Page 27 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
Chapter
Eight
EVIE
“Watch out!” I grabbed Kaya’s hand and pulled her behind me, switchblade already raised.
Vexa had a dagger in her hand, eyeing me like she couldn’t decide where to tackle me first or stab me outright. The Commander had tensed, too. But everyone looked atme, like I was the dangerous one and not the gigantic snake flicking its tongue at us.
“No, no.” Kaya laughed. “It’s harmless.”
“It’s a snake.” Back at the cabin, a snake meant death. I knew how to frighten one long enough to slip to safety.
“It’s agreensnake,” Kaya said patiently. As if that mattered.
“Yes, perfect camouflage,” I said. “Now let’s get away until he leaves.”
The Commander sighed and flicked his fingers. His eye sparked as steely, ethereal tendrils wound around a fallen branch with a forked tip.
Everything stilled as he raised the branch toward the snake. My insides twisted with a curious mix of excitement, envy, and fear. He was doing it. Using magic. Minor magic, simple spells for simple tasks. My fingers tensed against my bloody dress, mimicking his movements, as if I could steal the method through sheer hope alone.
The snake flicked its forked tongue at me one more time before using the branch to glide from the roof onto the nearest tree.
“Around here, you only have to be scared of razorback snakes. Yellow, super sharp scales, and very rare, they nest deep in the jungle. Once they grow up, one bite could kill an entire army,” Kaya said as everyone kept staring at me like I was insane. “The rest are harmless.”
Well, didn’t I feel stupid standing there with my weapon raised, ready to…ready to what? Defend a member of the enemy Clan, that’s what.
My cheeks heated up instantly and I dropped my hand.
“But thanks for your concern,” Kaya said, just as gently.
“Sure,” I muttered, hoping this spotless path would open up and swallow me whole.
These were Blood Brotherhood members.Theenemy Clan. I needed to remember that.
“You’re here. You’re unharmed. You’re alive.” The Commander blinked and the tendrils vanished. “I’m done here.”
“You’re in a mood today,” Kaya said.
He rolled his eyes before slashing them in my direction. “Careful around this one, Kaya. She’s hard to understand.”
His words still stuck in my mind after he got back in the carriage and left in a rush of hooves and falling leaves. What wasthere to understand? I wasn’t some feral, threatening creature, though they acted like it.
“Don’t mind him, he’s upset about the wedding,” Kaya said.
“Aren’t we all?” I said.
“Of course not.” Kaya linked her arm with mine, like we were bosom buddies, and guided me through the gates, into what was meant to be an inner garden, but only had a bench and parched earth to its name. A shame, really, when the house surrounding it was so perfectly elegant and breathtaking.
I was so taken aback by Kaya’s casual gesture, I only sobered once we got inside the house.
This was just for me? One person? All this marble and mahogany furniture trimmed with gold and this luscious carpet I could sink into? Everything from the tiles to the filigree cornices had a flower motif, in shades of pink and purple, with small clouds painted on the walls in the corners.
Itlookedlike a cloud, and it smelled heavenly, sweet and honeyed andclean. I shook my head. There I went again, attracted to shiny, sparkly things. I could almost hear my parents’ hums of disappointment.
What was I doing here?
I was a stranger in blood-spattered clothes, getting weird looks from members of an enemy Clan, that’s what.
