Wicked Path (The Daath Chronicles Book 2) by Eliza Tilton Read Free Book Online Page B

green face. She bowed her head. “My prince.”
    “I assume you have something important to tell me?”
    “I do.”
    Her golden eyes held many secrets, and I waited for her to share them. “I had a vision about the Kuuni.”
    “Why did you not report it?” All of Krischa’s visions were recorded by The Council, and with the Kuuni being our largest threat, she should have gone directly there.
    “Because the vision contained your human girl.”
    “The human is of no interest to anyone.”
    “But you.”
    Arguing with Krischa was difficult when she possessed the gift of foresight. While her visions were a version of future events, they were not complete. Although, few of her foresights had ever been wrong.
    “The Kuuni are planning an attack.”
    “When?”
    “The vision was unclear, but I saw when our people were fighting, you were with her.”
    “Impossible. I would never abandon my people.”
    “You will.”
    “You speak treason,” I growled, grabbing the front of her cloak.
    Krischa did not waver. “I speak
truth
. Your feelings for her will distract you during our greatest need. If I file this report, The Council will learn about her and you will be executed.”
    “What do you want?” I released my hold on her and she stepped back, hiding in the cowl of her cape.
    “When you become king, you will need a queen.”
    “And who better than you?”
    “Our people would never accept a human as our ruler. With our combined power we can lead our people into a new era.”
    She moved closer, but kept her head slightly bowed. What she spoke was true. I may be part human, but I was still a Reptilian prince, and Jeslyn could never be a Reptilian queen.
    “What do I get in return?”
    “My silence.”
    “I don’t need a proposal for that.” I snatched her neck and lifted her onto her toes.
    Her gaze never wavered, fearless and unafraid, even as my fingers tightened around her windpipe.
    “You won’t,” she whispered.
    I released her slender neck and pushed her away from me. “No, you are too valuable.” Even if I had stayed in Daath, when the time had come, and our presence known, Jeslyn would’ve been replaced. Krischa was a beautiful savage and a powerful ally. “Report the Kuuni’s intentions. The guard needs to prepare for an attack.”
    “And the rest?”
    “The rest keep silent.”
    “While I trust your verbal oaths, I want a soul oath.”
    I grunted. A soul oath would fuse our auras to our words, making the promise impossible to break.
    I held out my palms and she placed hers on top. “I, Lucino Baphum, Prince of the Reptilian Court, swear to marry, you, Krischa Lonias, when I become king.”
    Red mist covered our hands as our auras fused together, siphoning into one another. The bond burned, a reminder of the penalty of trying to break the oath—death.
    A smile formed on Krischa’s perfect red lips. She bowed, then turned to leave. Bargaining for queen was not like her; she preferred the quiet background of politics, which meant only one thing.
    She’d seen much more than she described.



e stopped the horses close to the base of Nod Mountains. I dismounted Brushfire and patted her muzzle.
    “I’m going to miss you, girl.”
    I leaned my cheek against her warm skin, saying goodbye, then smacked her rear, sending her back to Jericho’s along with the other two horses. Watching Brushfire disappear into the tree line tore at my heart. She’d been with me through everything.
    I prayed this wouldn’t be the last time I saw her.
    “Ready?” Cael asked, shifting the large pack onto his back.
    Raven grabbed my hand and gently squeezed. I didn’t want her to be here, yet I needed her. Even if I had left her in Daath, it didn’t mean she was safe; none of us were. Having her by my side strengthened me, and I’d do anything to protect her.
    We were about to travel into a place no one had ever survived. Cael assured us The Order had mapped a specific route through the mountain’s deadly