Page 119 of Cruelest Kiss and Fairest Blood
“Because they’ll kill me if he doesn’t?”
Worry lines her fearfully lovely face. “There isss much more at ssstake than you know, mortal.”
Warning bells chime within me. “What does that mean?”
Before she can answer, her body goes rigid. That eerie glowing gaze shoots toward the entrance. “On your feet. He’sss coming.”
“Harrow?” I stand.
“Casssiusss.” Shifting into a raven, Mytha soars above the wall. Several silent moments pass before she swoops back into the gardens.
“He doesn’t know about this place,” I try to reassure her.
She takes her human form once more. “He’sss coming this way and fassst. We cannot keep you here. There isss only one entrance and exit. It will be too easssy for him to trap you inssside. Quickly!”
Transforming into her Serpien form before I can blink, Mytha slithers out the secret entrance. I follow without argument. Harrow entrusted her with my life. I’ll do what she says.
Her serpent body winds across the ground. We sneak through the gardens, making our way silently into the courtyard. She stops to listen. “He’sss ssstill following.”
I grip the edge of the well for support. My legs are so shaky. “He’s tracking me? But Harrow covered up the wound so the mirror monster couldn’t use it to find me.”
“He isss no mirror monster. The prince hasss ssstrange magic of hisss own.”
“What do we do?” We could hide in the labyrinth, but Cassius has already found me in there twice. Which makes a lot more sense now that I know he’s magically inclined. Going back inside the castle is not an option either. My head swivels toward the dark forest. Maybe I’d survive a place like that with Mytha by my side.
“How the hell did you survive that fall?” Cassius roars as he stomps into the courtyard. “Resurrect yourself again?”
“Stay away from me!” It’s a challenge to keep my voice steady.
“I thought I would find you in a pile of blood and guts, but look at you, not a scratch.” His darkened gaze cuts to the shadows wrapped around my arm. “Who gave you that?”
Mytha slithers between us. “Back away.”
Cassius’s eyes grow wide. He hadn’t noticed Mytha before. She looks menacing. Her scaly body is coiled up, fangs bared. I expect Cassius to scream or at least take a few hasty steps back.
He must be more accustomed to monsters and mythical creatures than I am because it only takes him a second to recover. “Out of my way, serpent demon, or I’ll mount your head to my wall.”
Mytha strikes without warning, her jaws clamping onto his shoulder. She releases him and coils back up before he can even yell out in surprise.
Steam rises from the two holes in his clothing. Bubbling white foam follows. Cassius clutches his shoulder, grunting in pain. The color drains from his skin. Holy hell. I wonder what kind of bite she gave him. I still know so little about her. Mytha smirks.
Cassius makes small choking sounds. His chest heaves, but the next time he looks our way, he’s smiling.
“Venom? As masters of poison, rare venom is one of our favorite ingredients.” He brushes his shoulder off. “You can never be too careful when you’re working with such vile substances. My sister and I learned that trick years ago. I’ll admit, that was a pretty nasty bite.”
Mytha’s smirk falls.
Cassius moves with haste, charging Mytha. Clutching her, he bashes her head against the well’s edge once, twice.
“Stop it!” I shriek. Dark green blood oozes from Mytha’s face and head.
Jumping on Cassius’s back, I reach for his eyes. I’ve just found the soft indentations when he grips my arm, flinging me to the ground. He turns on me, eyes fiery with malice. “Did you think you could blind me?”
My first instinct is to get to my feet, but Cassius hovers over me. What will I do when I rise? Rolling to my right hip, I wince.My dagger. I never got the chance to have Melly sew pockets into my clothes like Harrow wanted. I was poisoned too soon after our conversation. I’ll have to resort to my original plan.
“My leg!” I cry out in pain. Cassius grins as he watches me pull my nightgown up to my knees. Grasping my right leg, I continue to wail. My hand finds the dagger but it’s hard to slide free from this angle. Harrow was right, this plan has always been foolish. Rocking on my hips a bit, I turn my body away from Cassius’s prying eyes.
The massive fist that closes around my throat momentarily steals my focus. Cassius lifts me off the ground, blocking my air supply and making me see spots. My left hand claws at his hold. My right still works to wiggle the dagger free.Almost there, almost there…
