Chapter 17 The Deal
The Deal
Iwasn’t breathing.
The Serpent King wanted me?
Three simple, yet utterly devastating words.
I want you.
Three words I once dreamed of hearing.
Subconsciously, I took a step away from the king, as though putting distance between us could protect me from the man who made me lock away my heart in the first place.
My attempt was futile since he matched my step, his eyes never straying from mine. A wicked gleam shone in them, like a hunter ready to pounce on its prey.
“You already own my soul.” My voice came out far weaker than I wished.
“Now, I want more. I want all of you. I want you to rule beside me, as my Queen.”
Dread sliced through my veins, making me take another step backward. “You can’t be serious. Did you forget you were the one who kicked me out of Morotis after our bargain?”
Something flashed in his eyes, but it disappeared too quickly for me to decipher. Whatever emotion he felt rapidly shifted back into a wicked hunger.
“I have to admit, I like this fiery side of you. You are nothing like you were when you were a mortal.” His eyes dipped to my lips, the desire in his gaze growing.
Despite the cruel intent behind his words, they felt like a compliment, for I wanted nothing more than to distance myself from the pathetic, quiet, scared mortal girl I once was.
The Serpent Queen was not the same person.
I made sure of that.
Although I liked being admired for my strength, I would never show gratitude to the menace before me, who wanted to own me like a shiny trophy.
So, I defaulted to hiding my true feelings behind my sharp tongue. “How does a simple piece of information I require equate to an immortal sentence of servitude as your personal harlot?”
He wagged his finger before my face. “I never said you’d be my harlot, unless you’re interested?
” He arched a thick brow, but swiftly continued on when he heard the low growl creeping up my throat.
“I want you to be my Queen, nothing else. Are you not the Serpent Queen, after all? It only makes sense that you finally sit beside your king.” He raised his hand as if to cradle my face, but I blocked his unwanted advance with my forearm.
“You are not my king. I answer to no one but myself.” Venom coated my words as I bared my teeth at him, yet he only chuckled down at me.
The Serpent King was a fool for playing with fire, because I was ready to ignite.
I wanted to become an endless wildfire that would tear through his lands until there was only a wake of ash left behind.
If he wanted to see the monster he made me become, so be it.
“Since you’ve failed to listen previously, I shall remind you for one last time. I will never be yours. I refuse your offer. I refuse to be your queen.” I shoved my sharp nail into his chest, right where I sliced his skin mere hours ago.
For the first time tonight, uncertainty flickered in the king’s eyes.
“I will figure out my unwanted emotions on my own. Coming here was a mistake, one I will never make again. Goodbye, Serpent King. I hope our paths never cross for the rest of my days.” I spat, already spinning on my heel for the exit.
I wouldn’t allow him another opportunity to toy with me.
I was ready to grab Landon and forever flee from this wicked man.
“Wait,” he said, finding the audacity to grab my arm, even after countless times I told him not to touch me unsolicited.
In this moment, one of the mortal sayings floated through my head . . .
She was asking for it.
Such a stupid way to fault women for men not being able to control themselves; a crass excuse to touch us however they pleased, without a lick of our consent.
Well, two could play this game.
Instead of fighting him, I let him spin me around, only so I could use the momentum I gained against him. My already curled fist collided with his perfectly straight nose, producing a satisfying crunch. He reared back in surprise, releasing me from his tight grip, cradling his now crooked nose.
“You asked for it.” I smiled at him.
When he pulled his hands away, he gaped at the blood coating his fingers.
“You . . . you broke my fucking nose.” He glared at me, and I expected to see vengeance burning brightly in his magnetic eyes.
The last thing I expected to see was delight.
I smothered my surprise with a shrug of the shoulder. “What did I say about touching me unsolicited, Serpent King? A broken nose is the least of your problems when it comes to dealing with the wrath of the Serpent Queen.”
A sickening crack split through the air, and I watched with violent dissatisfaction as his nose healed itself within seconds, almost like the punch I dealt never happened.
Damn immortal healing.
Although his nose was straight yet again, I was pleased he no longer sported the amused smile he wore for the entirety of our dinner.
Instead, his brows were crinkled with concern as his eyes flickered to my still curled fists.
If he intended to keep me here against my will as his queen, I was ready to fight my way out of Morotis.
The Serpent King was in for a rude awakening, because there was nothing more dangerous than a trained woman itching for revenge.
Almost like they could sense a battle brewing, Ember and Dante appeared, their hisses ringing through the cavernous space. As they descended my arms, their eyes were trained on the Serpent King.
A small kernel of warmth fluttered through my chest at the fact I wasn’t alone.
My snakes were here with me, and they were ready to defend their Queen, regardless of whether their opponent was also their maker.
The king raked a hand through his hair, blowing out a frustrated breath.
A black lock loosely fell over his forehead, drifting into his eyes when he turned to gaze at the pond.
The golden, shimmering water reflected against his hair, shifting the color from black to dark green, then swiftly back to black as his eyes returned to me.
Something curious flickered in them, and I rapidly sniffed the air to catch the newfound emotion. A thick cloud of smoke threatened to pull a cough out of me as the king’s regret suffocated my lungs.
“I will tell you what you want to know. No strings attached.” He held his hands up, his shoulders sagging in surrender.
My snakes and I glanced at each other, then narrowed our eyes at the Serpent King.
“Why the sudden change of heart?”
“I was simply having fun with you. After you’ve been alive as long as I have, things get boring. It was my source of entertainment for the night to rile you up.” He shrugged, as if he didn’t just say something wildly offensive.
His words were like a match falling against a mountain of dead brush, and I allowed the fire I caged within me to finally blaze wild and free.
I launched myself at him as fast as lightning, throwing a punch directly between the lower part of his pecs—right where Landon taught me if I hit hard enough, it would steal the air from my opponent.
The Serpent King may be immortal, but he could still have the breath knocked out of his arrogant ass.
He stumbled backward, hinging at the waist and bracing his hands against his knees.
Though he tried to act nonchalant, I heard a slight wheeze escape his throat.
Dante readied himself to join in on the fight, his red eyes glowing as he locked them onto the king’s neck, ready to cut off his air supply.
I shot a silent command down our bond: Don’t you dare. He’s mine.
Dante’s irritated hiss filled my head as both of my snakes disappeared from my arms, leaving the Serpent King and Serpent Queen to duel it out.
While the king was busy catching his breath, I made my next move. I rammed my knee, with the entirety of my force, straight into his nose. His howl intermingled with the sound of bones breaking as he stumbled backward. I smirked while I watched blood trickle down his, once again, crooked nose.
Before the night was over, I’d make sure he knew never to touch me unwarranted again.
Plus, the Serpent King broke my heart, so it was only fair I broke a piece of him a few times.
I channeled my rage, finally allowing myself to remember the moments I tried so hard to forget.
His lips smashed against mine, our tongues intertwining.
I could physically feel him sucking my soul out of my body, and I nearly fought back. It felt wrong to let such an integral part of me go, but I had to.
I never wanted to feel so deeply again.
I wanted power.
I wanted to be someone my mother would fear.
I wanted to be someone the world would never think to cage again.
So, I let the Serpent King take my soul.
When I felt completely hollow, he broke our kiss, only to sink his teeth into the flesh above my lip. I should feel pain from a bite like this, but, as I let the king infuse his magic into my veins, I felt nothing.
I stopped myself from recalling the next bit of that memory, for what happened next was something I never wanted to relive.
Instead, I let all the fury I carried throughout the decades fuel my next kick.
I slammed my stiletto into the king’s chest while he still cradled his nose, an animalistic snarl tearing from my lips when he reared back.
I moved with him, never letting him out of my grip.
This immortal once thought I was easy prey for him to sink his sharp teeth into.
But now, the prey was the hunter.
I unsheathed the dagger strapped around my thigh, the golden hilt of the intertwining serpents gleaming brightly from the glare casting off the pond. Bending down, I yanked on the collar of his shirt, bringing him back to his feet.
“Apologize.” I pressed my dagger slightly into the Serpent King’s pale throat.
His throat bobbed but quickly stilled, almost like he was holding his breath. Maybe he was in shock, or maybe he was smart enough to know I’d truly slit his throat, even if it wouldn’t kill him.