Page 35 of Embrace the Serpent

The Serpent King swept into a theatrical bow before the Emperor. “I came to your palace having heard the tales of the Emperor’s wards—so skilled, so wise, so charming—and I admit, I was curious. But when I came, I did not expect such charm and beauty in every single one of your people, in every corner of your palace. I did not expect to be so swept away. I did not expect to fall in love.”

The garden stilled as every noble seemed to hold their breath. Including me.

A small, satisfied smile graced Lady Incarnadine’s lips. “Who have you chosen?”

Several of Incarnadine’s Chosen were in the crowd, but my eyes went to Mirandel, who came forward, beautifully made up, a satisfiedsmile on her lips but calculation in her eyes.

I angled myself so a huntsman hid me from her view.

The Serpent King’s lips pursed when he noticed I wasn’t at his side. He strode to me, hand outstretched. Through gritted teeth, he murmured, “Come along, my little mouse.”

He pulled me forward, and the weight of hundreds of gazes fell on me. I stared at my feet. From the crowd came a startled laugh that was quickly choked off. My face burned as whispers erupted:Who is she?

He gripped my hand tight, then gently lifted it to his lips and kissed the air above my knuckles. “I choose her.”

An eruption of sound. I looked up.

The Serpent King held my gaze as if he meant it. No matter how the courtiers tittered, the brightness of his smile did not dim. A strange feeling came over me. The longer his eyes held my gaze, the deeper he seemed to see into me.

I looked away first and caught a familiar figure pushing through the crowd. Galen. A pit opened up in my stomach.

“It can’t be,” Galen said. “My lady, that is my assistant.”

“The runaway?” Lady Incarnadine responded with far more courteousness than Galen had ever brought out in her, or anyone, really. “How very interesting.”

Galen spluttered. “She cannot go off with the Serpent King—why, I can’t have it.”

The Serpent King’s voice was a hiss. “Who is this man to presume to tell me what I can do?”

“Master Galen is one of our most prized jewelsmiths. I believehis legend is only beginning,” said Lady Incarnadine. “I do not wish to deprive him.”

She smiled indulgently at Galen. A suspicion was sneaking up on me. He couldn’t have finished the tourmaline collar based on my design, could he? My head spun.

“You are quite sure of your choice?” Lady Incarnadine said to the Serpent King.

The Serpent King’s voice grew a dangerous edge. “Whatever can you mean?”

“Merely that one might be offended that you did not choose among the jewels I collected for such a purpose.” She gestured to the courtiers where many of her Chosen stood, including Mirandel. “You do recall that the Treaty of Tessel refers only to the Emperor’s wards.”

His face betrayed no worry, but his grip tightened. “I must follow my heart.”

“So you would forfeit the Emperor’s protections?”

“We have not needed them thus far.”

The crowd reacted as if he had spat in her face. It was a duel, I realized suddenly, and I didn’t know all of what they were fighting about, but I knew that the shape of my life would be decided by the victor.

“We have welcomed you here to forge a bridge and bring peace,” Lady Incarnadine said. “But we will not tolerate threats.”

“I have made no threat,” the Serpent King said. Imperial Guards outnumbered the huntsmen five to one. “My presence here is a testament that I share your vision of peace.”

“Then why have you made a mockery of us? What can you mean by coming here withthis girl?” She sounded as disgusted as if I were a cockroach.

“You insult my bride,” the Serpent King said. “But perhaps you do not understand love?”

I flinched at the look in Incarnadine’s eyes. The Serpent King was lashing out with no regard for how dangerous Incarnadine could be, nor how outnumbered and outclassed we were.

“No.” Incarnadine’s voice was decisive. “It seems that Master Galen needs his assistant. Perhaps in a few years, when he can spare her...”

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