“But you did,” says the serpent. “I tasted your blood in the soil. The tree was thirsty, but it is grateful all the same.”
“We seek the Ashen Library,” I say, my voice quaking from behind Nolan.
“Darling,” he whispers in warning, but the serpent has already maneuvered its head to get a better look at me.
“We? Only one is permitted into the Ashen Library at a time.”
“That would be me, then,” says Nolan.
The serpent flicks its tongue into the air. “It was not your blood that revived the reaping tree.” The creature maneuvers its way to the side, tasting the air again as it looks at me. “Ah, but it was the girl’s.”
“Well, I’m afraid you’re going to have to accept an exchange,” says Nolan.
Still tucked behind Nolan, I tremble, clutching his shoulder. The serpent is a thing of nightmares, threatening to pull me under and black out my vision.
“I’m afraid that is not how this works,” says the serpent. “And now that the tree has been fed, now that the library has awoken, it will be expecting a visitor. Most who come to this island do not find that they enjoy what happens when the library is disappointed.”
I watch a shudder cascade across the serpent’s spine, and one follows on mine, though I get the sense that the serpent’s is more out of anticipation than dread.
“Nolan, it’s okay,” I say, though the way my voice is quavering indicates anything but.
“Have you lost your mind?” hisses Charlie, darting her eyes toward me, her hand on her hip, covering the grip sticking out of her holster. “You can’t go underground with that thing.”
“I will not harm the girl,” says the serpent. “It is a rule of the library’s. So long as she herself follows the rules, of course. I cannot speak for what I might do to a rule-breaker.”
“What are the rules?” I ask.
The serpent’s red eyes flick back over to me. “Those will be divulged once we’re away from prying ears.”
Again, my whole body shivers. The idea of being taken underground with this creature…
Nolan’s hand is tensed at the hilt of his sword. Slowly, I maneuver mine and rest it over his. “I can do this,” I whisper.
“I’d be careful with that sword of yours,” says the serpent to Nolan, then, turning to Charlie, adds, “And whatever abomination you have on your belt. I am not easily wounded. As far as how difficult I am to kill—well, many have tried, but none have succeeded. If you think to save the girl’s life by attacking me, I assure you, I will be dining well tonight. If you wish for the girl to live, I suggest you allow her to come with me. As long as she follows the rules, I will return her safely.”
“And why should we believe you?” asks Maddox.
The serpent turns its head toward Maddox, until its snout is almost touching his forehead. To his credit, Maddox doesn’t flinch.
“I already told you,” hisses the serpent. “I am bound by the rules of the library. If I weren’t, my belly would already be comfortably full. It has been such a long time since I feasted.”
“Nolan,” I say.
“I know,” he says through gritted teeth. I watch him survey the serpent, scan it for weak spots. Even if he went for its neck, cut off its head, he’d have to be fast enough to keep the serpent from biting off Maddox’s head. And he’d have to make sure itwas a clean cut, and with the thickness of the serpent’s neck… I watch Nolan calculate the odds. In the way his jaw ticks, I watch him lose every time.
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “I’ll be okay.”
Nolan reaches behind him. Squeezes my hand so hard I’m sure it will bruise later. I don’t mind. I squeeze it back. “Be careful, Darling.”
I step out from behind him and glance once more at my Mate. “You know I’m the best one to do this anyway, being a rule-follower and all.”
Nolan grimaces.
That’s the last I see of him before the snake’s tail wraps itself around my body and we both plunge into the earth.
CHAPTER 11
Wind whirls around me, whipping my hair into my face as the serpent and I make our descent into the earth.
