Chapter 87

Ethan Blackwood thought Vivian Lockhart was playing games with him, so he dismissed her warning entirely.

A searing pain shot through his ankle without warning.

His gaze dropped to see a thick black snake with a crimson forked tongue, its beady eyes locked onto him. The serpent's girth matched two fingers pressed together.

"Damn it!"

Ethan's jaw clenched as numbness spread through his calf muscles. His legs threatened to buckle beneath him.

In one swift motion, he shoved Vivian behind his back. "I'll distract it. Run when you get the chance!"

"Did it bite you?"

Vivian's fists tightened. Her voice turned urgent. "That silver-ringed viper lives in damp caves. Its venom is lethal. Stop moving before it spreads!"

"Quiet if you want to live!"

Her loud warnings were making his temples throb.

All she was doing was provoking the creature.

Snake handling wasn't his expertise, but hesitation meant death. He had to act now.

Ethan angled his phone toward Vivian without turning. "On three, sprint like hell."

Vivian exhaled sharply. "Just wait. It'll leave soon."

Experience told her this species wasn't inherently aggressive. With poor eyesight, it only struck at movement. Staying still was their safest bet.

Once the snake deemed them harmless, it would slither away.

But Nathaniel Blackwood never took orders.

"One. Two. Three—GO!"

His phone's flashlight flickered wildly as he waved it at the snake, creating a diversion.

Vivian facepalmed. "Oh for god's sake—"

The viper struck like lightning, fangs bared in rapid succession.

"Move!"

She yanked Ethan sideways just as silver flashed through the air. A dart embedded itself in the snake's neck, slicing it clean in half.

Ethan's vision blurred. His head swam violently.

Vivian calmly collected both snake segments into a pouch for antivenom extraction. "You need a hospital. Now."

Ethan staggered toward her, pupils dilated. His towering frame caged her against the wall.

"Need... you." His voice dropped to a growl.

Vivian froze. "Nathaniel? What's wrong with you?"

The silver-ringed viper's venom wasn't just neurotoxic—it induced hallucinations and... other effects.

And emotional turmoil amplified the symptoms.

"That pretty boy Liam?" Ethan's thumb brushed her lower lip. "What does he have that I don't? Youth?"

Rationality had left the building.

He crushed his mouth against hers with possessive fury.