“Learn?” she scoffed. “You mean suffer. Since that’s what you love to do: ridicule and torture. And I’m done with your games.”
Without waiting, she turned away from the snake. It would be better to return to Eichlandt. She’d find the answers on her own. Before she’d taken even a step forward, Shi’as’ scaled body blocked her way.
“Not so soon, Trisha,” he purred behind her, voice cold as the frost. “Don’t you forget your debt. You still owe me.”
Trisha swallowed. Each scrape of his coils jarred Trisha’s nerves, but she didn’t allow herself to give him a reaction. Anything he could chew on would only stoke the fae to poke deeper with his sharp words.
“Owe?” Trisha let out a hollow laugh, attempting to ignore the massive, writhing coils of cold-blooded flesh that locked her in place. “If someone owes anything, it’s you, Shi’as.”
His body froze, and the nauseating sweetness of the fae’s magic—parchment, dust, and darkness—strengthened. A cool breath caressed her neck. “Whatpayment did I receive?” Shi’as hissed in her ear. “I offered you a glimpse into your past, and you left gallivanting into the mortal world. Didn’t even say goodbye to your mother. How sheweptafter you left.”
The words burned her like a brand. Before she could control herself, she spun around and met the fae’s emanating stare.
“Don’t you dare blame me,” Trisha snarled. “Don’t dare accuse me and demand payment for your own venom.” A broken sound escaped her lips. “I bet that’s what you wanted.A chance to whisper your poisonous words in Tilia’s ears. Offer your comforting lies to her.”
“Trisha, don’t insult me,” Shi’as scoffed. “Tree spirits offer nothing I crave. They’refartoo stable.” His voice dropped into a hiss. “Too loving.” His tapered head fell, slithering closer to her, those black-slitted eyes holding her still. “Too… fulsome.”
Despite wanting to break free, Trisha couldn’t move. Her muscles had lost their strength, her mind turned slack.
“No,” Shi’as continued, voice a low purr. “I’ve waited far too long to collect my overdue payment.”
Despite all promises to herself, the tears burned her eyes. “You want payment? Fine. Here you have it—one broken mortal heart.”
“Oh, what adelight: a mortal heart,” Shi’as chuckled. The ground trembled under the sound’s weight. “Are you offering for me to carve your chest open and witness what such a sight truly looks like?”
To Trisha’s relief, she was able to move again. Her pulse stuttered. Stupid. Once again, she’d let Shi’as tear into her and break her composure.
“You mistake my meaning,” Trisha said hastily, trying to avoid noticing his curved fangs or those gnarly, black horns. His cloying, magic-infused scent crowded her senses. “I already paid my price. Your lesson carved a deep, deep chunk out of my heart. No need to witness the gore; I can tell you it’s there, or what’s left of it. You must be proud, Shi’as.”
“My dearest, you always knew how to please. If anything, I’m even more eager to look inside you.”
Her mind raced to find a way out of her predicament. “How about a trade? You always loved those.”
“Finally, you’ve found your sense.” He stopped. “Seems not all is forgotten. Not yet, at least.”
She ignored the jab, trying to come up with something totrade, something to entice the snake enough to secure her safety.
“What would you offer, Trisha?” Shi’as asked. “What possibly could you have that I want? And don’t insult me by offering that pitiful flute.”
Damnit. Trisha bit her teeth together. Any agreement with Shi’as was a bad idea, but the serpent was powerful.
“How about a secret? You collect those like Grentuff collects starlight.”
“Hmm.Hmmm.A secret,” Shi’as hummed, and to Trisha’s relief, withdrew a fraction away. “Less bloody, but so much more... satisfying. Very well, my mortal. Give me a suitable secret, and I just may consider your debt forgiven.”
“Not too fast. I need to understand what constitutes ‘suitable.’”
“Negotiating, are we? Splendid. Not a totally hopeless case, unlike your witless and erratic sprite friend.”
“Rilka…” Trisha whispered. She’d come for Rilka. What had happened?
He didn’t miss her reaction, lifting his tail to shake it with relish. “Such a silly fairy. She should know better than to challenge me—the one who watched the mountains carve into existence and the seas fall from the sky.”
Trisha wanted to groan out in tormented pain. Of everyone, why hadRilkachallenged him? But asking the serpent outright was not in question. No, she needed to be subtle. Trisha flicked her sleeve as though she weren’t interested.
“I was hoping to catch up with her today,” she sighed, avoiding Shi’as’s sharp gaze. “Instead, my invitation dragged you to me. Really, Shi’as, what am I to do? You’ve quite ruined my day.”
“Careful, Trisha. The High King’s blessing no longer protects you.”
