Page 61 of A Rose Among Snakes

Burning and watering, my eyes squeezed shut, and I threw my hand up for extra protection. Enverro led me forward a couple of steps, silent beside me as he gave me time to adjust. It was hot, and running through the dates in my head, I was shocked to realize we were well into early summer. The air smelled of dried grass and freshly tilled soil.

Slowly parting my fingers, I looked down at the ground letting my eyes get used to the brightness. I hadn’t felt like I’d beenliving in a cave until I was in the open air, a fresh breeze flitting across my skin. My heart leapt with joy, pounding a strong, steady rhythm. Between blinks, I glimpsed a thick forest surrounding a small clearing. An expansive garden sprawled out in front of me, but I didn’t see any signs of neighbors.

Behind me was the house I’d been stuck inside; more of a tiny shack, really, with a worn exterior. I glanced up to see Enverro watching me distrustfully through narrowed eyes, but that couldn’t touch the sheer happiness I felt. Despite that, I marked the narrow path heading into the trees. That would be my route of escape.

Tugging on my elbow, Enverro said, “Alright, that’s enough.”

I cooperated, hoping good behavior would earn more freedom in the future. Once back inside, I held onto that spark of joy, even as he removed the shackles and led me into the cell.

I grabbed the bars and held my face close to his as he locked the door. “Thank you for that. I needed it.”

He looked up, blinking, and I tracked his gaze roving down to my full lips. He swallowed hard and said, “You’re welcome.”

My coy smile kept him dazed for a moment before he shook his head and stepped back, reattaching the keys to his belt. He went outside without another word, and I sat back on my cushions. I was no stranger to flirting to get my way, and I was not opposed to playing the long game if it worked out in my favor. I would be compliant and sweet until he was comfortable and dropped his guard. Then I would execute my plan.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Mihrra

My feet carried me down the path to the greenhouse. I didn’t even remember throwing the door open, but I stood in the humid room struggling for breath. My head was reeling, and I clutched at my chest, berating myself for being so stupid. I was just a naive girl and I had let myself be charmed by a snake.

Pacing back and forth in the dark building, I lost the fight with my tears and let them fall down my cheeks. I wiped my face as footsteps pounded closer, and wheeled around as the greenhouse door flew open. Panting, Velian stepped inside and scanned the space, stopping when his eyes met mine in the dim light. I took a step back, keeping the distance between us.

“Mihrra, it’s not what you think.”

“Oh, you mean that wasn’t Ziffem you were pouring into your hands?”

He wiped a hand down his face and walked toward me. I continued stepping back, but ran into a bush, feeling my skirt snag on the prickly branch. I tugged, trying to free my skirt in vain, but it was too tangled. Velian approached with his hands out, slow and cautious like I was a trapped animal.

“Don’t touch me,” I spat.

He raised his hands in surrender. “Let me help you if only to keep Burress’ heart from breaking. He’s worked very hard to keep that one alive.”

“I don’t care.” Venom coated every syllable.

Velian dropped his arms, shoulders sagging in defeat. But he was right; it wasn’t Burress I was mad at.

“Fine,” I said. Velian moved forward, nimble fingers working to remove my skirt from the branch. Once free, I started marching past him to leave, but he grabbed my arm.

I whipped around. “I saiddon’ttouch me.”

“Mihrra, please,” he said, dropping my arm and stepping in my way. “Please just hear me out.”

“I can’t imagine there’s anything you could say that would make this better.”

“Please,” he repeated. There was an ache in his voice, his pain reflected in the downturned corners of his mouth and his pinched brows. Though my walls had been up for weeks, there was a loose brick that wiggled its way out, letting a bit of empathy slip through, making me nod my head and follow him to the small table he’d been seated at that first night.

Once settled in our seats, I said, “Go on.”

Velian took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. “Yes, that was Ziffem. We get shipments in the harbor and normally sort through it all at a room in town, but there was an issue with this batch. Corman informed me the Ziffem looked diluted, so I went to inspect it, but brought it back here for closerexamination.”

That meant Paolef, Corman, and Denzen were not bodyguards as I had thought. At least, not in the usual sense. “So, you smuggle Ziffem from the harbor? Then where does it go?”

He sighed and closed his eyes. “We take it all over the country.”

“You cannot be serious.” My blood pounded through my veins, hot and angry, and I shoved my chair back. His hand shot out to grab me, but I was faster, and I fled out the door.

Once again, my feet took over and led me down the path to the beach. I had to calm down to have this conversation and the ocean waves were exactly what I needed. Velian’s crunching footsteps trailed behind me, but I didn’t turn around. I stomped across the beach and stopped where the sand darkened from the water.

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