“What is it? What’s coming?” Callum said, pulling my attention.
The earth quaked beneath a deafening thud, toppling spectators and rattling the foundations. Dust billowed outward in thick clouds, obscuring my view of Cadence.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I strained to see through the haze. When it cleared, my blood turned molten in my veins.
It slithered from the shroud of debris, moving with slow, deliberate purpose. Its body was long and coiled, and as thick as the largest tree trunk. Green and black scales shimmered in the sunlight, and the sickly yellow pallor of its underbelly gave the impression of something long dead, bloated with venom and rot.
With pupils as narrow as needles, it stared straight through Cadence as if it could see the marrow inside her bones. She froze, her breath locked in her chest as though blinking would be a fatal mistake.
The creature didn’t roar, didn’t hiss. It simply watched her, so sure of its power that it didn’t need to make a sound.
And somehow, that silence was worse.
“What the fuck is that?” Callum asked, barely above a whisper.
“Zarythian.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ryker
“He’s lost his fucking mind!” My brother’s gaze remained fixed on the giant beast sizing up my mate.
The Zarythian’s massive head moved with a hypnotic sway as it locked onto Cadence. Its serpentine body, sheathed inenormous scales, shifted with such force that the ground beneath it groaned under its weight.
It didn’t strike.
Not yet.
It was savoring the moment before the kill. Its forked tongue darted out, tasting the air, and my Temptress clenched her jaw as she forced herself to stay still.
Good girl.
Movement would trigger its attack.
“So, it’s a giant snake?” Callum asked.
“It’s also venomous,” Riordan said, not taking his eyes off Cadence.
“Figured.” Callum took a cautious step closer to the railing, his gaze locked on the monstrous creature below.
“That’s not all.” My brother grimaced. “Its breath is laced with toxins, and if it gets close, its coils can crush even the strongest metal. That’s not counting the fact that it moves like liquid death.”
Below, the Zarythian exhaled. It was a deep, guttural sound that vibrated through the arena. Cadence’s hair lifted from the gust, her brown strands dancing in the serpent’s breath.
Fuck. She’d piqued its interest.
“She needs to move now,” I growled, my hands tightening on the stone ledge. “The only reason it hasn’t struck is because it’s testing her, playing with her. Once it’s had enough, it will strike.”
“She knows what she is doing,” Callum said, sounding offended on behalf of his sister.
“Oh, she’s faced a Zarythian before?”
Callum turned toward me and stepped into my space. “You underestimate her.”
“She can’t move,” Riordan said, drawing our attention. “Not yet. It hasn’t chosen.”
“Chosen?” Callum’s eyes widened. “What the hell does that mean?”
