Page 161 of Serpent In White

But they don’t.

The first thing that happens, letting me know I fucked up, is Lauris. She inches up to Darian’s side, her eyes hard and unforgiving, aimed right in my direction.

Then Gem and Emithel do the same, standing by him, folding their arms the way his are, glaring up at me in doubt and betrayal. Kiara and Alissa are already there with them—they never liked me to begin with—and more movements happen.

People shift from where they were standing, crowded around the bench I’m standing on, over to Darian’s side. One by one, they move up to him, forming a wall at his left and right. A wall of support that is clearly unbreakable, regardless of what I tell them.

It didn’t matter.

Either they’re so beyond brainwashed there’s no getting through to them, or they simply don’t care, about any of it.

Loyalty is the key I hadn’t anticipated.

Drake moves in between everyone to stand by his brother’s side, eyeing me with so much fury my knees begin to wobble. When I look down at Abdiel, his eyes are alit with pity. He feels sorry for me as he stands up and joins Darian’s side.

They all do, each and every one of them, their thoughts quickly turning from murmurs of loyalty to their chosen leader, to angry chants about exiling the traitor.

Kick her out.

Get rid of her.

I don’t care if she disappears, just get her out.

Down with the traitorous bitch!

Go back to the outside, stray!

Off with her head!

Okay, maybe theoff with her headwas an overreaction, but I can hear a lynch mob forming in their minds, and it’s scaring the shit out of me.

I acknowledge that I made a huge mistake here. I may have just gotten myself killed.

My entire body is shaking violently as I watch all the angry eyes aimed in my direction. The patrolmen stalk up to the bench where I’m standing.

I hold up my hands. “No, please. Wait…”

Drake and Darian share a quick look. Abdiel aims a pleading gaze up at his Head Priest.

Darian blinks down at Abdiel, then holds up a hand. “Stop. Leave her be.”

Everyone is silent again, even their thoughts. Everyone except Drake.

The girl is mine, brother. Leave her to me.

I’m quaking so hard I might wet myself.

Darian’s eyes stay on mine, shimmering with a regal confidence. In this moment, he truly does look like a King.

And that was my biggest mistake… underestimating him.

“You,” he barks, finger pointed my way. “Come with me.” He turns to his patrolmen, giving them a quick head nod I can’t read. Then he looks to Abdiel and Drake. “You two as well. We have much todiscuss.”

I hear a quiet fuming in his tone, a fizzling rage that surrounds him as he turns and saunters back toward his Den. Abdiel peeks at me, blinking over wide eyes before following Darian like a puppy. Drake stands in place, glowering at me for a few beats until he too turns and storms up the path after his brother and Abdiel.

And me, well, I just look around at the angry mob I’ve created, and the patrolmen standing guard, waiting to see if I do any more stupid things.

I can’t. There are no more options for me. The only leverage I have is in my head. But the question is… is it enough?