Page 104 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

Viper turned to Larisa. “Leave.”

She obeyed immediately and turned to the door.

“She stays.”

Larisa went still.

Viper looked at her and then at me. “We have much to discuss—”

“Then she stays.”

“Things that don’t concern someone like her—”

“Ask her to leave again, and I’ll ask you to leave.”

Now our warm embrace was long forgotten. Viper stared but didn’t question me again. He took a seat.

Larisa looked at me. “It’s okay—”

“Sit down,” I said. “You’re one of us now.”

Larisa didn’t dare question me again and took a seat.

I moved to the seat beside her, the four of us gathered in the seating area with the fire burning low.

Viper stared at Larisa.

Cobra was slouched on the couch, and his stare had drifted off like he’d already forgotten the conversation about to take place. He didn’t try to embrace me. Didn’t even make a joke.

I blurted out the question without thinking. “Are you alright?”

His gaze was still elsewhere, as if he didn’t hear me or thought I’d addressed Viper.

“Cobra.”

His eyes snapped to mine automatically. “Yes?”

“You look unwell.”

He straightened on the couch and crossed one ankle on the opposite knee. “When you’re the king of two kingdoms instead of one, you get a little tired. So, how was your trip? Did you and Aurelias bond?”

“Yes and no,” I said. “He chose to stay behind.”

Cobra’s eyebrows shifted up his forehead. “What are you talking about?”

I told them everything that had happened.

“Fuck,” Cobra said. “Father must be pissed.”

“He was too relieved to be pissed,” I said, remembering that conversation vividly. “What’s happened since I’ve been away? I’ve seen the construction you’ve done in the city. Thank you for that.”

“What can I say?” Cobra said. “I’m a great king.”

Viper stared at him so hard I could feel the heat. “Assassins came for you. We killed two. One escaped. Captured one.”

“We captured an Ethereal?” I asked in shock. “Have you questioned him?”

“Not him,” Viper said. “Her.”