Chapter 12 The Climb
The Climb
Blood trailed behind me like a shadow with every step toward the Serpent King’s lands. I discarded my spiked stilettos hours ago, leaving my bare feet vulnerable to the elements. If I was mortal, I’d have bled out an hour ago from all the cuts and scraps peppering the soles of my feet.
Pebbles of loose stone crunched beneath my feet, and I was lucky I couldn’t feel pain during times like this.
At least that part of our bargain seemed unchanged.
I didn’t ever want to feel the discomfort of pain again, not after everything that happened seventy-five years ago . . .
At least I didn’t have to carry my shoes, for Landon immediately seized them from my hands the moment I stepped out of them.
He nearly picked me up to carry me the rest of the way, but I refused.
I had every inkling to believe he would sprint in the opposite direction of the place I swore never to return to, just in a futile attempt to keep me safe.
We walked in silence, too exhausted to attempt menial conversation. An involuntary shiver passed through me as the wind picked up, signaling we were starting to approach the summit of the mountain.
“You’re cold.” The metal clasp of Landon’s cloak clicked as he unhooked it from around his neck, quickly wrapping it around me.
“I’m fine.” I tried to shrug him off, but he merely hugged me tighter, moving in front of me to latch the scarlet cloak securely into place around me.
My bodyguard lingered before me, his mouth parting, but it quickly snapped shut. A war of emotions raced through his eyes, which were dim in the growing shadows of the caves. Thunder boomed in the distance, and a soft mist began to sprinkle against my flushed cheeks.
Landon brushed his thumb over the water gathering along my skin. “We’d better pick up our pace, unless we want to get caught in that.” He glanced toward the sky.
Following his gaze, I marveled at the way the climate differed so drastically from my homelands.
No stars shone this high up into the sheet of darkness, and an odd feeling raced through me as I craved one more night beneath the desert stars of Ashivire—one more night with Landon, before coming face to face with the man who claimed my soul while simultaneously crushing my heart.
“Stop right there.” An unfamiliar voice had my gaze drifting from the clouds and to the two men standing only a few feet away.
How did I allow myself to get distracted this close to the entrance of the caves?
I really wished I had put my heels back on before being confronted by the Serpent King’s guards, if only to have the ability to look down on the shorter one who glared at me with disgust.
The fools unsheathed their swords upon seeing me motion to Landon for my shoes, and I dramatically rolled my eyes as I slipped into my stilettos.
“Calm down, boys,” I muttered, making the man with the blazing mohawk growl.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my bodyguard’s hand drift to the hilt of his blade.
Why did men always feel the need to wave their swords at each other to compare whose was bigger?
“No need for weapons.” I held my hands up, clearly demonstrating I meant no harm . . . at least not yet.
“Do not come any further,” the other guard said, his light brown eyes cold and calculating as they glanced between us.
The wind was so feverous it made the guard’s hair whip into a wild frenzy. The gale at the peak of the mountain felt different, almost like a bad omen. It was so strong I had no choice but to take another step toward the men in an effort to speak to them.
The sound of hissing metal rang through the air as the guards unsheathed a second set of swords from behind their backs, aiming them straight at our hearts.
For Serpent’s Sake.
“As much as I love to play games, I’ve grown tired of speaking to you two,” I shouted. “Now, be good guard doggies and alert your master that the Serpent Queen has come to pay him a visit.”
The first guard’s green eyes widened, but then he scoffed and shook his head, causing beads of water to flick off his spiked hair.
The gesture, in my mind, solidified that the Serpent King’s guards were indeed just like dogs.
“Yeah, right. No way you are the Serpent Queen.” His slimy eyes trailed down my body, his nose pinching with disgust.
I glanced at the guard with the wild hair, who narrowed his eyes at me as if he could decipher my true intentions by simply glaring at me.
Doubt inked through my veins as I forced myself not to squirm beneath his stare.
I never learned the entirety of what the king’s people could do—their magical abilities were still very much a mystery to me, and the way this male was looking at me unsettled me.
“Who’s he?” The guard nodded his chin at Landon.
“It wouldn’t be proper for a queen to travel without her bodyguard, now would it? If we are done with the greetings, we will be on our way.” I started for the entrance of the caves once more, but the guards stepped together to barricade the path.
“Either you get out of my way,” A crack of thunder split through the air as I summoned my snakes. “Or, I can make you move. What’s it going to be, boys?”
Ember and Dante descended my arms, their eyes locked on the threat directly before their queen.
That all too familiar bitter taste coated my tongue, signaling at least one of the males had the decency to be fearful.
Took them long enough.
I zoned in on the emotion, quickly detecting it was permeating from the male with the spiked hair. My tongue darted to wet my lips as I closed my eyes and tipped my head to the sky, the taste of my drug of choice drenching my veins.
When I opened my eyes to set my sights on the two guards before me, there was a beautiful gap between them.
My lips curved into a victorious smile as I strode toward the yawning cave’s entrance.
I brushed past the shorter guard, patting him on the head. “Good doggie.”
His nostrils flared while he stepped toward me, but Dante extended off my arm, hissing viciously at the buffoon.
He jumped back with a gasp, the idiot so startled he hit his head against the rock wall behind him.
My laugh echoed throughout the cavernous chamber as Landon and I finally stepped into Morotis, but my jovial mood quickly died when the darkness wrapped around us.
It didn’t take long for the whispers to smell fresh blood.
A low growl reverberated up my throat at the taunting voices that circulated through these lands, courtesy of the Serpent King’s horrid magic.
I swallowed my anger, trying to focus on anything besides the insidious voices begging to penetrate my mind.
I counted my steps, letting the sound of my heels clacking against the stone calm me.
I listened to the distant dripping of water and Landon’s heavy breathing.
Oh, fuck. I forgot to tell him.
I whispered through gritted teeth. “Don’t listen to the voices. Do whatever you can to block them out, and, above all, do not talk back to them.”
All my bodyguard could offer in response was a small nod, making the void inside me crack at the agony flickering across his face. The voices must be tormenting him with memories of his past, and a strange emotion filtered through me.
What was that smell radiating from me? It emanated the earthy smell of soil.
It couldn’t be sympathy—could it?
Maybe it was my emotions faltering, or maybe it was because of sheer exhaustion, but I couldn’t stand the pain racing across Landon’s face.
Thus, for the first time in my rule as the Serpent Queen, I broke one of my commandments.
I didn’t believe in the gods, but, just in case, I cast a prayer into the darkness . . .
Please let us make it out of Morotis alive.