Chapter 3

When I woke, my chest was already wrapped in bandages. The smell of blood mingled with medicinal herbs.

The tent flap opened. Kael walked in carrying a bowl of medicine. He sat on the edge of my cot and reached for my forehead.

"The fever's broken. Silas says the wound should heal in a few more days."

His touch was gentle, as if he hadn't been the one to tear open my chest the night before.

I pulled away from his touch.

Kael sighed. "Lia, don't blame me. I did it for the tribe. Rowan is in a coma, the tribe has no leader, and Vivian and I..."

"So you two are together now?" I cut him off.

Kael froze. He was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Vivian and I aren't what you think! But you can't shift, Lia. I can't marry you anymore. You have to understand. I'm doing what's best for the tribe. As the judge, I have responsibilities too."

"Enough." I closed my eyes. "I don't want to hear it."

Just then, the tent flap flew open.

Vivian burst in, drenched in blood. Her clothes were torn, her hair was a mess, and fresh cuts covered her face.

She stumbled toward Kael, clutching the hem of his cloak, and screamed through her sobs.

"Kael! Save me! Aurelia... she sent people to kill me! She said I stole her seal, called me a traitor! Her people set fire to my tent tonight. I nearly burned alive! I'm so scared... Lia, I'm sorry... I'll never take your seal again. I'll give it back, please!"

She pulled the seal from inside her clothes and held it out to Kael in trembling hands.

Kael immediately steadied her, frowning deeply. "Calm down. Tell me what happened."

Vivian threw herself into his arms, sobbing so hard her shoulders shook. "We agreed, didn't we? We only took the seal because we wanted to help her. And now she hates me for it... Kael, I regret everything. I never should have agreed to help you run the tribe..."

Kael's expression grew darker by the second.

He turned to look at me. Whatever warmth had been in his eyes was gone, replaced by cold suspicion and disgust.

"Aurelia, is what Vivian said true?"

I sat propped against my pillow, watching this absurd performance unfold.

Vivian's face was half-buried in Kael's chest, but I could still see the small, triumphant smile she gave me.

"I didn't send anyone to kill her and I didn't spread any rumors."

"Liar!" Vivian jerked her head up, eyes red, and screamed at me. "If not you, then who? Lia, for ten years I've given you everything. What did I ever do to deserve this? How could you treat me like this?

"When you failed to shift, I shielded you! When people talked behind your back, I stood up for you! I did everything for you, and you repay me like this!"

She buried herself back in Kael's arms, whimpering softly. "Kael, she really is a lizard. Cold-blooded and vicious."

Kael held her tight and looked at me, his eyes cold.

"Aurelia, for old times' sake, I've tried to stop the rumors about you being a lizard from spreading. And this is how you repay us? By framing Vivian? After everything she's done for you, don't you feel even a little guilty?

"I told you, I didn't do any of it."

"Then explain her wounds!" Kael's voice rose sharply. "Are those injuries fake? Do you think I'm blind?"

I looked at him standing protectively in front of Vivian and almost laughed.

This man had torn the flesh from my chest last night, and today he had the nerve to question my conscience.

"Kael, I am a Silver Serpent. Believe it or don't. When Rowan wakes up, the truth will come out, and you will regret this."

Kael's pupils contracted, as if my words had struck a nerve.

Vivian immediately started sobbing in his arms again. "Kael... she's still lying... everyone knows Rowan is in a coma. He's never going to wake up... she's just stalling for time..."

Her tears did the trick. Kael's expression hardened once more.

He patted Vivian on the back and told the guards, "Take Vivian to have her wounds treated."

At the tent entrance, Vivian suddenly turned back and gave me a teary look. "Lia, I truly don't understand why you would do this to me. You were my closest friend. If my kindness means nothing to you, fine, but why try to take my life?"

She lifted the flap and left.

Kael stayed behind.

"Aurelia, I'm giving you one last chance. Apologize to Vivian. Admit publicly that you spread those rumors. Admit that you hurt someone out of jealousy. Do that, and I'll let it go.

"You should learn to be grateful. After everything Vivian has done for you, you can't even manage a simple apology?"

"I won't apologize." I spoke one word at a time. "I won't admit to something I didn't do. And Kael, your idea of gratitude is ripping open my chest and stealing my seal? I don't understand your logic at all."

Kael stared at me for a long time.

He finally turned and walked out.

As the tent flap fell, I heard him mutter, "Hopelessly stubborn. I should have known you'd never be grateful."

I closed my eyes as another wave of pain hit me.

But it wasn't the wound that hurt the most. What Kael had done hurt far more. Whatever love I'd had for him was finally gone.

The cure... the cure was still on its way.

Three days ago, I had sent someone I trusted to the Northern Wastes to find a rare herb called serpentgrass.

Once it arrived, Silas said there would be a thirty percent chance of Rowan waking.

Even at ten percent, I would have taken the chance.

I pressed my hand over the bandaged wound and whispered, "Dad... wait for me."