“Lenoray, gather my guards. I’m going to see my brother.” The woman, who could only possibly be the crowned princess, Evieza, gave the order to her servant and returned her attention back to me.
How cruel could this world be that I found myself in the grasp of the sister to the High King? The man that had used and broken me?
My throat squeezed shut, or maybe that was my imagination as I wasn’t sure that was possible as a snake.
“It must be terrifying for you, so small and in such a large place.” Evieza’s voice softened as she spoke to me, and I only wish I could respond.
I tilted my head, which was the best I could do when the entire structure around us shook.
Even Evieza grew scared at the action and the crippling wail that resounded through our very bones as an echo of the attack.
Xexon.
“Why has the Protector turned against us?” Evieza murmured it more for herself, but I couldn’t stay here any longer.
I spun into a circle, using the smooth scales of my body to allow me to slide across her hand and dive toward the ground. I didn’t know if it would hurt me at all, but all I could think about was getting back to Xexon. My mate. A heated need pulsed through my small body, followed by an ache within my chest that told me I wasn’t whole without him.
“Wait, Movie!” Evieza reached out to grab me once more and she gripped my tail, yanking me back up.
“No! Xexon!”the screech that escaped my small form was a shrill plea as I wriggled against her hold.
“Monvie, are you on good terms with the Protector?” The princess continued to grab a hold of me and the thought of biting her hand and escaping popped into my mind.
No, I couldn’t do that to her. She had only been kind to me. Unlike the others within Brasil. My mind raced and all I knew was that I had to escape. I needed to see Xexon. To know that it was all going to be alright.
But what if he didn’t want me anymore? I was broken, and damaged. I was used up and worse yet, I was a Monvie. One of the vile snake shifters of Issex’s history. One of the first shifters that used their dark magic to enslave the humans and creatures of the mainland of Issex, until they were cursed and forced into captivity. Though none know what happened after that, somehow I had become one of them. How was that possible?
It didn’t matter. I needed to get to Xexon. I’d worry about the rest later.
I titled my head in the affirmative for Evieza as I realized she was still waiting patiently for my response.
“Are you why he is attacking us?” There was no judgment or anger in her voice or her appearance. It was a simple question as she tried to understand.
I gave her the same answer. I was able to scream earlier, but I hadn’t gotten used to this form, so I wasn’t sure how to form the words again.
“Well, let’s go meet my brother. I am sure the Protector will be looking for him first.” A twisted smile curled her lips, and although it wasn’t directed at me, I still felt the painful shiver of fear at her expression.
Chapter 5
Xexon
Dante! Dante!
My mate! I need my mate!
Give him back!
In my true form, the words were a silent scream within my own mind, yet I projected them out in a ripple of an echo similar to how the dolphins taught me to do. Each thought slammed into the castle, rattling the structure.
I didn’t want to hurt anyone or destroy Brasil itself, but if the High King thought that he could take my mate and get away with it, he was sorely mistaken.
I used my large, pointed snapper to tear through the metal netting that surrounded the top of the castle, keeping some of the smaller vagrants out. It was no match for my strength and was snipped away like string. With a push, I used my tentacles to propel my large form through the hole and grow nearer to the head of Brasil.
The five kingdoms all congregated here. Even though the other four leaders ruled their respective areas, all bowed to theHigh King. He would have been the one to order the attack on my cavern. He would know it’d be an act of war. I would come for my mate, he knew that. The High King detested me, for years he’d been trying to find a way to get rid of me. The creature of the depths with the strength to destroy all of Brasil in a day.
How ridiculous he acted. He should have known I wouldn’t hesitate.
A horde of finned guards poured from the kingdom’s smaller entrances near the bottom, their spears and cutlasses in hand. Some were formed from the proverbial shark, their row of teeth snapping out as though that should terrify me. A couple of the others had crackling tentacles, similar to that of a jellyfish, though they were thicker and some had little puckers similar to my own.