Page 75 of The Vampire's Mercy

Her eyes stayed open on account of snakes not having eyelids. Those amber peepers became glassy, but still felt like they were watching me.

She took up most of the bed, keeping me in the corner. I didn’t move, too tense to do anything but stay still.

I couldn’t be trapped against the wall. But as I went to move, she lifted her head and hissed at me. Not aggressively, the soundgentler than that. Like she was telling me to rest up and not worry.

No. Why would she say that?

She made the same sound again, even gentler still.

Brain steeped in soupy confusion, I rubbed at the back of my neck. “Is this your bed?”

No hissy response.

I tried something else. “Is this my bed?”

She hissed.

Okay. That could possibly mean yes. “But you want me to let you have it?”

No answer.

“Do you want to nap together?”

Hiss.

Right. I’d been hoping for no answer.

I asked the question again, getting the same tone of hiss.

It had to be a yes.

Now for the big decision. Go with this, or get out of here? Did I really want to nap beside a python? Especially a python like this. And did I even need a nap right now?

Medusa lowered her head again.

My instincts weren’t telling me to run. In fact, they were calm, pretty relaxed, considering. Which could’ve been a thrall thing. Still, I found myself lying back down beside the snake, making sure I didn’t bump her. Yawning, the energy of the bedroom’s flora wrapping me in a merry blanket.

This is the most stupid thing you’ve ever done,a tiny voice scolded.

But I relaxed, rapidly chilling out, as if this made sense to be here in this moment. This snake wasn’t a threat to me, and she didn’t see me as one. Those hisses weren’t angry, but friendly.

Says the snake expert!

I yawned again, resting my cheek on folded hands. Drifting away, comfy, appreciating the opportunity to rest. This room might be a hub of flora bolstering me, but my bones and mind were still weary.

Precious one…

Within minutes, I fell asleep.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

SILVANUS

“Paris?” I said, my brain throbbing from my arrival in this arid clearing in a forest. “What are we doing here?”

His mouth moved like he was speaking and he looked angry, but I didn’t hear him.

Cursed dreams.