joppa.”

Perseus frowned at the thought of handing over his sword. How could he possibly explain that the royal court would be safer with him armed without disclosing who accompanied him?

“I apologise, but after the trip we’ve had, I’ve grown quite fond of them. I’d rather not be defenceless if I can avoid it.”

He held onto the sword’s hilt and stared the man down.

“You cannot avoid it. As the captain of the guard, I will not let anyone come near the royal family armed, so either you lay down your blade, or I must ask you to leave the palace.”

Perseus shot Kleos a worried glance, who looked just as displeased as him. He should not have brought Medusa to the banquet. What had gotten into him?

Still, he could not retreat either. Their ship was ravaged by the storm. They would not make it back to Seriphos with the tattered sails, splintered mast, and a gaping hole in the centre of the deck. It was a miracle they had safely reached shore in thefirst place. They needed a new galley, and bartering with the King of Joppa was the easiest way to get one.

Reluctantly, Perseus took the sword and dagger strapped to his belt and handed them to the captain of the guard, who now wore a self-satisfied smile on his lips. Yet, he did not bend down to give away the concealed blade in his right boot. He would keep that one — just in case.

“And her?” the captain’s gaze lingered on Medusa. He was not very subtle about it either. His eyes raked over the curves visible in her modest dress, which Perseus had picked to make her cover as a priestess of Apollo believable.

“She has none,” Perseus's voice was a steel blade, his body a shield between the guard and Medusa.

“And I am expected to simply trust your word?”

Perseus balled his fists, energy simmering in his veins. He fought the urge to punch that smug grin from the guard’s face.

The captain advanced toward Medusa. “Just a brief search, mistress, and you may proceed.”

Before Perseus could respond, Medusa’s venom-laced voice sounded behind him, “I am a maiden of Apollo; my god would not take kindly to any man touching me without permission.”

The captain paused, and then his smirk returned. “You're right, priestess. I wouldn't want to offend your god... so may I have your permission?”

Perseus stepped closer to Medusa, shielding her with his body. If the guard so much as made one more step …

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