Page 28 of Clash of Kingdoms

“No,” he said quickly. “Definitely not caves. Their kingdom is located deep in the earth, in the grand chasms below the surface, the crystals glowing with light like a sunrise. Torches light the rest of the way. It’s something you have to see for yourself to understand. Their architecture rivals yours in every way. Think of a glorious kingdom, but instead of being underneath the sky, it’s underneath the ground you walk on.”

In my lands, vampires and the Ethereal were at the top of the hierarchy, and now that the Ethereal had been defeated, it was just us. It was hard to imagine a foe more formidable than our own kind.

Huntley was quiet, reflecting on everything we’d just learned about these beings. His arms were crossed, and he slouched in the chair. “I want you to take me to him.”

Rancor looked at me, like he’d misheard what Huntley said.

I nearly did a double take.

“To Vine?” Rancor asked.

“It looks like that’s where you were headed anyway,” Huntley said.

“Yes,” Rancor said. “But he’s expecting me.”

“Perfect.”

I didn’t want to undermine Huntley in front of his enemy, but I couldn’t quiet my protests. “I think that’s unwise. You haven’t fought these demons in the flesh?—”

“That’s exactly why I should go.” Huntley turned to me.

“If one of us goes, it should be me.” I was related to the Teeth. And I could read their intentions. Huntley was utterly blind.

“Are you the King of Kingdoms?” Huntley asked coldly. Without waiting for an answer, he added, “No. That’s why it needs to be me. Perhaps if we meet face-to-face, I can convince them to turn their destruction elsewhere.”

“Like I said…” Rancor hesitated. “They aren’t the type to be persuaded.”

“Even if that’s true, I could learn from their domain. I could learn their ways. I could figure out a weakness. It’s better than staying in the dark and allowing you to do all the negotiation.”

Rancor flicked his gaze to me, as if he expected me to say something else.

“You might get yourself killed, Huntley,” I said. “Think of your family.”

“I am thinking of my family,” he said coldly. “And I have to do everything I can to protect them…even if it costs my life.” He looked at Rancor again. “So you’re taking us both with you—and I will speak to Vine.”

FOUR

HARLOW

I sat at the table in the great room across from Fang. The game was new to me, so I was still learning the structure of the cards and the rules. Fang had clearly been playing a long time because he always seemed to know his next move long before he made it.

I looked at the options in my hand before I made my selection and put it down.

“Hiiiissssssssss.” He grabbed the cards with his tail and shuffled them into a pile so we could play again.

“How did you get so good at this?” I asked, even though I knew he wouldn’t answer.

“Hiiissssss.” He continued to mix up the cards, his eyes on me because he could do two things at once.

“You should play for money. Now, that would be fun.”

He nodded.

“I wish I could understand you like Aurelias does.”

Kingsnake appeared in the room, his armor black and red, a snake on his chest that was identical to Fang. “You don’t have to keep playing with him.”

“I don’t mind.”