Page 129 of The Vampire's Mercy

“Medusa?”

She slithered onto the path, her scales pulsating with emerald light.

“What—”

Within the blink of an eye, she went from a snake to a fully grown woman.

“What the fuck?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

PARIS

Emerald scales covered half her body from her feet to nearly up her neck. The other half was made up of dark ochre skin.

She retained her unblinking amber eyes.

“What’s happening?” I squeaked, totally flustered by the surprise.

I think my jaw hit the floor about ten times.

Medusa smiled at me, running fingers through her sleek, brown hair.

“It’s nice to finally remember who I am,” she spoke in a clear, melodious voice.

“What’s happening?” I asked again, backing away, left foot splashing in the edge of the pond.

“Youhappened, Paris. You’ve been restoring my memories, too. Some of them, anyway. I’m connected to the king by years of friendship and love, which made me forget. I’m not quite sure why, though.”

I clenched my hands, eyes darting toward the door.

Should I make a run for it?

“Like being a snake shifter?” I asked.

“Yes. A snake shifter from a world of eternal night,” she said. “Though I have no idea what that world is called.” She pouted.

How fast was she as a…what was she? Like a werewolf had a beast form and a humanoid one?

“Are you here to finish me off properly?”

She scoffed, looking annoyed. “Give me some credit.”

“You don’t seem too shocked to see me breathing.”

More scales spread across her body, covering her private parts. “Something told me this wasn’t the end. So I came down here to check.”

Great. More weirdness. “A vision?”

“No. More like a hunch.” She breathed in deeply, letting out a contented sigh. “Isn’t it lovely down here? I come to hunt my food and relax.”

I glanced at the glass door, preparing to run. “What do you want?”

“Your trust.”

Hmmm. Whatever. I didn’t trust anything Silvanus related. “I?—”

“And to show you this.” She clapped three times, the air rippling before her. It grew, the ripples forming the faint shape of a doorway.