Serpent's Claim (Serpent's Touch 2)

He stroked my cheek, his rough skin scratching mine even through the veil.

“I do have some regrets, though,” he said somberly. “I keep thinking about some things that happened well before you were born, Amira.”

He addressed me, but it sounded like he was talking mostly to himself, not requiring an answer, so I said nothing, letting him speak.

“I regret some things I did when I was younger. I keep thinking about the people I’ve wronged.”

His was a long and turbulent life, and lately, he had plenty of time to analyze it all.

“They say it’s never too late to make amends,” I suggested softly.

“Oh, it is too late, child. Way, way too late for that. None of those people are here any longer. I’ve made sure of that,” he added with a bitter laugh.

“Well, maybe you’ll meet them in the afterlife, then?”

“And hope they don’t spit in my face when they see me?” he scoffed.

“Maybe they won’t. Maybe they’ll give you a chance to atone. Because what’s the point of an afterlife if not giving people a chance to right the wrongs they’ve committed during their lifetime?”

He didn’t reply, but his hardened features relaxed somewhat. Sliding his arm under the covers, he found my hand and took it in his.

“You give me comfort, little human, always have,” he said, his eyelids drooping as sleep was descending upon him. “I wish I knew you earlier, back when I could still be a proper husband to you.”

That could’ve never happened. Had we met earlier, he would’ve broken and ruined me the very first night, and I would’ve hated him for the rest of my days, had I survived.

But I didn’t tell him that. Right now, the king believed that at some point in his stormy, violent life he could’ve been a proper husband to someone like me, and I didn’t argue.

I simply held his hand as he drifted to sleep.