Page 36

Knox raised a brow. “Ugh, probably war.”

“Great.”

“I’d advise against it,” he said, then glanced past me—toward the one person I prayed wasn’t standing there. “On second thought…”

A throat cleared from behind me. “Do you have a minute, Sev?” Damien asked.

There were many poisons in this world, but somehow, I had chosen the most intoxicating one the moment I looked into his hazel eyes.

“I need a moment,” I murmured to Knox, already moving.

I stumbled down into the belly of the ship, heart pounding like it was trying to outrun me. At the bottom of the stairs, I shoved open a narrow door, praying it led somewhere I could breathe.

The cold wood met my knees as I collapsed. The ship groaned beneath me, swaying with a slow, sick rhythm, like seasickness and sadness were the only ways left to feel something real. I curled in tighter, letting silence press in. I should’ve gone home. Instead, I was stuck on this godsdamned boat .

A shadow stretched across the floor. The stairs creaked. Then came three slow taps on the door, the same knock I’d heard a dozen times back at the academy.

Damien appeared in the archway, ducking to fit into the low-ceilinged room. “You could at least pretend to be happy to see me,” he said lightly.

“You were dead,” I whispered. “You didn’t wake up.”

“You saved me,” he said, as if that explained everything. “My father sent Archer a letter, apologizing for his son entering the realm. I thought he’d have told you by now. I wanted you to know... you can still trust me.”

My voice shook. “Archer is in prison. For treason.”

Damien didn’t flinch. “As he should be.”

I turned on him then, fury unraveling my control. “You messed with my head. You watched me spiral and said nothing. You were inside my mind, Damien. From that far away, how?”

He raked a hand through his damp hair, calmer than he had any right to be. “Remember the hot spring? When we kissed?”

I scoffed. “It was one kiss.”

“It meant enough,” he said. “It formed a rider bond.”

My laugh was hollow. “I don’t believe a single godsdamned word you say.”

“I was trying to protect you,” he said. “Rok never assigned a bond to you. He wanted you to fail. If Myla hadn’t chosen you for her outing, Callum would’ve had every reason to kill you or leave you trapped in that dungeon for three years.”

“And you just—what? Claimed the space in my shield like it was yours to take? How convenient.”

“You were vulnerable. The bond saved you.”

“No,” I snapped. “The collapse of my realm saved me. Archer saved me. Not you. ”

He stepped closer, voice dropping. “Archer didn’t want it to be you, Severyn. I made the decision for both of us. Now we’re Serpents. We survived. We all win.”

I stood slowly, the fire roaring again in my blood. “No. You win. You always find a way to twist the story, to come out with your hands clean. But this—” I pointed to my chest, where my heart throbbed like a bruise, “—this isn’t survival. This is a trap.”

Damien’s smile was razor-thin. “Maybe. But it’s the only thing that kept you breathing. You wanted to know who I was, it kept you going.”

“Malachi is dead, I’m barely breathing.”

Damien cringed. “I am truly sorry for your loss. The lindworm struck her near the end. She fought hard.”

I had so many things I wanted to say, so many harsh words to throw at him. But none of them seemed to matter anymore.

“We can’t go back to how we were, Damien. Not ever. I can never trust you again.”

His hand grazed my cheek, and I instinctively leaned back. “I missed you, Sev. I meant what I said that night.”

Boots stomped down the narrow corridor, and Ellison stepped toward us, his eyes flicking between Damien’s proximity and my obvious discomfort. “Is he bothering you?” he asked.

“Leave, Ellison,” I said, barely a breath between the words.

“No. I was ordered to stay beside you. To protect you.”

Damien leaned away, swiping his hand back. “She doesn’t need protection. Stay in your fucking lane, guard.”

I stepped out of Damien’s shadow, my heart pounding in my chest. Without a second thought, I ran toward the stairs.

Ellison chased after me, grabbing my elbow.

“Am I not worthy of an answer? You lie about being a Serpent in Malvoria and drag me to your titling service over a courtship, all while secretly dating your leader. Give me something. ”

“Courtship?” Damien chuckled. “You’re actually courting him?” His eyes flicked once over Ellison. “I figured Archer knew titles were important. Marrying a guard is foolish.”

And I had forgotten how difficult it was to shield from Damien’s presence. “Well, your father stripped the sun from my land. I had no choice.”

Damien’s expression froze for a moment, but he quickly masked it. “I see. Well, I’m sure we can barter something at the estate.”

“Barters only occur at the Bid.”

“And when a Serpent is crowned. I won, meaning all who bid on me will win their prize. You could be happy for me, you know. I was happy for you.”

“A few diamonds and gold are hardly worth it.”

He smiled. “More than a few diamonds were bid on me to claim.”

A second set of boots sounded on the wooden stairs.

Lasar. “There you are,” he said to me and then gestured to Damien.

“I see congratulations are in order. Two generations now. They say it takes someone of great failure or power to claim or lose once the first survives. I suspect the Lynch family will go down in history.”

“And what about my family?” I asked, my voice biting. “Am I the failure because my land became barren after a century?”

Lasar’s face remained stoic. “No. Stealing a title that was never meant for you takes even greater power. The Night realm is powerful. It called to you for a reason.”

Damien flashed a grin at me. “How is my brother, anyway?”

“You know damn well he’s been charged with treason.”

Ellison cut in. “You’re burning the boat, Severyn.”

I glanced down. Sure enough, my boot had left a scorched imprint on the deck. I nearly shoved Damien aside. “Leave me alone. As far as I’m concerned, you’re still dead. ”

The boat lurched as we docked. I didn’t wait. I tore up the stairs and climbed the ladder, desperate to get off this godsdamned vessel.

The Serpent Estate loomed ahead, cradled by mountain-carved trees and stone serpents coiled in shadow and moss. An aide took my jacket, replaced it with a glass of iced evergreen beer—the North Colindale classic. Within moments, nearly three dozen Serpents closed in around me.

A sharp thud cracked through the hum of voices. The king’s cane struck the onyx floor.

“Nothing quite like a victorious trial,” the king said. “Three titlings in one week. A first in Serpent Academy history.”

Not a word about Malachi. He lifted his goblet like it was something to celebrate. “Today marks a rare day in Verdonia. Two heirs have been named.”

“To commemorate the Bid, those Serpents who bet on Damien Lynch may collect their earnings after the ceremony.” His gaze shifted to a row of expressionless nobles. “As for Bridger Thorne, I grant him hope—to survive his fallen country.”

There was Bridger. Silver-haired, blue-eyed, and deathly still. He wasn’t smiling. He was glaring at someone.

A voice sliced through the hall like ice. “Your Majesty. One bid has fallen through that requires discussion.”

The voice was unmistakably my father’s.

Bridger wasn’t just looking at him. He was judging him. And my father… gods, he looked worse than I remembered. His beard had gone grayer, his eyes sunken.

Lasar leaned in beside me. “Victor Lynch has an heir,” he murmured. “You know what that means.”

And I did. All at once.

“Don’t you dare,” I whispered.

The king’s brow furrowed. “What bid are you referring to? ”

“My barter with Victor Lynch has been reclaimed,” my father said calmly. “The marriage between our children is to proceed, now that his son has claimed heirship.”

The king’s grip tightened around his serpent cane. “Ah, but Archer Lynch is imprisoned. He claimed her during the Bid, and Victor forfeited his sunlight.”

Father didn’t blink. “Archer had no authority to break a bargain sealed nearly a decade ago. We were only waiting for his heir.” Then his gaze slid to Damien. “The bargain holds. My daughter will marry his son. My realm depends on it.”

I couldn’t breathe. He’d offered my life, for a debt.

The king’s voice lowered. “Forcing your daughter to marry would—”

“She didn’t claim my title,” Father snapped. “She is not my heir. But I must protect my land.”

Victor Lynch stepped forward, one hand clamped over Damien’s shoulder. “A barter is a barter. Severyn Blanche will marry my son. And in return, I will grant eternal sunlight, as promised.”

“Then grant it now,” Father said. “My realm cannot wait.”

My voice rose before I could stop it. “Do I not have a choice? Do I not have a right to love?” It was the first time I had ever raised my voice at my father. I didn’t care.

“This was decided long ago,” he said. “Our family needs the Lynches to survive.”

I didn’t wait to hear the rest. I bolted through the estate doors, burning tears stinging my eyes. I didn’t think, I just opened a portal and went through it without direction or care. Anywhere was better than here.

I hit the dark mulch hard and screamed. “What the hell just happened?”

Another flare of ash ripped through the air. Ellison dropped beside me, landing on his knees. “Shit, that hurt!” he cussed .

“Ellison,” I gasped, throwing flame at his feet. “Don’t come any closer.”

He raised his hands, breathing hard. “Run. I followed your ash... but Damien followed mine.”

“Damien,” I hissed. “Get him away from me. Now.”

The wind thickened, turning sharp with grit. Sand and glass swirled in the air, catching the firelight in a storm of shimmer and dust. From the heart of it, Damien stepped through. “Severyn Blanche,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Don’t yell at me.”

I turned to face him, every nerve on edge. “My father just handed me over like I was a bargaining chip, I am allowed to yell.”

Damien took a step closer. “I didn’t ask for this either. I know it’s messed up, but I didn’t force his hand. I didn’t make him say those words.”

“How do I know you didn’t contort his mind?”

“You don’t,” he said flatly. “But why would I want to marry someone in love with my brother?”

My chest cracked open. “You tested my quell,” I said, voice breaking. “You killed Everett. You gave me that pendant to spy on me, to listen to my thoughts. I mourned you.”

Ellison stepped between us. “Why are you even here? She doesn’t want you.”

Damien’s gaze sharpened. “We don’t need to like each other. But the marriage is happening. That’s what it means to be a Serpent.”

“It doesn’t have to be our life.”

“Did you read the note I left you that night?” His voice dropped. “If you had, this wouldn’t be a surprise.”

“What note?” My words caught in my throat.

“That first trial?” he said, quiet now. “It told me I’d be betrayed by my own blood. That I’d still succeed. Archer betrayed me the moment he chose you. ”

“I’m not your property,” I said, shaking. “And I didn’t read the damn note.” In truth, I wasn’t strong enough to read it.

He held my gaze. “Of course you didn’t.”

I turned toward the courtyard, shoving open the estate doors. “I’m done for the night. The both of you can leave.”

Damien’s voice echoed behind me. “Two men pounding at your castle doors. Isn’t this your fairytale, Sev?”

I slammed the door in his face, then crumbled.

Amria stood near the hearth, arms full of cloth. “You don’t look well.”

“I’m not,” I said. “I’m being forced to marry Archer’s brother.”

And from her silence and shuddered gasp, I figured she knew about that barter. Everyone seemed to know.

She glanced out the stained-glass window. “The beasts will eat them by twilight. If you want.”

I sank deeper into the stone archway of Archer’s estate.

“Talk to me,” Damien said in my mind.

“Leave.”

“Give me five minutes. Then decide.”

I slid down the iron door, my back pressed to it. I knew he wouldn’t let this go. He never did.

When I finally opened it, his fist hovered mid-knock. “I don’t care to hear your explanation,” I said flatly.

His hazel eyes narrowed, then widened. “Do you think I want this?”

“I thought you were dead.” My voice cracked. “You spoke to me through the bond for weeks. And now Malachi’s gone and no one even cares.”

He crouched beside me, one hand hesitating near my back. “She fought hard.”

“How?” I asked, voice barely a breath.

“She tried to win. She didn’t give up, not once. ”

I wanted to scream. But there was only silence pressing on my lungs.

He said in quiet voice, “I know what I did was wrong—”

“What you did was cruel,” I said, turning away from him.

“This is happening, Sev. It’s a Serpent barter. We’re heirs, not just people. Our lives were traded between our fathers long ago. All we have to do is pretend.”

“I will not pretend to love you.”

“Most Serpents don’t love the ones they wed. You wanted this once. You wanted me. Your father gets his sun, and an alliance is forged between three realms.”

“You said I had a choice if I let you explain.” I looked at him, tears glassing my vision. “Well, I choose. I never want to see you again.”

He lingered. Of course he did. Like a shadow in fog, he stayed even after I turned away. “What can I do,” he asked, quiet now, “to make you forgive me?”

I shook my head. “I wish it were you instead of her.”

He nodded once. “I understand.”

“If only you did.”

Damien could read my mind, but he would never understand me. And he hated that. I wasn’t a book he could read, not a story waiting for him to finish. I would never let him write my ending.

I let my thoughts slip, just enough for him to understand one truth. “I hate you,” I said, voice raw. “With every fiber of my being, Damien Lynch. I wish you were dead.”