What a delightful man.
“Spinning sexily,” Sadie said in a duh voice as she flipped her white hair over her shoulder and made an obscene gesture with her hands.
I put my hand over my mouth to hide my laughter.
Sadie grinned over at me, clearly proud that she was making me laugh, and gyrated her hips to the music.
The man said something else, but we ignored him as we danced.
In my peripheral vision, he lunged toward us. “You little commoners think you can—”
“Is this man bothering you?” Cobra appeared out of nowhere and blocked the man.
He stared down at Sadie with an intense expression as the jewels embedded in his skin glinted prettily in the dimly lit party.
She chuckled. “Nooooope.”
“Go away, snake man,” I slurred and chucked three of my pipes at him like daggers.
They bounced off his chest and fell to the floor.
Snake eyes glowed in the darkness as Cobra said, “I didn’t ask for your opinion.” Slit pupils flickered as he faced me, and he arched his brow. “I see you’re struggling like usual. How predictable.”
I studied my fingernails. “I’ve always thought it fascinating that snakes have brains the size of peanuts. It must be difficult being such a—” I wrinkled my nose. “—dimwit.”
Cobra smiled back meanly. “Interesting talk coming from the girl who was crying an hour ago while chugging demon brew.”
“How dare you,” I gasped. “I had something in my eye. Also, at least my pupils aren’t lobotomized.”
His eyes twinkled. “How is therapy going? Are you still sad?”
“No.” I laughed falsely. “I’m cured.”
Cobra spread his arms wide and blocked the student who was still trying to charge at us as he proclaimed, “It’s a miracle. Especially after you let yourself get stabbed just a few days ago. Good to see you’re doing better.”
I stumbled, and Sadie righted me.
How did he know? Had Malum talked to him? No, the king thought he was above the shifters; no way he would have told them something so personal.
It must be a lucky guess.
Recovering my composure, I relaxed my posture and smiled. “Awww, thanks for your concern,” I said condescendingly. “Also, don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret. Sadie’s told me all about your little problem in the bedroom?”
“What did I say?” Sadie whispered in my ear. “I don’t remember.”
Sun god bless her.
The student we knocked over tried to push past Cobra, but this time, the snake shifter said, “You just threatened two of the champions in the war.”
The man paled, and his eyes widened as he realized who we were. He bowed respectively. “I didn’t know, forgive me.”
Cobra slammed his foot down. “You’re not forgiven.” Bones crunched, and the student went down with a scream.
A dark corridor.
Glowing blue swords.
A bear roaring.
Infected dying.
High-pitched chittering.
A woman screaming.
I tripped and looked down.
It was a body.
CRACK.
“Snap out of it.” Cobra slapped me across the face, and the party （funeral） came back into focus.
I touched my lip, and my finger came back red. The cold liquid hardened into ice.
“Thanks,” I said sincerely.
“Don’t mention it.” He grunted and stepped away. “Seriously, never talk to me again. Better yet, forget I exist.”
“Who are you?” I asked with feigned confusion.
A slow smile curled his lips as he pulled Sadie to his side, tucking her under his shoulder protectively.
He looked at something behind me and pulled his mate into the crowd. Before the dancing bodies swallowed them, Cobra winked.
I cocked my head in confusion.
His meaning was clear a second later when long fingers grabbed my cheeks and pulled my face to the side.
The hand was freezing.
Harsh.
Unrelenting.
A tongue licked across my lower lip wantonly, and I was just depressed enough to enjoy it. I trembled.
“Why is my Revered bleeding?” Scorpius asked menacingly as he shook my head back and forth. “I heard a slap, is that what this is from? Who do I need to kill?”
He breathed roughly, and warm air puffed against the side of my face.
The blind king stood flush against me. He curled his body around mine like a dragon hoarding its treasure.
I’d noticed that he was doing it more often.
Shielding me with his flesh.
“It’s not blood,” I drawled, my cheeks pressed against his fingers as I forced my lips into a smile. “I’m just overflowing with existential dread, practically bursting at the seams.”