Page 43 of Crown of Serpents

Perseus shook his head in confusion. “I don’t intend onforcing Andromeda to marry me!”

Now, it was Medusa’s turn to fall silent. She stared at him with wide eyes, bewildered by his answer. For a heartbeat, it was as if something shifted between them, her expression softening ever so slightly.

Then, Kleos cut in with another spiteful remark, “Sounds like someone is jealous …”

She cut him off, keeping her gaze fixed on Perseus. “I— I thought that’s what you bartered with the king for?”

Did she genuinely think him so selfish? So greedy? So cruel? Suddenly, Perseus understood her indignation. He would have probably reacted similarly if he witnessed someone demand the girl’s hand in marriage in exchange for agreeing to save her.

“I bartered for a new ship, not a princess.”

“Then, what will happen to Andromeda after you rescue her?” Medusa pressed on.

Kleos snapped his head around to him, the same question written on his face.

Why did they always expect Perseus to have all the answers?

One of the guards, waiting for Perseus to continue to the armoury, cleared his throat, “She must accompany you back to Seriphos. It must appear as if the princess was truly sacrificed if the curse is to be broken. No one can know that she is still alive.”

Right, they could not simply slay the sea serpent. It was not the only horror under Poseidon’s rule. If he found out that his creature was killed on the order of King Cepheus, who knew what else the lord of the seas would send to plague the Joppan shore? Ideally, they would rescue Andromeda and flee without killing the beast — if that was even possible. Otherwise, they had to make it appear that Perseus and his crew had hunted the creature without the knowledge of the Joppan rulers and only after they had already fulfilled their sacrifice to the gods.

Either way, it was a considerable risk the king and queen were taking. If this was the punishment for comparing their daughter’s beauty to the nereids, what would the curse be for defying Poseidon’s direct order and attacking him instead? But Cepheus and Cassiopeia knew what they were risking, which is why they had asked Perseus to take their daughter with him.

“So, you will take her with you?” Medusa asked.

“Yes, but not as a captive … or my betrothed.”

Medusa pursed her lips and folded her arms.

How many more times did he have to explain to her that he meant no harm to the princess? What would it take for her to believe he only wanted to save her?

Perseus sighed. He had enough of her questioning him about his intentions. “I don’t have to justify my actions to you, especially not when we have a battle to plan. Kleos, could you go back to the dock to retrieve Aetos? I need to discuss our attack with him —”

“Oh, suddenly, we are asking for help?” Kleos asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

Not him, as well. Was his friend still sour that he had insisted on entering Medusa’s cave alone?

Perseus snapped, “Seeing as I’ve never fought a sea serpent before —”

“You also never fought a gorgon before.”

Why had everyone picked tonight of all nights to test his patience? He groaned, exhaustion suddenly weighing on him, “Will you just get them? And return Me—Lady Irene to the ship while you’re at it.”

Perseus glanced at the guards, but they did not seem interested in their bickering. Instead, the sentinel on the right shifted his weight impatiently while the other slumped against the wall, biting his nails.

Kleos sneered at Medusa. “Come along then,priestess.” He moved to grab her elbow, but the gorgon was faster.

She snatched his hand, twisting his wrist as her eyes glowed with green fire. “Touch me, and I’ll add new scars to your face.”

Kleos bared his teeth and opened his mouth to say something, but if Medusa tackled him to the ground, that would certainly catch the guards’ attention.

“Mind your tongue,” Perseus hissed as he stepped between his friend and his prisoner. He leaned closer to Medusa, his breath a warm whisper against her cheek. “Or do I need to put you in shackles again?”

Her gaze flicked toward the adamantine cuffs at his belt, amomentary furrow marring her smooth brow. Then, the defiance returned, her voice a silken purr against his ear. “Do you truly believe those can hold me? Do you believe Kleos and I would meekly return to the ship if left unsupervised? Remember our last encounter?What fate would have awaited your friend if you hadn't intervened?”

A shiver ran down his spine at the image of Medusa astride Kleos, her bloody fingers prying at his eyes.

“Why would you tell me this if you truly thought you could escape?”