Page 43 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“I don’t know.”

“Do you think—”

“Larisa.” He gave me a cold stare, his frustration oozing from his pores. Every moment he was around Aurelias, he was a different person. His mood had soured. His anger had become his norm.

“That asshole needs a boot up his ass.” I climbed onto the horse and yanked the reins from his hand.

He cocked a slight smile before he walked to his horse.

Aurelias was already saddled and ready, his dark hair matching the color of his armor and gloves. With a stare intense and angry, he watched his brother before he kicked his horse and took off at a run.

Kingsnake dropped into the saddle then nodded to me. “After you.”

I moved behind Aurelias, our steeds braving the cold as their hooves stomped against the snow. There was no path to follow because the world was solid white, and I hoped we didn’t befall a danger we couldn’t see.

Several hours into our ride, I heard it.

Roooaaaaaarrrrrr.

It echoed across the mountains, made snow fall from some of the tallest peaks and slide down. The vibrations were so profound I could feel the vertebrae in my spine rattle.

Aurelias brought his horse to a halt, and I did the same.

“What the fuck was that?” I pulled the reins and turned my horse, looking at Kingsnake.

His eyes were on his brother.

I looked back at Aurelias.

His expression was similar to Kingsnake’s, calm but intense.

I couldn’t feel anything from Aurelias, but I also couldn’t feel anything from Kingsnake either.

“What the fuck was that?” I repeated, never having heard a sound like that in my life.

“We need to change our course.” Aurelias turned the horse farther south and took off at a run, avoiding the mountain on our left.

I clicked my heels into my horse and followed, eager to get away from whatever was powerful enough to shake the mountain with just its voice.

* * *

We made camp for the night—without a fire.

I’d been so cold for so long I couldn’t feel anything, but I refused to complain when Aurelias had expressed how little he thought of me the night before. He’d insulted my beauty too, not that I cared about that.

How could I feel insecure when Kingsnake’s desire was so powerful it woke me up from a dead sleep?

I ate the dried jerky from my pack and pulled my knees to my chest to stay warm. The two men prepared the bedrolls, and Fang hadn’t left his wool bucket since last night. It was just too cold for him to be exposed.

We hadn’t spoken since the mighty roar that shook our bones. I hoped we’d put enough distance between us and that monster that we wouldn’t have to worry about an unexpected visit.

Kingsnake’s mood was contemplative. I interpreted his intensity as stress. Ever since we’d departed Crescent Falls, he’d been in a state of constant tension. It was mainly his brother’s shitty company, but it was also the situation, keeping us all alive in a world he didn’t know. He approached me and kneeled down. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” I’d never been less fine. As terrifying as that monster was, I was still tempted to make the fire.

His eyes remained on mine, like he could read me as well as I could read him. But he didn’t question me, not in front of his brother. He rose to his full height again and walked away.

It’sss so cold. I’m sorry.