Page 134 of Serpent In White

I’m about to jump on when I hear something… A familiar voice.

His thoughts ripple around his actual words, and I glance up to find the tall, slender yet immaculately defined form approaching, his dirty blonde curls shining beneath the sun. Full lips pulled into that permanent grin he wears, dimples resting comfortably at its corners like little signs that say,There’s no possible way I wouldn’t be modeling in the outside world.

I’m taken aback by how relieved I am to see him, back and safe. So much so that I almost completely miss the tiny red-haired thing at his side.

My eyes take her in before they spot me, dancing over her long hair, billowing in the breeze, not quite red, but more blonde-meets-coral or something, that blushed color combination emphasized by her pale complexion, similar to mine and Abdiel’s. The shape of her face, her nose and large eyes actually resemble Abdiel’s a bit, which has me wondering if maybe they’re related. Though I’m sure Darian would have mentioned that in his relayed message…

The girl is wearing jeans and a flowy top, loose enough to hide her figure. She seems mousy from afar, though she’s laughing and chatting with Abdiel, so clearly, they get along.

But where the hell did she come from?

I’m just kind of standing around, wondering if I should walk up to them and introduce myself, or wait for them to get to me. Or hop on the ATV and drive away, which is what I probablyshoulddo, though I must admit, I’m intrigued by the girl; by her presence. I need to know why she’s here, what her purpose is, and why Abdiel would bring her onto our land without consulting anyone.

That’s something that just does not happen on the Expanse. Ever.

Abdiel’s gaze finally breaks away from their conversation, and he notices me, his grin widening significantly as he offers me a small wave. I narrow my gaze at him, rooting my feet to the ground and conveying my immediate feelings so only he can hear.

Welcome back, little mouse. You’ve got some explaining to do.

His grin fades, teeth sinking into that plush lower lip of his. I hate when he does that. It makes me lose control of my thoughts, forcing me to blur them out to disguise my uncertainty.

They saunter up to where I’m standing and finally stop, the three of us just staring at each other for a solid three seconds before anyone speaks.

“Drake,” Abdiel says my name in a sort of sigh that tells me he’s glad to see me, which doesn’t placate me at all since I don’t know what to do with that bit of information. “Good morning.”

My brow cocks.Pleasantries, little mouse? Really?

His cheeks flush, and he breaks our eye contact, glancing at his shoes. “This is Rhiannon. Rhiannon, this is Drake. The Alchemist.”

When I remove my glare from the kid and slink it on over to the girl, I find her already staring at me. And I meangawking. I know why, of course, so I make a point to give her a slow-blink, really showing off the eyes.

A word splashes from her thoughts in my direction,Wow…followed by,He is beautiful.

An itch travels up my spine from the way she’s thinking about me, so boldly. It causes me to shift in place, breaking my gaze with her glistening eyes, the color of deep waters. I’m already feeling off today, and having this stranger in here, assessing me, is just making me even more itchy.

“Great to meet you, Dra—”

“Where did she come from, and why is she here?” I address Abdiel, ignoring the girl, who doesn’t even seem put off by my interruption. She just goes back to staring at me.

Like I’m a goddamn sideshow act.

Abdiel stammers, “I met her on the mountain. She’s from Seattle.” His words pause and go quieter. “She needed to be here.”

The craziest thing is that I already know what he’s talking about, before he even elaborates.The mountain… They must have been to the clearing.

Abdiel hears my thoughts and does a brief nod, subtle enough, though when I glance at the girl, she’s watching our interaction with some curiosity in her eyes and lining her forehead.

“I need to speak with you,” I mumble to Abdiel, watching the girl with reticence. “Privately.”

“Sure.” He nods. “But first we’re supposed to give Rhiannon a tour of the lab.”

I scoff, “No. Absolutely not.” My head shakes firmly. “I don’t bring strangers into my operation, and I don’t make a habit of giving out the secrets of The Principality to every little spy who comes stumbling onto my land.”

I glare at the girl, and she shivers. I can see it,feelit from her thoughts. She’s fascinated by me; nervous yet so intrigued it’s radiating from her mind. I simply blink at her.

“But Darian said…” Abdiel’s voice trails, tugging me back to him.

“Darian said to have me show her thelab?” It isn’t hard to miss the disbelief in my tone.