Page 72 of Bite The Power That Feeds

Perhapsss ssshe retired for the evening.

I moved to the stairs and quickly ascended to the palace doors. I walked inside and headed to our bedchambers, hoping to see her in bed, preferably naked and passed out after all the wine.

But the bed was empty.She’s not here.

Ssshe must be sssomewhere, Kingsnake. Calm down.

I spotted her coat tossed over the armchair.She was here.I moved to the bathroom and pushed the door open so hard it smacked into the wall and left a dent. It was empty.

I went into the closet and flicked on the light.

Her armor was missing.

Why the fuck was her armor missing?

The horror seeped into my veins as I stared, my breathing suddenly deep and ragged, my panic inconsolable. I tried to solve a puzzle without a single piece. Nothing made sense.She left.

What do you mean?

She fucking left. That’s what I mean.I moved to the stash of venom that we had collected together—and it was missing.Speak to her. She may still be close.I dropped my clothes and put on my own armor. Tonight, I was supposed to celebrate my new queen, but I prepared for a war I was terrified to lose.

I will try.

* * *

I ran down the stairs, and everyone below turned to regard me as my armor reflected the torches. It must have reflected in my eyes too, furious flames about to incinerate anyone who got in my path.

I marched to the stables, my eyes focused ahead, locked in tunnel vision.

“What’s happening?” Cobra came to my side when he realized something was amiss.

“Larisa left.”

“What do you mean?”

“She took her shit and left,” I snapped. “That’s what I mean.”

A solid three seconds passed, like Cobra was just as confused as I was minutes ago. “Why?”

“I have no fucking idea.”

“What if someone took her?”

“They didn’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Because she took the venom. She left on her own terms.”

“Have Fang speak to her—”

“I already tried. She’s either too far away, or she’s blocking him out.”

Cobra walked with me down the path toward the stables. “Did you say something to her—”

“No.”

“What was your last interaction?”