Page 39 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“That’s not his way.”

I had no siblings, and if I did, I still wouldn’t be able to relate to this. “I’m sorry.”

His eyes remained still, his mood dampened like a pail of water had been thrown onto his flames.

I let the silence continue this time, tried to give him whatever privacy I could.

* * *

Nearly two weeks later, we could make out the details of the shoreline. The sky was overcast, and the mountains were covered in snow. There was a distant outline of a massive wall farther north. I didn’t understand what it was.

Kingsnake and Aurelias spoke as they stood together on the bow, looking at the land ahead.

I came to their side.

“We’ll drop the anchor here and row to shore,” Aurelias said.

“How far is the ride to the Teeth?”

“Days. But it’ll take much longer than that.”

“Why?” I asked.

Aurelias slowly turned to look at me, and the ferocity in his gaze was terrifying. The fact that there was no emotion from him whatsoever was torture on my brain. I’d come to rely on emotion to survive, and without it, I felt like I was treading black water without knowing what was underneath.

Kingsnake turned to me. “Let us speak.”

“I just asked a question,” I snapped. “You do realize I’ll be coming with you, right?” My eyes were on the asshole who stared at me like I was vermin.

His eyes shifted to Kingsnake. “The water looks cold down there…” Then he walked off—just like that.

Kingsnake gave a sigh before he looked at me. “It would be best if you avoided him at whatever cost.”

“I’m a valuable member of this team—”

“He disagrees. Just stay out of his way.”

My eyebrows furrowed. “Because I’m a woman, I’m not allowed to speak?”

“Your gender has nothing to do with it—”

“Then what is it?”

“You’re human—that’s what.” His eyes shifted back and forth between mine. “You need to understand that humans are no different from pigs to Originals. You’re beneath his station in every way imaginable. It’s an insult that you speak to him.”

“Wow, he’s a whole new kind of asshole.”

“I agree. But he’s the one who knows this place, so we’re going to have to honor his pretentious requests.”

“Or you could put him in his place—”

“I have,” I said. “And it’s not helping our already frayed relationship.”

I kept my mouth shut and let the anger slide.

“Don’t make this more difficult than it already is.”

“Fine.”