Page 60 of The Serpent Prince

CHAPTER 22

Imani stared off into the early morning skies, recalling Kiran’s loathing look at her as he rode out of the camp. She had no idea what had caused such animosity in him. He had left before the sun rose two weeks ago, leaving her with Zadie and Esa.

She spent most of the days hunched over a book, and after reading everything she had “borrowed,” she was still no closer to the wand.

Slamming the book in frustration, she tossed it aside on the seat.

Esa eyed her over her own book. “Didn’t find what you were looking for in those books you stole from the Drow?”

“Who says I’m looking for something? Maybe I didn’t like the ending.”

“I know for a fact you don’t read for pleasure.”

How Esa knew that, Imani had no idea.

She sighed in resignation. “No, I didn’t find what I was looking for.”

“Too bad we can’t visit the dwarves. Their library is the most impressive in Niflheim.”

“How could it be more impressive than the royal library?”

“The dwarves like to collect beautiful things, and that includes books. I guarantee you’d find what you were looking for there.”

“Why aren’t we visiting the dwarves on this trip? It seems like a miss.”

“It’s not that we aren’t; it’s that we can’t.” She pointed between herself and Imani then added, “The dwarves will only let in their own kind, and rarely a few other types of elves. We are not invited. They wouldn’t even let Kiran in, a half-elf, until he was mated. Mated pairs are more trustworthy, I suppose.”

“Kiran and Ayla are going to the dwarves?” Imani needed confirmation.

“Indeed.” Esa pushed back the curtain to gaze at the terrain, signaling the end of the conversation.

Fuming, Imani stared out the window, as well, trying—and failing—to think of a way to finagle herself into the dwarves’ city with Kiran and Ayla.

The rest of the trip was uneventful. They approached the coast where the sirens lived next to a forest.

It was beautiful, even if it was bizarre and dangerous. The world around her was simply that—gorgeous—the complete opposite of what she’d thought she’d find here in Niflheim. Amber leaves fell from the trees, drifting down in delicate paths like snow. It didn’t even seem like the leaves were collecting on the ground or that the number of leaves in the trees was decreasing. It was simply snowing leaves, because that was what it wanted to do.

She shivered. Stunning as her surroundings were, she was starting to feel what it really was—a dangerous entity, ready to devour her. Like the Draswood, it was filled with monsters that were ready to eat her and packed with trees that watched her. There was always a soul to a forest. She believed deeply in the power of the natural world after living in the Draswood.

It also felt like they were walking into something—something they weren’t prepared for as a simple emissary group. Would the sirens welcome them?

“We’re lost,” Esa muttered.

Imani whipped her head to the pixie. “You’re serious? In this forest?”

Someone hollered for the party to stop as Esa nodded. They slowed.

Both women clambered out of the carriage to see what they could learn.

A cool morning wind rushed over them, leaves swirling around their skirts, and Esa stared over at Imani, violence glinting in her eyes. “I don’t like this. I was against coming here, but of course, we obey what Kiran and the king want.” She paused. “If one of them even attempts to use compulsion on me, they will regret it.”

“I understand that perfectly,” Imani said with her jaw clenched, remembering the feeling of being out of control. “Cast first, ask questions later, right? We’re the same in that way.”

Esa arched an eyebrow. She didn’t look like she was willing to concede this point. “I’m not sure that we are, entirely. I think you still have some good in you.”

“So do you,” Imani hit back.

They lapsed into silence as they walked.