Page 50 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“Who’s Renee?”

He didn’t say anything, and as time passed, it seemed like he wouldn’t say anything. “The woman he loved.”

“What happened to her?” Their conversation had made it seem like the relationship had ended a long time ago, deep in the past of their 1500-year lifetime.

He glanced past me, checking that Aurelias was still gone from the camp. “He killed her.”

Just like that, the cold disappeared. I didn’t feel it anymore because I was struck by the horror. “What…?”

“It was an accident.”

“How do you accidentally kill someone?”

Kingsnake stared.

It took me a couple seconds to deduce the conclusion on my own. The look on his face made it clear. “He didn’t stop feeding…”

“No.”

Now the cold returned, harsher than it’d been before.

“He couldn’t help himself.”

Now I understood how close to death I’d been when Kingsnake had fed on me the first time. I could have easily had the same fate.

“He still carries that.”

I wanted to say I was sorry, but Kingsnake wasn’t the right recipient. “Why didn’t he turn her?”

“That was his intention. Just needed to find the venom first. She was supposed to be an Original like him. Supposed to be his wife.”

I barely tolerated Aurelias, but the story still broke my heart. “That’s why he hates humans so much…”

“Probably has a lot to do with it.”

The conversation would have continued, but Aurelias returned, carrying two rabbits by the feet. Wordlessly, he got to work, dressing the animals and then placing them on the spit to be cooked.

“Is that for me?” I asked, surprised that he left the warmth of the fire for anyone but himself.

“You’re hungry.”

“How did you—”

Kingsnake wore a knowing look. “Annoying, isn’t it?”

Aurelias slowly turned the handle, charring the meat on all the surfaces and making the juices drip below. “You fed me. Now I’ll feed you.” His eyes remained on his work, ignoring my stare, slowly rotating the meat and making it sizzle until it was cooked all the way through. He removed the rabbits, prepared the meat again, and then handed it to me.

I held the plate in my hand as I looked up at him. “Thank you.”

He gave a nod before he went to his bedroll. He tucked himself inside, zipped it up to the top, and then went still.

“I guess I’ll take first watch,” Kingsnake said.

I ate my dinner, feeling my stomach warm from the hot food. It’d been a long time since I’d had something fresh. Even on the boat, everything was dried and stale. I’d eaten all the fresh foods first, so the fruits and vegetables had disappeared quickly. “I can take the watch if you’re tired.”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I know you aren’t feeling well.”

I stilled at his observation.