“That is not amusing.”
“Come on, it kinda is. Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”
I wasn’t entirely sure I did have this, and from Samael’s snort, he could feel my uncertainty.
I smiled at the snake. “Let me tell you how this will go. You try anything, other than tasting my blood, and my blades will sink into you. Then the griffin will tear you apart.”
“I underssssstand.”
“Fine.”
I shot the griffin a warning look. His eyes were on the snake, but he didn’t seem like he was about to attack, so I took one more step forward.
Then I held out my arm.
I kept my throwing knife in that hand, my Nim Cub poised in my other hand. The snake slowly lowered toward me, taking its sweet time.
I couldn’t blame it. We were all on edge.
The snake’s tongue darted out, tasing my blood, and I shuddered. It took every ounce of my willpower to keep my arm raised, and to not bury my knife in its scales.
“Half-blood,” it said, tasting once more. The feel of its tongue brushing against my skin made bile crawl up my throat.
“The things I do for you,”I teased Samael.
“Still not amused.”
So much for breaking the tension with humor. I slowly pulled my arm away, and the snake pulled back, as if to strike.
“You got what you wanted,” I ground out. “Now let us pass.”
“Your blood tassssstessss like sssssuffering.”
“Cool story. We’re leaving now.”
I slowly backed away, waiting for the snake to climb further up its tree. I wanted to walk past it about as much as I wanted to jump back in the water with the creature who’d wanted me for a snack.
Knowing the griffin was guarding my back helped. Although I worried about him walking back this way alone.
My body was so tense my muscles ached as I forced myself to stride past the snake. I didn’t let out the breath I was holding until I could see Ilis’s house between the gaps in the brush.
I glanced at the griffin. “Do me a favor and at least stay out of sight while I talk to Ilis. Then I can have Kyla take a look at your wound. She’ll have more experience with four-legged first-aid.”
We’d figure out how to get him back to his friends later.
I squinted through the trees as a figure walked down the stairs. Ilis. She’d known I was almost here.
I left the griffin crouching behind a tree and stepped out of the brush.
* * *
DANICA
Ilis’s smile was wide and gentle and oh-so welcoming.
The audacity.
I didn’t slam my fist into her face, but it was close.
