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Sylvia

S o this was Erador . In my snake form, I couldn’t see much beyond the woods.

It was difficult to enjoy anything with a gaping hole through my chest, but I’d heal soon enough.

I had the blood of two healers in my veins and an entire world of humans to drain at my leisure…

I’d enjoy reaping the riches of war. Erador owed me. It would pay in blood.

She was a unicorn . The little bitch had been in my grasp and I’d let her slip away. If my son hadn’t been such a moron, perhaps I’d already be wielding her horn upon my throne with infinite power .

The first order of business, once I acquired the horn, would be to kill Arnold.

His grand ideas and thirst for power had gone too far.

The book had made him too bold. He needed to be reminded who was in charge.

They all did . Dahlia would be angry, but if I gave my son to her daughter, she’d forgive me in time.

She was nearly as thirsty for power as her soon-to-be late husband.

And the others would bow before me and beg for me to spare them, once the horn was mine.

But first, I needed a plan, along with money, clothing, and protection.

I could acquire those things easily enough.

It would be difficult to get to the girl, now that she was guarded in her castle built by my ancestors.

I couldn’t just slither in and bite her.

I needed her in her unicorn form. I’d have to coax her into a trap.

And her mother was a phoenix, that complicated things.

She held anti-venom in her tears. I’d need to find powerful allies.

Why had the gods bestowed her family with so much power?

No matter… Soon I’d rule both worlds. Perhaps I’d enlist help from the Oracle of Erador.

If she knew Marigold had killed her sister, would that sway her to my side?

The mountain spies had been eager to inform me of the Oracle’s demise, yet no one had told me what had killed her—only who. They’d all suffer for their insolence.

I snaked my way through a patch of ferns, leaving a crimson trail in my wake.

I’d cover this whole world in blood soon enough.

The humans would pay. Marigold would pay.

The shadow-wielding bastard would pay most of all.

I’d kill her in front of him… make him beg.

Then perhaps I’d bring him back to Galen as a gift.

I flicked my tongue, scenting the air around me. Victory was so close, I could taste it.

The End