Page 92 of The Serpent Prince

The thick air pushed against Imani like sludge when she ducked into the tunnel, as if telling her she was uninvited. Inside, the roaring sound was deafening, but she still resisted covering her ears, following Kiran’s instructions explicitly. After all, the binding was compelling her to.

In fact, the pull to follow Kiran was fierce, like she was tied with a rope to him. Her soul seemed to seek him in this otherworldly space.

The slip was small, no bigger than a cubby hole you’d crawl through. Kiran had to crouch down slightly, his body too tall and broad for him to stand. Within three to four steps, they were across the pathway in the slip.

Magic buzzed and ran along her nerves, hitting her with painful zaps. She was sure it was leaving welts behind.

It wanted to be free and, like the rest of the magic in the world, was fighting for control over it.

Letting go of her hand, and with feline ease, Kiran leaped over the boundary of the slip.

Palms sweating, Imani lifted her skirts and steeled her gaze on him, wiping all fear from her face. Then she followed, jumping lightly over the edge. More zaps hit her skin and made tingles rush through her nerves, but she landed sure-footed in snow.

A cold wind whipped through her cloak, and she realized the need for the warm clothes—they were standing at the foot of a mountain, presumably a dwarves’ mountain, overlooking a quaint town wherein lights flickered in the approaching dawn.

Esa was there, already moving Imani forward, pushing her toward a lightly worn path through the edge of a tree line.

Pulling a timepiece from his pocket, Kiran studied it for a moment.

“Where are we going?” Imani shivered.

Kiran ignored her. “It’s close to dawn; he’ll be returning soon. Let’s head to the meeting spot.”

Bristling at being ignored, Imani buried herself deeper into her cloak and followed them down the path. After all, she had no choice.

The four walked about ten minutes until they came to a clearing in the woods. Imani felt a bit sick at the unknown dangers that awaited them. After all, she’d never done this before, but it seemed everyone else had. She rubbed her churning belly and willed it to be calm.

A small, crumbling temple lay at the center of the clearing, and while Esa, Zadie, and Kiran conversed about things she didn’t understand, Imani wandered over and ran her hands over the smooth marble. It appeared to be a temple dedicated to the Fabric, something not often seen.

Footsteps crunched in the snow behind her. She smelled him before she saw him—pine and something else that was simply just him. Kiran cleared his throat.

“We’re waiting for someone—something,” he explained, his voice flat. “When he arrives, I want you to keep your wits about you. You’re not one to lean into hysterics or your fears, but this … this will surprise you. Stay quiet, and do as I say. Understood?” Kiran was cold and detached again, his excitement at whatever they were embarking on subdued.

She clenched her fists. All she could do was nod. Her in hysterics? Please.

Still, confusing feelings lingered in her gut. Who—or what—was coming here?

They sat in silence for several moments. Imani tried not to think about whether her death was imminent. She held onto some hope that Kiran had been right that he simply needed her to accompany him, and then he’d let her leave, but what was Esa doing here? She had a sickening hunch where they might be going with the pixie accompanying them.

A whoosh of wind sounded above and forced everyone’s eyes to the sky. Shadows—not her own—blocked out the moon for a moment, and then more air whipped around them as the sound of flapping grew louder, closer.

Imani’s eyes pinged in every direction across the sky. “What was that?” she yelled, eyes shifting to find the source. Her heart hammered in her chest.

“A powerful creature,” Esa whispered so low Imani almost didn’t hear her.

Kiran’s eyes were wide as he stared up. One more boom sounded, and everyone began stepping farther away from the clearing in the tree, waiting for the creature.

What beast is this coming for us? Imani thought frantically, holding her wand tight in her hand.

Kiran, with his chin tipped to the sky, cupped his hands and said something she couldn’t hear.

Darkness covered the sky above them as a huge creature dropped low from overhead. Imani’s eyes widened, and she crouched down in fear. It beat its massive wings for a few seconds before narrowing them forward and landing with a thud onto the ground.

The creature must have been the size of a house. It had two huge wings and one long, reptilian neck that moved around at their group with intelligence. Its barbed tail thumped softly against the ground as it let out a shuddering breath.

Imani had never seen such an animal in her life. She slowly crept to Kiran’s side. “What …? What is this monster?”

The prince shot her a fierce glare, as if she’d said something offensive, before stepping carefully forward, his arm outstretched. Imani watched in amazement as the creature dipped his neck down and let Kiran run his hand over its scales. It shut its eyes in relaxation and purred.