Chapter 21 The Plan
The Plan
Although the walk back to the formal dining hall was quiet, my mind was loud with thoughts clamoring for my attention.
It raced a mile a minute, trying to unpack everything I had learned tonight.
The gods were real, and they had abandoned the mortals.
There was a goddess who also called herself the Serpent Queen.
And to top it all off, the man who broke my heart proposed we come together to kill a god?
I needed a fucking drink.
Defeating a god was not the part of the Serpent King’s plan that worried me; it was the thought of working with him that shook me to my core.
I could barely stand to be around him for one evening—how was I supposed to journey through the realms with him? A scoff slipped from my lips at the mere thought of us as allies again.
“What are you thinking about?” the king’s voice rumbled through the caves, breaking my reverie.
I threw a glance over my shoulder. “I’m wondering how you expect us to work together when I detest you.”
His steps faltered, but he quickly resumed his casual pace.
“I expect you to suck it up and do what is best for you, as you always do.”
I halted, slamming my palm against the behemoth’s chest. “What do you mean by that?”
He glanced at my hand like it was a bothersome gnat, then flicked his eyes to mine. “The Serpent Queen has a tendency to only look out for herself, does she not?”
Instead of doing what I wanted to do—which was ram my knee straight into his groin, making him keel over in pain—I smiled and leaned closer.
“That’s rich coming from the king who collects souls.”
The menace dipped his chin, bringing his face mere inches from mine.
Those damn eyes burned through the darkness and straight into where my soul used to be.
“I’ve collected only one soul in my lifetime, and it is my most prized possession.”
His tongue darted out to wet his lips, making me curl my nails into the flesh of my palm as I worked to restrain myself from smacking away the smile that crept across his face.
“You are a monster.”
He dipped his head, brushing his lips against my ear. “You can pretend all you’d like, Serpent Queen, but you and I are more similar than you care to admit.”
I growled, turning on my heel and continuing my pursuit to get far away from these lands and the man who had just indirectly called me a monster.
Yet, he wasn’t wrong, which made a fresh wave of anger wash over me. No one else knew how I truly felt about myself, and I intended to keep it that way.
Let my people presume I loved the life I was dealt if it kept me safe, in a position of power.
I’d gladly be the villain, if it meant I’d never be the failed hero.
The Serpent King was just as much of a fool as my people if he thought I’d willingly be his ally.
After what felt like an eternity, the dark caves brightened as the golden pond greeted us. I strode straight past the shimmering waters for the exit, turning to face the king one last time.
“I won’t be your ally. You will have to go on this journey alone to defeat the so-called Ice Goddess. As it is, I have my hands full with my weekly executions. Best of luck, Serpent King.”
The last thing I saw before turning away was the way he crossed his arms, studying me like I was a book he was dying to read.
I had nearly disappeared from view down the passageway when his voice halted me in place.
“And how exactly do you expect to keep the rebels at bay if your power disappears?”
My jaw tightened at the possibility of a powerless life.
“I’ll figure something out,” I muttered. It was easier to lie, when I really had no other plan.
“This is one problem, Seera, that you cannot run away from.” His voice was softer than usual, and the way he said my name . . .
“Seera,” he whispered into my hair, tugging me against his body. “You’ve ruined me.”
No. I couldn’t entertain such a dangerous idea of conspiring with the Serpent King.
I’d worked too hard to rebuild myself just to go crawling back to the man that discarded me like vile trash.
But his words affected me, just as intended.
I always ran from my problems.
I fled from the tower, from my mother, from my complicated feelings for Landon.
From everything.
It just was . . . easier.
However, if my powers disappeared, there would be no running away from the mess I created while ruling as the Serpent Queen.
I’d have to rely on my fighting capabilities alone to hold onto my throne.
While Landon would fight with me, I didn’t know if the same would be true for the rest of my guards.
They had proven to be loyal thus far, but they could reconsider joining the rebels if they saw my magical abilities waning.
My snakes, and the fear they caused, made them stay in line.
I hated that he cast this newfound doubt in my head, but I loathed myself even more for considering the prospect of working with the Serpent King.
But . . . it was time to come face to face with the ghosts of my past.
“If I decide to ally with you to defeat Isolde, how would I keep the rebels in line? I can’t abandon my throne during such hostile times.” I glanced over my shoulder, catching a small wince flicker across the king’s face.
“I have a plan, but I know you won’t like it.”
My lips tightened while I braced myself—how could tonight possibly get worse?
He looked away, not able to meet my eyes as I fully turned and faced him.
“I plan to have someone else sit on your throne.”
The growl that clawed up my throat was as natural as breathing, an instinct to protect the one thing I fought so hard for when I returned to the mortal realm as an immortal.
My throne meant everything to me.
“No one sits on my throne besides me.” I dug my thumb into my chest.
The king simply rolled his eyes, as if I were a child throwing a tantrum.
“Good thing you won’t have to abandon your pedestal then.” He picked at his nails, donning his usual mask of arrogance.
My brows knitted in confusion. “What?”
With a clap of his hands, a shadowy figure emerged from a secret passageway. As it crept closer, the golden light radiating from the pond illuminated the person.
My hand flew to cover my mouth as fresh panic lurched through my gut.
The spitting image of myself strolled toward me, her blood-red lips curved into a devious smile.