Page 41 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“This punk-ass bitch needs to learn his manners—”

“Enough.” Kingsnake pressed his hand to my chest. “I’ll take first watch. Go to sleep—both of you.”

I don’t like him either, Larisssa.

Then you should strangle him for me.

I would, but Kingsssnake wouldn’t approve.

And I used to think Kingsnake was an asshole…

Kingsnake set the bedroll on the ground then took a seat on the small wooden stool packed in the saddlebag.

Aurelias moved his bedroll farther away, picking a spot at least fifteen feet away in the snow where Kingsnake hadn’t shoveled.

“Drama queen.”

“Larisa.” Kingsnake spoke in a whisper, warning me.

“It’s so cold, there’s no way I’ll be able to sleep.” My body wouldn’t stop shivering. It was like a disease.

“Zip up the bedroll. Your body heat will keep you warm.”

I wanted this man to keep me warm, but I refused to whine in our current circumstances. I got into the bedroll and zipped it up entirely, scrunched into a ball, waiting for my own breath to warm the bedding.

It must have, because I drifted off to sleep at some point, only to be woken by quiet conversation.

“What’s your fascination with her? The woman is below ordinary in appearance, with limited intelligence. She possesses no strategy, runs her mouth without thinking twice about her words or her opponent. She’ll get herself killed—and you along with her.”

Kingsnake stayed quiet.

“At least Ellasara was beautiful. Smart. Strategic. That made far more sense than this boar.”

“Ellasara was a manipulative bitch.”

“She may have been disloyal, but she was still respectable.”

“If you gave Larisa a chance, you would feel differently.”

“You offered to turn her into a Kingsnake Vampire, and she said no.”

Kingsnake paused for a long time. “Yes.”

“She had the opportunity to attain immortality, to elevate her status from a peasant to a god, and she was too stupid to say yes.”

“She doesn’t understand—”

“Because she’s stupid.”

“Aurelias—”

“Why do you pick only unsuitable women? You could have anyone you want, and yet, you select inferior women who only want something from you.”

Kingsnake turned quiet.

The silence was accompanied by the wind in the trees, the sound of an owl somewhere deep in the forest.

Then Kingsnake spoke again. “I’m sorry about Renee.”