Page 41 of When Roses Burn

“No, he doesn’t,” Lyra said.

I opened my mouth to protest before realizing she was right; the snake’s head had tipped precariously to the side and was losing the attachment to its neck. When the basilisk spun, its tail lashed out and nearly struck me, but I jumped back in time to avoid it as Lyra leaned against a tree and Pierce covered a yawn.

Still spitting and hissing, the basilisk vanished into the forest with Seth. I moved to go after them, but Pierce stopped me with a single word. “Don’t.”

“But—”

“He’s fine. If you go into the woods after him, he’ll just have to rescue you from something else.”

I bristled at his words. “I was doing fine at holding it off on my own.”

It might have eventually killed me, but I was keeping that monster at bay, something I was proud of, considering I had no formal training. Not to mention, I didn’t have superior strength, reflexes, and senses like a shifter.

I didn’t bother telling them that. Not only did they hate me, but they saw me as weaker and inferior, which was fine by me; I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

Turning away from them, my eyes widened when Seth stalked out of the woods. Blood dripped from his claws and spattered the orange fur on his chest and hunched shoulders. His pants remained intact, but the tears across his thighs had gotten a little bigger.

He gripped the basilisk’s fangs in his left hand, and his elongated jaw cracked as it shifted back toward normal. When his orange eyes latched onto me, he sneered.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Briar

“What the fuck were you thinking?”

Seth’s words came out in a guttural growl that was more animal than man. Despite the fact he’d slaughtered a giant snake and could easily kill me, I bristled at his words. He was attacking me over something I’d had no control over.

“What do you mean?” I demanded. “It’s not like I called the giant, man-eating snake to me to play with it. It hunted a goblin through the woods, and they both stumbled across me.”

I didn’t bother telling him the goblin was chasing the creature tucked securely in my pocket. He didn’t have to know about it as the tiny critter remained unmoving and warm as it nestled against my leg.

“Why were you in these woods?” he demanded.

“Because I had to go to the bathroom, and I’d prefer not to do it in front of everyone.”

“I told you not to go too far into the forest.”

Okay, he had me a little there, but I’d enjoyed the small bit of freedom I’d discovered, and the rose had intrigued me. If I’d returned to where we’d camped instead of examining the flower, I might have avoided almost being eaten by a giant snake, but how was I to know that?

“I didn’t go that far,” I said defensively.

“Do you even know where the camp is, or were you planning to run?”

I planted my hands on my hips. “Believe me, I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here, but I’m not an idiot. If I run, you’ll hunt me down, and that’s only if something doesn’t eat me first.

“So, if you plan to continue being an asshole, then fine; I’ve dealt with a lot worse than you over the years.” That wasn’t entirely true, as he was pretty bad, but my mother was a monster. “I’m not going to stand here and let you yell at me because I had to pee. If you were so concerned about it, maybe you should have gotten off your ass and gone with me. It’s not like you were sleeping.”

An eyebrow rose at the revelation he hadn’t fooled me into thinking he was asleep. When he stalked toward me, both Pierce and Lyra stiffened like they were about to intervene. It wasn’t because they were concerned about my safety; they were trying to keep him from killing me because they mistakenly believed I could break this mysterious curse.

Instead of doing anything, the shifters remained where they were as I glared at Seth. He hated me, fine, but I wasn’t going to be pushed around by him. I’d had enough of that throughout my life, and if I was going to die, I’d do it with dignity.

When he stopped before me, he handed the basilisk’s fangs out to Lyra. “Take these and leave us.”

Lyra took the fangs that would most likely be used for an antivenom and turned away, but Pierce remained. “We need her, Knox.”

“I’m not going to kill her,” he stated.

“I’m not afraid of you,” I told him.