Page 141 of Three Dark Kings and the Gilded Serpent

Spinning to the hallway, I charge the few steps it takes me to reach the black-clad figure sprinting toward us, his sword raised. The assailant is fast enough to leap clear of my punch, but I expected he might because the Tol-Dakri train all their lives for battle.

My second fiery punch cuts a hole through his ribs, pinning his body to the wall before he slides to the floor.

His final hissing breath sends an unwanted shudder down my spine.

“Long live the Eternal Heir…”

I crouch over the man. So far, I’ve burned through a glove and one leg of my pants and now I quell my fire as fiercely as I can to tear off the man’s sleeve.

Hadrian’s mark is burned into his arm.

To Ortansia, I ask, “How the fuck has Hadrian infiltrated your tribe?”

“You don’t know?” Ortansia prowls toward me, but she stops in the doorway, her upper lip curling. “Hadrian is working with Stanimir, the commander of the assassin who tried to kill us that night you took the dragon’s hide.”

I did know about Stanimir. I promised Antony I would hunt him down, a task I’ve failed to complete. In fairness, I’ve been fighting to keep my people safe since then and even if Stanimir traveled through this city, I didn’t suspect Hadrian’s influence might have spread this far south.

“It seems that before Stanimir fled my city, he spread his poison about the return of the one true Serulian King.” Ortansia backs into the darkness of the room behind her. “We’re all in danger from these fucking fanatics.”

“Does your main challenger follow Hadrian?”

Her nod is nearly imperceptible. “Challengers,” she says. “There are three of them. All three wear that mark.”

“Even more reason for you to win.” I snarl, rising to my feet. “If you survive tonight, how will the challenges proceed?”

She glares at me. “If I survive?”

“When you survive.”

“Well, then the real fun starts.” She folds her arms across her chest. “Three challengers mean three separate fights to the death. The first will happen in a week, then the other two a week apart each.”

“Four weeks total,” I say.

Her expression hardens, her form now in shadow. “That’s how long you’ll have to prepare.”

My eyes narrow. “For what?”

She exhales heavily. “You stole our sacred dragon’s hide, Maxim. No matter who wins this challenge, the truce between the Tol-Dakri and Ember Fae is over. Now, you must prepare for war.”

Chapter Fifty-One

Thyra

What did they see?

I jolt awake, trying to rouse my heavy limbs to match the speed my mind is suddenly working, even if my thoughts are a jumbled mess.

Antony and Stellen said something before I drifted to sleep, something they saw during⁠—

Memories of heated desire crash across me seconds before I register the strong arms pulling me closer and an aching need already growing between my legs.

“You’re awake.” Antony’s voice is muffled against the side of my neck. The slight scratch of his fangs might have alarmed me before yesterday, but not today.

“What did you see?” I ask urgently, turning in his arms before I realize that he and I are alone. “Where’s Stellen?”

“Standing watch. I took first shift. Nara doesn’t like me, but she and I managed to get along.” Antony’s voice muffles again as he plants kisses down my arm, then across my stomach, using my changed position to nudge the blanket aside and work his way up to my breasts.

The rush of air confirms how naked I am under this blanket. My armor hums innocently where it has taken the shape of a flowing gown at the base of the bed. Antony’s axe rests against the wall behind my armor.