Page 48 of Clash of Kingdoms
“I have no idea.” This was the only continent I’d ever traveled to. Everything else in the world was a mystery. “The vampires he met could be much more powerful than I am. But it’s best if he doesn’t know that.”
“Or you’re more powerful,” Ian said.
“Perhaps,” I said. “The Originals are quicker and stronger than our counterparts.”
Ian stared at me, fingers still on the glass. “You can talk to snakes?”
“Telepathically,” I answered.
“How?” he pressed.
I shook my head. “It has something to do with the venom. I’m as much human as I am serpent. That’s why my brothers have slitted pupils.”
“We should have asked Beast if there are others like her,” Huntley said. “Enormous snakes that live underground. Because that could be the army we need to destroy their crystals…and them.”
I nodded in agreement. “She said she had hatchlings.”
“That means she had a mate,” Ian said. “And maybe those hatchlings are smaller than her, but still enormous to us and the demons.”
“Maybe,” Huntley said in agreement. “I think a coordinated attack with Beast and others like her and the vampires would be our best chance to destroy that crystal. I don’t know anything about the Three Demons, but perhaps a vampire would be enough to challenge them.” He looked at me, putting me on the spot without words.
“I can ask my brothers to accompany me to the crystal and destroy it with our detonators. But if we have any hope of getting out of there, we’re going to need backup.” I wasn’t sure whether my father was coming. It would have been a tremendous help if he were already present, because I could take other Original vampires with me to get the job done.
“Detonators?” Ian asked in confusion.
“It’s an explosive,” I said. “My brothers make them.”
He continued to stare in confusion.
“I don’t understand it either,” Huntley said. “They’ll have to show us.”
“I think it’ll be the only thing strong enough to destroy that crystal,” I said. “Especially since we won’t have the time to chip away at it with pickaxes and hammers.”
“We need to do this as soon as possible,” Ian said. “Because you’re right, they’re probably preparing for war as we speak.”
“Then let me speak to my brothers,” I said. “And see if we can figure out a way to create them in your lands.”
“You’re back.” Kingsnake was shirtless when he opened his bedroom door, the fire burning in the hearth in the background.
“We need to speak.”
My brother looked at me with annoyance before he gave a sigh. “We didn’t talk enough earlier today?”
“I can give you five minutes to fuck your wife if that’s what you want,” I snapped. “I know that’s all the time you need.”
He gave me a cold stare before he shut the door in my face.
I cocked a smile before I stepped away, and a moment later, he emerged in his uniform without the armor. We moved to the main table, and Cobra joined us a moment later. It was late, and I still hadn’t returned to our bedchambers. I wasn’t sure if I’d be sleeping there tonight or crashing on a couch.
“What is it?” Cobra asked. “I’m a newlywed, you know…” He waggled his eyebrows.
Kingsnake helped himself to the bar against the wall, pouring three glasses of booze before he distributed them. “You aren’t the only one, brother.”
“Well, I need more than five minutes.” Cobra smirked, having clearly heard our previous altercation.
Kingsnake set down his glass with a distinct thud, like he wanted to shatter it into pieces before he stabbed us with the shards. “Should I get my wife out here to prove how inaccurate that is?”
“Oooh.” Cobra waggled his eyebrows again. “I’d love to watch that.”