Red berries. Left to ripen on the vine for maximum potency. Poisonous to humans, as Ancaster had discovered all those many seasons ago. Capable of inducing debilitating vomiting and explosive diarrhea.
I grinned, stalking closer. Each footfall carefully planned, eyes and ki-sense locked on the villains below.
Coming to a stop above the fire pit, I covered my face with a hand-spun scarf to protect my lungs from the acidic white smoke that only came from burning green wood. Inexperienced Caledonian idiots—but the white cloud gave agreeable cover for my purpose, so I gave thanks.
In position, I sent Kas a pulse through the branches, inflaming her territorial fury as my ki rushed through her blood.
She yowled, the sound chilling, though I’d heard much worse from her over the seasons.
“What in the bloody hell?” the fool gasped, slopping coffee down the front of his fur coat.
Kas yipped, dragging her mighty claws down the tree trunk, her glare reflecting bright, demonic green in the light of the flames.
The fool stood, moving on hesitant feet toward the edge of the clearing, a whip clutched in his hand.
Poor, sad little man, frightened by monsters in the dark. Grinning, I unwound the ball of twine, guiding the bag of powder to steep in the pot of camp coffee while Kas rumbled a low, threatening growl. Daring him to cross the threshold and enter the wood.
Stumbling back, the fool called for Jasper, seeking the perceived safety of the firelight, his attention fixed upon the demonic, bodiless eyes.
At my signal, Kas fell quiet, crouched in the shadows above as I reeled the red berries in, leaving behind nothing but a few innocuous drops of laced coffee as I went.
“J-Jasper! Wake up, mate! It’s the fuckin’ Menace!”
Clutching the likeness of the serpent with one hand, Jasper pulled his furs tighter. Face set and determined, though pale beneath his tan. “Get me a coffee, will you? It’s going to be a long night.”
I almost laughed at my dancing pets. Almost spoiled the fun, for there was nothing left to do but wait for morning.
Chapter 2
Dawn broke to the beautiful sounds of retching, and with a sneeze, Kas slipped into the shadows, drawn away by the scent of a potential mate. Leaving me to deal with the downed slavers and the trio of terrified escapees.
Tritans.
My people, once.
On silent feet, I edged into the camp, my every sense primed for the sound of the slaver’s return from where they’d gone to purge in relative privacy. Ready, should I need to call upon the Grandmother to destroy these trespassers. Three sets of wide, pale eyes tracked my progress and I pressed a single scarred finger to my lips for silence, offering a toothy grin.
The woman squealed, pulling at the heavy irons binding her hand and foot, leaning away from my approach.
“Hush,” I hissed, frowning down at her. “You’ll ruin the game.”
“Game?” the man asked, soothing the woman as best he could with hands bound to a tree.
I frowned at the woman and without thinking, sent a tendril toward her, tasting her ki.
Fear. She was terrified.
Head tilted, I knelt in the snow, creeping closer. “What did they do to frighten you so?”
Eyes bulging, she shook her head and scrambled back.
With a scowl, I glanced toward the slavers. “I wasn’t planning to kill them, but if they’ve harmed you—”
“N-No,” she gasped, glancing to the child who bore her likeness, then back to me. “No killing. We’ve seen enough death.”
A puzzling mix of bravery and terror bubbled to the surface, her face hardening in spite of her vulnerability. A mother’s ferocity, though it was in direct contrast with the motherhood instinct I’d come to know—Kas would have gutted the men for daring to touch her young. Would have spread their innards across the boundary of her territory as a warning to those who would dare challenge her.
Trembling, she reached for me. “J-Just—can you help us? Please?”
