My cobra hood flares fully as I taste the air with a forked tongue. There—beneath the sickly sweet venom, I catch traces of Aubrey’s familiar perfume.
The combination ignites something dark and savage in my chest. Nalini has always been precise with her venom, able to exhale it into an invisible mist that leaves her victims helpless and unconscious within seconds.
And she’s used it on Aubrey.
A sound escapes me—something between a hiss and a roar that would have sent temple raiders running for cover in centuries past. My tail moves with deadly purpose as I surge back into the shop.
The vault door barely registers as I enter my security code, rage making every movement precise and controlled. Beyond shelves of cursed objects and dangerous relics, I find what I need: a small box of aged teak, its surface worn smooth by centuries of handling.
Inside lies the Wayfinder Stone—an artifact I’ve kept hidden since my days as a temple guardian, knowing its ability to locate an object’s true owner could be catastrophic in the wrong hands.
I press Aubrey’s bracelet against the stone’s weathered surface. It warms instantly, pulsing with a deep emerald light that points northeast. My heart constricts—northeast covers miles of city sprawl, abandoned warehouses, and gods know what else. Nalinicould have taken her anywhere in that direction, and every second I waste could be—
No. I can’t let my mind go there. But I know what Nalini is capable of. I’ve seen her venom work, seen how it can stop a heart if the dose is too strong. And Aubrey is so terribly, beautifully human. So fragile compared to what Nalini and I are.
I leave the shop in a hurry. The stone thrums against my chest where I’ve secured it, its directional pulse my only guide. I move through the streets at my full speed, my serpentine form allowing me to slip through shadows and narrow passages that would stop others. Any humans who glimpse me will see nothing but a dark blur. Let them wonder. Let them gossip about the monster racing through their city. None of it matters except finding her.
But with each street I cross, each minute that passes, the possibilities torment me. How long was Aubrey unconscious before I noticed? How long has Nalini had her? The venom’s effects on humans aren’t always predictable—some recover in hours, others never wake up at all.
And that’s assuming Nalini wants her alive.
I’ve let my fears of inadequacy create exactly the opening Nalini would exploit. She always did know how to use my doubts against me.
But she’s made one critical mistake.
She thinks she’s dealing with the same naga she knew long ago—the one bound by tradition and propriety. The one who let her walk away because ancient customs demanded it.
That naga died the moment I met Aubrey.
The Wayfinder Stone’s pulse grows stronger as I approach the industrial district, where abandoned factories loom like ancient temples against the afternoon sky. My tongue flicks out constantly, tasting the air for any trace of Nalini’s venom or Aubrey’s scent. The stone draws me toward a sprawling complex of weathered brick buildings, their windows either broken or boarded over.
This far from the city center, the silence feels deliberate. No birds. No distant traffic. Even the wind seems to die at the property line. Nalini always did have a gift for warding magic—for keeping prying eyes away from her domains.
A flash of memory hits me: Aubrey just yesterday, perched on my counter and swinging her legs as she teased me about being too serious. “You know that frowny thing you do with your face? It’s kind of hot, but maybe we could try smiling once a decade?” The way she laughed when my tail caught her waist, pulling her close…
I should have told her then. About the bracelet. About my fears. About everything.
I was a fool to take her for granted, if even for a moment.
The stone’s pulse leads me to a heavy metal door, its surface marked with rust and old graffiti. Beyond it, I sense the hollow vastness of an underground loading dock—the perfect lair for a naga who prefers to keep her secrets buried deep.
My fangs descend fully as I approach. If Nalini has harmed one hair on Aubrey’s head, there won’t be enough pieces left of her to fill a matchbox. The thought should disturb me—this level of violence, this consuming rage. But all I can think about is Aubrey’s smile, her warmth, how she makes everything in my centuries-old existence feel new again.
I place my hand on the door, feeling the subtle vibration of protection spells. Nalini expects me, then. Good. Let her sense my approach. Let her taste my fury in the air.
I am done being careful. Done being proper. Done letting ancient magic and older fears dictate what I can and cannot have.
Chapter 19
Truth and Venom
Aubrey
You know those momentswhen you wake up with a killer hangover and can’t remember how you got home? This is definitely not one of those times. For starters, I’m pretty sure my bedroom doesn’t have mood lighting courtesy of actual torches on brick walls. And unless my IKEA furniture recently got aserious upgrade, I’m definitely not sprawled across a massive golden divan that probably costs more than I make in a year.
Also? My head feels like it’s been stuffed with cotton candy and then run through a blender.
What in God’s name happened?
