Page 78 of Three Dark Kings and the Gilded Serpent

Assuming Maxim has kept his word.

“My brother’s safe?” Rohan appears at the far side of the tunnel, hurrying toward us. He immediately heads for Cassia, taking a swift look over her, the tension around his brown eyes and his quick assessment indicating he’s checking for wounds. “Where’s Riven?”

A hard question to answer. Particularly while Victor’s at my side, since I swore to him I’d kill Maxim for what his father did.

The sudden hubbub of fae pouring from within the tunnels gives me a chance to consider my response carefully. In the adjoining passageways, groups of men and women head toward my warriors where they’ve landed, some of the converging fae appearing to be healers as they begin checking over the newcomers for injuries and calling for medicine.

I use the diversion to sidestep Rohan’s question for now, although I’m certain I won’t be able to evade answering for long.

“Cassia.” My awe is genuine as I incline my head at the number of fae filling the tunnels on either side of us. “You’ve been busy.”

“We’ve flown out into the kingdom every day since we heard that Hadrian had claimed the throne, looking for people we trust and bringing them here. Keeping an eye out for Hadrian’s followers and dispatching them where we can, too.” She tips her chin up, her green eyes determined. “I was never going to hide, Antony.”

I shake my head with a soft laugh. “I never should have expected that you would.”

She holds out her hand for me. “C’mon, brother. Let’s get you cleaned up and fed.”

Instantly, she grimaces.

“‘Fed,’ huh?” I shake my head, but there’s no sidestepping this truth.

Victor’s seen my fangs, but Cassia hasn’t. Best to get it over with before I step foot farther into this safe haven she’s created. The last thing I want is to disrupt what she’s building here.

I reach for my helmet to slowly pull it off. My black armor is so much a part of my body that I could forget I’m wearing it. Until the air rushes in.

I don’t hold back, baring my fangs, conscious that my eyes must also fill to full black.

“I’m glad you brought me here, Cassia,” I say to her. “And I want to be part of whatever path you choose, to the extent that I can, but I won’t be able to stay.”

Rohan has edged closer to Cassia’s side, a protective move. Victor has remained a shadow at my side, appearing as untroubled as he was the first time I revealed my fangs to him.

Cassia is wide-eyed and I read her fear through the thumping flow of blood through her veins.

I take care not to move an inch.

Her lips tremble. “It’s been a long time since I saw your face uncovered. You look older and…” She dares move toward me, but only after casting Rohan a reassuring nod. “Even more monstrous.”

Despite telling myself not to move, I hunch, letting my black hair fall across my face as I run my tongue across the tips of my fangs. “Fucking fangs.”

“Yeah, but…” My sister comes within a few paces of me, peering up at me. “They suit you.”

My forehead crinkles and I resist the urge to pull my helmet back on. The adjoining tunnels are clearing out now, and I keep my head down, edging toward the shadows nearer to Victor as my warriors are ushered away into the caves.

Only for a shriek to sound behind me as another eagle appears through the dust storm and lands behind me, its rider leaping from its back and racing to Cassia.

“Princess!” the rider drops to a knee, his chest heaving. “I have news.”

Hurriedly, I shove my helmet back on while Cassia says quickly to me, “This is one of our scouts,” before she closes the gap to the newcomer. “What is it?”

I recognize this man, but I don’t know his name. If my memory serves, he was stationed at one of the Iron Towers on the border with Ember.

“The Frost King is alive,” he says.

Of course he fucking is. But for once, I’m happy to hear it. Because if Stellen’s alive, then Thyra is more likely to be safe.

“Where is he?” Cassia asks.

But the rider clams up, stealing worried glances at Victor.