The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1)(37)

“Hey, watch it.” Neel grinned, looking stupidly proud of himself. “It’s not my fault that I have an interspecies sort of charm.”

“Who told you that?” I scoffed. “Those selfie-sending cannibals?”

The rising sun reflected like crazy off the mirrored surface of the lake, so that we were bathed in this shimmering, golden light. The ancient trees rustled all around us. The air was crisp and cool. The beauty of the surroundings did nothing to diminish the irritation I was feeling. The Neelkamalas girl gang had almost snacked on my limbs back there!

I shivered, rubbing at my goose-bumpy arms.

“Sorry.” Neel pulled out a coat from his saddlebag and threw it around my shoulders. “I should have remembered you weren’t too warmly dressed.”

“Don’t think this makes up for almost getting me killed,” I snapped even as I cuddled into his warm coat. It smelled like him.

“Nah, I’d never think that.” Neel smiled in a way that made me feel all confused.

“I’m serious,” I said, my face heating up and voice rising. “I mean, how do I know you’re not a secret double agent or something? Really working for the demons? Maybe you wanted me to invite your mother into the kingdom! Maybe you wanted me to blame myself! Maybe you actually wanted your mother to …” I let my voice trail off. What was I saying?

“Eat Lal and Mati?” Neel asked. “Is that what you were going to say? That I wanted my mother to transform my brother and friend into this?” He indicated the gold and silver spheres resting on one side of his saddlebags.

I felt the shame rise like steam from within me, and wished I could stuff my stupid words back in my mouth. “No, I didn’t mean …”

“Yeah, I think you did.” Neel ran his hand harshly through his hair. “I have every reason to hate you, you know? Every reason. But I’m still here, helping you find your parents, helping you not get killed. And what do you do? Insult me at every opportunity!”

“Hate me?” My stomach went all wibbly-wobbly at his awful words, and I could feel myself almost shaking. “Hate me? What about all the reasons I have to hate you?”

“Right, because I’m a ‘secret double agent,’ as you put it,” Neel snapped. “You’re totally wacked, you know that? I don’t know why I even try with you!”

“You know, I don’t know either,” I shouted. “And maybe you shouldn’t anymore; what do you think about that?”





I pelted off, half expecting Neel to chase behind me. When he didn’t, I let out a sob but still couldn’t let myself cry. I wasn’t about to start doing dumb cliché things like crying over boys.

I bit back my tears, pushing branches and leaves aside as I ran into the beautiful wilderness, away from the shining lake. The moss was soft under my feet and the trees all thick with greenery. There was a gentle breeze, making it seem like the leaves were dancing all around me.

I was well out of sight of the lake’s shores when I heard something more than freaky. It came from my right: a rustling in the trees, a cracking of branches. Oh gods, it was probably one of rakkhoshi girls, braving the Kingdom of Serpents to come and get me! Why had I been so moronic and told them “better luck next time”? As Baba always said, only a fool poked a sleeping tiger. I don’t know what he would say about someone who poked a flying rakkhosh.

I reached for my new bow, only to realize that I’d left it and my quiver hooked on Snowy’s saddle. Stupid, Kiran, stupid, stupid, stupid! I looked around for a fallen branch I could use as a club, but there was nothing big enough. I’d have to take her with my hands. I took a big breath, raised my fists as I’d seen Lal do back in Parsippany, and clenched them hard. I channeled all the anger I’d felt toward Neel now into thinking about how I’d defeat a rakkhosh with my bare fists. I had to believe I could do it. Failure was not an option. Not only Ma and Baba, but now Lal and Mati were counting on me too. If I could just keep the element of surprise.

The rustling was louder now, and I heard some raspy breathing and coughing. The sounds were all coming from behind a large clump of bushes. Fists raised to protect my face, I rounded the foliage with careful steps and then jumped.

“Got you!” My mind whirling with self-preservation and not much else, I launched myself at the intruder, tackling the creature to the ground. Somehow, the target was smaller than I thought it would be. And squishier than I thought a rakkhosh should be. Then I realized there were a bunch of yellow feathers shooting into the air from my arms.

Wait a minute, this wasn’t a demon.

“Why in the world are you strangling Tuntuni?” It was Neel, having followed me through the woods. “I know he’s a pain, but I really think you’re overreacting.”

The bird was a disaster. Bleary-eyed, missing feathers, and with some leaves stuck in one wing.

“Oh no! I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” I disentangled my hands from around the bird’s neck and tried to smooth some of his ruffled feathers. “How did you get here?”

“What … do … you … call … a … bird … who’s … out … of … breath?” Tuntuni panted.

I petted and cooed at the obviously shell-shocked bird, but Neel asked, “What?”