Archer spat black blood into the muck and flashed crimson-stained teeth. ''Put it on my tab.''
The snake's coils shifted, water hissing against scales. 'Bold words for a fallen star.'
A growl rolled out of him. Every frog and insect within a hundred paces fell silent. Her tongue tasted the air. Golden eyes narrowed to slits. 'You're wearing a mask even now.'
''This face?'' He dragged a thumb across his jaw, smearing the blood. ''My wives like it. Keeps them from complaining about my other as it's too big.''
She laughed, a wet, rattling sound. 'I can taste the power caged inside you, star-born. Someone went to a lot of trouble to break you here.'
Archer's grin didn't falter, but his pulse betrayed him; the monster's nostrils flared. 'Past the swamp lies the jungle,' she said, almost kindly. 'Nothing that slithers comes back out unchanged. If you do.'
She leaned until they were close enough that he could feel her breath. 'I'll look forward to meeting what's left of you.'
