Page 85 of Venomous as a Snake

Drew clicks his tongue. “Don’t bother, Collin. He’s got worms.”

I snort. “Have you seen a doctor about that?”

“Wasting your time,” the honey badger sings. “They’ve infected his brain.”

“Like tapeworms?” I ask, wondering if he’s serious.

Walker scrunches his face as he leans forward to look at me. “That’s a thing?”

“Uhm, yeah.”

“Gross,” Collin mutters.

“It’s fascinating,” I respond.

“No one cares,” Clay bellows.

I shrug at him. “That could explain why you’re such an intolerable dick. Tapeworm larvae in your brain can cause cysts. Maybe there’s one pushing on–”

“I don’t have worms,” he snarls.

“No,” Walker drawls. “He has daddy issues. Poor little Clay, always ignored by Fangs. That’s why you want Kody, isn’t it? To make your dear daddy proud?”

“We all know how much Fangs adores Kody,” Drew adds, playing off his brother’s accusation. “The daughter he always wanted. But he got stuck with a swan. What an embarrassment that must have been for him.”

I can hear Clay grinding his teeth from across the room. The Lawless brothers pull no punches with their old childhood friend-turned-enemy.

“We were there for that,” Walker reminds him. “We watched the disappointment fill your dad’s eyes as you stretched out your flashy white wings and honked.”

Drew chuckles. “I remember that. It was hilarious.”

“Keep talking,” Clay warns, his voice cracking in his anger… Or maybe that’s his swan pushing to the surface.

Honestly, if he shifted right now, I’d probably laugh in his face.

I’m not sure these restraints are as effective as we’ve led them to believe. The zip ties dig into my skin, but if I shifted, I don’t think they’d stop my dragon. I’d rather not fight naked, so I’ll wait before I test our luck.

The option floats through my mind, though.

It refuses to leave.

Walker and Drew taunt Clay until he jumps up from the table, ready to pop. He stalks toward them with his fist balled up. A loud knock at his front door stops him.

Everyone freezes.

None of us heard anyone approach.

His minions look like scared children as they peek through the blinds covering his windows. The swan paces the length of his entertainment-style living room. I wait for him to chew on his nails as he panics.

“Now his feathers are properly ruffled,” Drew tells his brother.

Clay glares at the honey badger, though he speaks only to his minions.

“Bring her to me.”

“How do you know it’s her?” one minion challenges.

“Open the door!” he roars. “Get the fuck out there!”