Page 54 of A Rose Among Snakes

“I do, but not as much as I thought I would. I think it’s probably good for them all to learn not to depend entirely on me. I’m enjoying the freedom, too.”

“I’m sure,” he said, then frowned. “That seems like a lot of responsibility to place on a fifteen year old.”

“It was, but it was necessary. From what Kezara has told me it wasn’t very different for you, either.”

Velian raised an eyebrow. “Do you two talk about me often?”

“Oh, yes, at great length. You are Kezara’s favorite subject, after all,” I said sarcastically.

He laughed, the sound bright and carefree as he shook his head. “It’s true, I was only sixteen when my mother died, but we had a nanny to assist in raising Kezara.” He paused and looked out over the water. “I just took over my mother’s job of shielding her from our father’s anger.” He shifted his body toward me, his eyes wandering over my face as he murmured, “You know, you remind me of her in some ways.”

“How so?”

“She was gentle and kind, extremely patient with Kezara…” he trailed off and reached his hand across the space between us, his fingers grazing along my cheekbone, sending sparks through my entire body as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “She was also seemingly unaware of the effect she had on those around her—how enchanting she was.” His voice, deep and rich, was like a caress down my neck. He dropped his hand and let it rest on the log between us. I swallowed hard as my heart hammered in my chest.

Velian stood and headed toward the water lapping against the shore. Walking backward, he called to me, “Too cold for a swim?”

The breeze off the water cooled the air around us, but there was so much heat flooding my veins I welcomed it. “No, it’s not too cold.”

“Oh, so you don’t need my jacket then?”

I frowned, not ready to relinquish it.

He threw me a wicked grin. “I’m kidding. It looks better on you anyway.”

My eyes dropped to the ground, my body tingling with excitement. He was flirting with me, truly flirting, and it reignited the hope I’d doused after the ball. I glanced back up and he was facing the ocean, reaching back to pull his shirt over his head. My breath caught in my throat as I glimpsed the muscles of his back rippling with the movement before I dropped my gaze to the sand.

I heard splashing and found myself staring as he waded into the water, gentle waves crashing around his waist, and then he dove in. He emerged a moment later, wiping his eyes and pushing his hair back from his face.

“Are you coming?”

The voice inside my head sighed in exasperation as I stood up and made my way to the water. My feet had a mind of their own, and they seemed determined to get me in way over my head. Thewater was cool enough on my toes to deter me from going any further. There was no way I was getting in there, to say nothing of how indecently I was dressed.

“Can’t you swim?” Velian stood up and I kept my eyes locked on his face.

I lifted my chin. “Yes.” Not very well, but he didn’t need to know that.

Velian huffed a laugh.

“What?” I asked.

“You’ve been spending too much time with Kezara. That face looks just like one of hers.”

I dropped my chin and crossed my arms. As I did, I felt something solid in the lining of Velian’s jacket. I peeked at the small pocket bordered with dark blue silk.

“Don’t tell me…” a wave washed over, submerging him, “… you’re afraid.”

Iwasintimidated by the waves; I was a mediocre swimmer, at best, in stagnant water. While he was treading water, I reached a hand into the pocket, and my fingers brushed against cool metal.

“Honestly, I almost drowned in the pond where I learned to swim so I don’t think I’m ready for the ocean.” I was halfway paying attention to the conversation, preoccupied by my curiosity. As I grasped the object, I realized it was a ring and I pulled it out, trying to remain discreet. The light from the moon was weak, but it was enough to show me everything.

A gold band engraved with two open-mouthed snakes, their bodies curling around and mouths poised to devour the ruby embedded in the center.

“A pond?” Velian said, his tone dripping with distaste.

I shoved the ring back inside the pocket, my heart thudding.

You never should have trusted him, sneered the voice inside my head. The air felt like it had been sucked out of my lungs as if I’d been hit in the stomach. I knew it. IknewVelian was withholding information from me.

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