Page 34 of Embrace the Serpent

“I’m well aware,” he bit out. “If you had stayed silent—if you had disclosed to us that you were a fugitive—we would not be in this position.”

“It was a mistake.” Grimney was trembling against my leg. Ipatted him through the fabric of my skirt. My hands were shaking.

“A mistake? Yes. Rane certainly made a mistake this time.” His voice was bitter.

I bit my lip, glancing at the back of Rane’s helm. He didn’t give any indication he heard. “I’m sorry.”

“Sit closer and pretend you adore me, and hopefully we can manage a quick wedding.”

“Wedding?”

His gaze stayed calm, fixed in the distance. He didn’t respond.

My body was hot. “Your Highness, I refuse—I won’t—” His eyes cut to me with such anger that my confidence sprang a leak. “That is, with all due respect, if you don’t mind terribly, I’d much rather not be forced into marriage. If that’s all right.”

“My little starling, you are quite mistaken. I am the one being forced.”

The arrogance in his voice made me grit my teeth. “Well, I release you from our betrothal. You can just let me off anywhere that’s convenient....” And I’ll just disappear into the city’s underbelly. There must be somewhere for a girl and her golem to hide.

His hand slid over mine, shocking me into silence. His skin was cold, his grip firm. “Would you give up your agreement with Rane so easily?”

Easily? “But—isn’t that all over? How can we—”

“You must follow my lead. The only way we will leave this city now is if the djinn wishes for us to do so.” He exhaled, and the tips of his fangs glinted. “You can still have what Rane promised you.”

The spires of the Rose Palace drew nearer.

I had two choices: I could throw myself over the side of the carriage and run past the guards, and keep running for as long as I lived, or I could trust an otherworldly monster with a documented hatred for jewelsmiths like me.

I reached for the carriage door but hesitated. We were passing the last few streets before the gates to the Palace Quarter.

Rane was too far to speak to without shouting loud enough for our escort to hear. And what would he say? He was bound to obey his master.

The walls of the Palace Quarter rose up around us, and the chance was gone.

Our carriage took us through the gardens, where a party seemed to be underway. But all eyes were on us as we passed, and soon we had a train of nobles following us. Our Imperial escort trailed far behind.

A footman in the Emperor’s colors waved us down a path. “This way, please.”

In the heart of the gardens was a pavilion. Nobles were thick on the ground, clustering around a raised marble dais. Lady Incarnadine stood upon it, watching us approach. White silk fell from one shoulder and cinched around her slender waist, and her arms were covered in gold, bracelets stacked to her elbow, her fingers tipped with gold like claws.

Behind her, in a chair so grand it could only be described as a throne, was the Emperor. A cloud of smoke hung in the air, twisting and twirling, making him little more than a dark silhouette—except for the glittering whites of his eyes.

The carriage came to a stop. I reached for the door, but it opened for me, and a huntsman helped me down.

“Rane?” I whispered.

He hesitated, then gave a quick nod. “We mustn’t speak.”

Quickly, I pressed Grimney into his chest. “Please—keep him safe.”

Rane cradled Grimney carefully.

A hand settled on my back. The Serpent King forced me forward, toward the dais.

The sweetly smoky scent of burning resins filled my nose, and my eyes watered. I slowed my steps, letting the Serpent King stride ahead. He seemed even larger, his silver hair flowing in the wind, his clothes muted in color save for the bloodred sash at his waist. All eyes were on him.

I hung back with Rane and the huntsmen, but no one was looking at me.

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