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And that name… The first time it was spoken it had been a simple inquiry. Now it dripped with intent, deliberately meant to get a rise out of her.
Which it absolutely was. The shiver it originally sent across her skin dug into her flesh. “Whoever you were expecting to find isn’t here.”
“I already know who you are. Denying it will do you no good.”
“That sounds like a threat.”
“That was a fact. Not a threat.”
Lily clenched her jaw. “I’ll give you both.” She pointed the rifle at him. “If you don’t turn your ass around and leave, I’ll blow a hole through your skull.”
He tilted his shadowed head. “I’ll explain. I just need you to—”
“Now!”
A long, heavy silence hung between the trees before he spoke again. “Put it down.”
Something… invading rose within her, dousing the anger rising in her belly. It—against her better judgement—urged her to obey, and she quickly lowered the gun to the ground as if she’d accidentally pointed it at someone she cared about and would do anything to apologize.
He sighed. “I was hoping you’d be a little agreeable on your own.”
She lifted her gaze from the weapon, really searching for his face now. “Who are you?”
“Nothing more than a trespasser, like you said. Stand up.”
She did. “Who? Your name.”
A pause, but all he said after was, “Jarek.”
That didn’t trigger anything, but whatever was going on with her must’ve been because of him. He possessed a shard, but what kind? “What do you want?”
“Right now I want you to place your hands behind your back. Good. Now, don’t move.”
Luka whimpered, pressing tighter against Lily who was rigid under the instruction. The man ceased his advancing, and the veil of shadows lifted enough she found his soul—green, like moss on a dry tree.
“You’re scaring him,” she said in an unfortunately chipper voice.
“I know,” the man said.
How—Wait. This was a snake? That’s what he was doing? Feeding off of their fear?
A lot of good that did her. She didn’t have the willpower to just stop feeling.
Except… Lily examined the figure. He was making her cooperate with him. Almost like she was happy to, so much so it truly felt like it in her chest. Aura sensitive shards from the Serpent had the ability to see fear and manipulate the aura but never change the emotion. Only the god itself—
If her heart could jump, it would have. Was this the Serpent? How was that possible? She never sensed it approaching…
He was a few meters from them now. Think, Lils. What did Amalia tell you about it? It could turn fear into solidified shadows, shift into animals—
Gods, that fucking wolf! Was it him the whole time?
Another step.
Focus! And the last thing it could do was—
A pebble shifted behind her. Luka bristled, then screamed. “Lily!”
Whatever force that was subduing her emotions snapped. She gasped and whipped around.
