Page 84 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“The chances of finding them at sea or on land are minuscule. You’d just be sending good men to their deaths.”

Viper continued to stare at the map.

“I think this Ethereal is more than an assassin.” I still didn’t know her name, so I didn’t know a better way to refer to her.

Viper turned to regard me. “Why?”

“The way she carries herself. The way she speaks.”

“They all sound like that—pretentious fucks.”

“It’s more than that. It’s the way she makes her demands.” She ordered me to provide dinner like a servant. She helped herself to my dresser like she owned that bedroom the moment she stepped foot in it. Took my shirt without permission. I didn’t mind her behavior. In fact, it was a turn-on, because her spine was just as strong as mine. But it told me a bit about who she was. “I think she’s royal or adjacent to royalty.”

Viper regarded me with his sharp gaze. “What’s her name?”

“That’s another thing… She won’t tell me.”

He rolled his fingers into a fist and gave a sigh. “This could be bad. Really bad.”

“Why?”

“If she’s that important, you don’t think they’ll come to get her back?”

“The Ethereal are coming, no matter what. When doesn’t matter.”

“Whendoesmatter,” he snapped. “Because we don’t have the alliance of men. Father hasn’t sent the Originals. Much needs to be done for us to prevail. And if she’s important, why send her in the first place?”

“I don’t have an answer to that, Viper.”

“You could get an answer,” he said. “Take a break from all the fucking and just ask.”

I grinned slightly. “It’s too soon.”

“You only have six days left.”

“When she tells me her name, I’ll ask.”

Viper stared at the map for a while. “If she were royalty…who could she be?”

“I don’t know.”

“King Elrohir does have two daughters…”

“What are their names?”

“I can’t remember.” Viper rose from his seat and walked to the bookcase. “Kingsnake knows all this shit.”

“Because of Ellasara.” That bitch ripped his heart right out of his chest.

He looked through a couple books before he pulled one out. “I think it’s in here.” He sat down and flipped through a couple pages until he found the family tree. “King Elrohir has two daughters. Beatrix and Clara. He also has a brother. Steward Haleth. And he has a son and a daughter. Cirdan and Melian.”

“Got any sketches in there?”

Viper shook his head. “There are no details or descriptions.”

“She could also lie about her name.”

“Then you better learn her tells.”