“Mother,” I whisper as Tatiana runs to her without thinking. She gets halfway before she too is wrapped in greenery and held in place.
Unable to move or even attempt to.
“Mother!” she screams. “Mother,” she says again, this time her tone is one of disbelief.
Our mother looks at us and smiles—it warms my heart to see that once again.
Tatiana starts crying, and Patrick keeps on growling because he can’t move.
When I look back up, Viper is standing there watching me.
“Everyone you would run to is alive,” he says.
I don’t understand his words.
“You have a very strong will.” When he says this, he takes two steps and is in front of me. He reaches up, places a hand on my shoulder, and my head starts to spin as the forest appears to do the same thing. We, how do I even say it? Time travel? Because once we stop spinning, we are no longer in the forest, and my sister and Patrick are no longer with us. It’s just Viper and me. He steps back, and when he does, he removes his coat, placing it over a seat made of nothing but wood before sitting down.
“I can see the interest,” he says. “I can even feel it. You radiate an energy that matches even the most powerful.” I say nothing. “And clever. That one would be thanks to your sister, I presume. The alpha’s mate,” he says, and my eyes go wide. “Would you like to know how they die?” He leans in to gauge my reaction. I can’t give it to him. I came here to get something. I need to save my other sister. “Hmm… interesting.” He claps his hands and out comes Cinitta. As soon as she steps out, her nose crinkles before she turns to Viper and looks down. “Yes, sir.”
“Tell me… what should her fate be? Should she be executed like all others I bring in or should I allow her to live just long enough to…” He makes a snapping sound with his hands, making me twitch.
Cinitta seems to be uncomfortable, her hair not fiery, the violet locks flowing naturally down her back. She eyes me before she turns back to Viper. “That is up to you. She is at your mercy, sir.”
“That she is. That will be all, Cinitta.” She walks out the same door she entered. “Sit, let’s eat.” I don’t want to mention that I haven’t had a full meal in days or that I have no idea what the food that appears before me is. We live very simply in our house. We aren’t part of the wealthy, and because of that our food is only a staple diet. I have heard of feasts before, reading about them in my books, but to actually see and smell one, well, that’s a new experience, and as soon as I do, my stomach starts to make loud noises.
Turning, Viper has his hands in a prayer motion as he sits there watching me. But he isn’t praying, he’s simply holding them pressed together as he watches me.
“That queen is still being unreasonable, I see. Not much has changed.” I don’t understand what he’s talking about, so I don’t reply. “She has feasts like this daily, while you all eat rice. Does that make you mad?”
“She is the queen,” I respond curtly, which should be enough of an answer.
“Not the rightful one, and she knows this. You, my dear girl, are going to shake up some empty graves, and I’m unsure if I want to watch that show play out or end it before it all begins.” My heart rate picks up at his words. He smirks, knowing that it makes me uneasy. “Do you fear me?”
I lick my lips, the food smell now making my stomach upset. “Should I?”
“What an unusual answer,” he comments, his white eyes roving over me like he’s trying to find something. “And yes, you should. If you require your sister and wolf friend to live, that is.” My hands clench underneath the table. “There it is… the heat in your green eyes. I’ve been wondering where it’s been hiding, if it even existed. Thought you may be nothing but a doormat, but you may prove me wrong.” He turns and lifts a miniature cake to his mouth, taking a bite, then nods at me. “Eat while I decide what it is I should do with you.” I do as he says, biting into the first thing I grab. It’s chocolate. My mouth waters. Oh my gosh, how I wish we had access to this at home. I’ve had chocolate one other time in my life, when I was around sixteen, and have never been able to get it again. It’s expensive and we could never afford it.
When I look up, I find Viper watching me with intent.