Page 81 of The Serpent Prince

Her shadows pulsed in the room, ready to turn to darkness and eliminate this threat, but Imani had to hold them back. It wouldn’t do to murder a random man while they were guests here, still working on completing their mission.

Oh, how she wished she had her illusion magic. Maybe she shouldn’t have used a spell to bind the guards Kiran had insisted she take with her everywhere. The brilliant bastard made some surprisingly good points when it came to her safety, despite some being a bit overkill.

She landed back on the ground with an oomph as he fought to pin her arms and legs. She headbutted him, pain blazing from her forehead. He didn’t rear back as she’d expected, but he did curse, the sound vicious.

She smiled.

With a sudden thud, the man slammed into her body, collapsing in a heap next to her.

Panting, Imani scrambled to get away from under him. With a grunt, she shoved his body off her completely and stared up at the other attacker.

It was Kiran who’d dealt the blow. He’d come out of nowhere, his aim precise, ramming the man’s temple just so. Not quite hard enough to kill him, but hard enough to knock him unconscious. He stared down at the male elf.

As a strange look came over his face, Imani stood up. She didn’t want more blood, or guts, or ashes on her dress if he decided he wasn’t done.

His fierceness in protecting her made Imani’s heart beat faster. Before, it might have scared her. Now, the violent madness looked good on him.

With a slow lift of his eyes, he scanned her body as if searching for injuries, and she knew he would let the man go.

Call that a favor. Call it mercy.

A few strands of long, curled hair had fallen out of her loose braid, and she had a few bruises down her back, but she was unhurt otherwise.

Imani took in the man at her feet. Flecks of blood had stained the hem of her dress from where it had dribbled from the elf’s nose.

Perhaps Imani should have been afraid of the look in the Serpent Prince’s eyes—possessive, unhinged, and wild. Indeed, the defensiveness and near bloodlust on her behalf was startling … but also a little intriguing. Was this part of the act? At this moment, Imani was a bit confused about him, if she were honest with herself.

Her mouth twisted into a small grin, but she managed to stifle it. Instead, she lifted her chin and gave him a haughty look. “I had it handled.”

All Kiran did was casually lift a shoulder and give her a cruel smile. “Of course you did.” He studied the man for another moment. “May I suggest you take care to use your shadows more when you’re traipsing around this place alone, my darling?”

Kiran and Zadie claimed the shadows would keep her safe, but Imani just didn’t trust using those spells still. The sheer power they wielded made her nervous to unleash her darkness. And they also gave away one of her many secrets, and right now, without her glamour, Imani didn’t want to be too exposed.

Kiran inclined his head and gave her an annoyed look. “What are you doing down here, by the way? We have an event in our honor in an hour.”

The only emotion Imani could detect in Kiran’s expression was irritation, but she knew better. He was searching for cracks and weaknesses in her response to garner the truth. Then he could exploit it. He was the better opponent between the two; Imani still didn’t know enough about him.

“Looking for a book to read. You?”

“Looking for you,” he growled, opening the door and motioning for her to enter. “Let’s move. You can search for reading material later.”

Yes, he was better at exploitation and manipulation games. Although it was taking longer than Imani would have liked, bit by bit, that was changing as she spent more time with him, and she wasn’t going to waste this moment.

Imani stepped inside and let him follow, knowing they were going to be late to their own damn party.

Gazing out from the palace balcony, Imani’s mouth gaped a little at the revelry inside the mountain’s main square underground.

Fires were lit in almost every corner of the city, the smell of roasting meat thick in the air replacing the earlier scent of musk and dirt. Men and women alike danced about in drunken glee. It seemed as though the whole of the city had been shut down for this celebration. There were no shops open except for the taverns and small stalls in the plazas. If people weren’t yet inebriated, they were well on their way.

She saw Kiran glance at her from her peripheral vision, and Imani wondered what her astonishment had looked like to him. She tried to steel her features.

He put his hand on her back. “They are about to announce us. Are you ready?” His voice was softer than usual.

Imani could only blink slowly and offer a forced smile, trying to hide her dread. Interacting with the nobility of Niflheim was like entering a lion’s den. She’d had much practice in Essenheim since Tanyl had kept her hidden, but she was constantly wearing a mask.

“I’m ready whenever you are.”

He nodded and guided her forward. For now, she’d follow his lead. It was a trust she didn’t bestow easily or lightly.