Page 100 of The Serpent's Bride
I glanced toward the hallway behind her. No guards nearby. No staff interfering. Ventura really was losing control of his own house. Useful.
I leaned closer slightly. “Sienna.”
Her eyes widened at my serious tone. “I’m going to tell you something important.”
“Okay,SignoreSerpent,” she said.
“There’s a new maid working here now. Her name is Rosa.” Sienna nodded slowly.
“If you ever need me,” I continued quietly, “you tell Rosa you want to send a message to the zoo.”
“The zoo?” she whispered excitedly.
“Yes.”
“What kind of message?” She blinked quickly.
“Any kind.” My gaze sharpened slightly. “If your Papa scares you. If Aurora needs help. If Matteo gets hurt.” I brushed one finger beneath her chin gently. “Or if you want your big sister.”
Sienna stared at me with frightening intelligence for a six-year-old.
“You put a spy in our house,” she whispered.
Sergio made another strangled sound behind me. I smiled faintly. “Yes.”
“That’s pretty cool, Mister Snake,” Sienna said, sounding impressed.
I probably should have been concerned how much this child enjoyed criminal behavior. Instead, amusement tugged unexpectedly at my mouth. Then Sienna’s expression shifted. More hesitant this time. “Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
Her voice dropped into a whisper. “Are you really The Serpent?”
The hallway seemed to quiet around us. I held her gaze for a moment before nodding once. “Yes. You knew that already.”
Sienna looked down. At my hand. At the tattoos disappearing beneath my sleeves. Then back up at me.
“I’m scared of snakes,” she admitted softly. Something about the confession made my chest tighten unexpectedly.
I leaned closer to her. “Do you know why people fear snakes?”
She shook her head. “Because snakes only bite when they think something dangerous is near them.”
Sienna listened carefully.
“Most snakes want to hide,” I continued quietly. “They don’t attack unless someone corners them first.”
Her brows furrowed slightly. “So they’re not evil?”
“No.” I brushed her braid lightly between my fingers. “Just misunderstood.”
Sienna thought about that for several long seconds. Then she asked very seriously, “Would your snake bite me?”
“Definitely not,” I said.
“Promise?”
“I promise,” I nodded.
