Zayn lifted his hand, causing Dace to flinch.
For a second, everyone thought Zayn was about to hit him.
But he didn’t. His hand moved past the King’s shoulder—fast. Then came the sound. A low hiss.
Everyone turned just in time to see Zayn grab something long and wriggling—a snake.
A black, poisonous one. It coiled around his arm, fangs ready to strike.
Zayn didn’t even blink. He looked down at the snake with a calm, cold stare. Then slowly, he started to squeeze.
His fingers tightened. The snake twisted and thrashed, wrapping tighter around his arm until it breathed its last.
Zayn let the limp body fall into the waterwith a dull thud.
No one said a word.
Then Zayn spoke, his voice calm and even. “My apologies for startling you, your Majesty. You were seconds away from being bitten.”
Dace couldn’t even meet his gaze. He was flustered.. “I… I didn’t hear it.”
“I did,” Zayn replied.
