[Eastern Zahryssar — Sah'qir Cliffs — Continuation]
The memory vanished violently, and present-day Zeramet stood frozen before the corpse he personally buried centuries ago. Except now that corpse was smiling at his consort.
For one brief moment the emperor's golden eyes widened not from fear but from the violent disbelief of seeing a nightmare rise from its grave.
Then immediately his gaze landed on Levin, and without hesitation Zeramet slid toward him, instantly fast enough to crack the cliffs beneath his tail.
"Consort—"
Everyone turned toward him, and meanwhile Slyvarakh slowly smirked, tilting his head lazily as his eyes gleamed beneath the stormlight and a dangerous smile curved his lips.
"Oh…there he is." His gaze softened wickedly. "My dearest brother."
Levin glanced briefly toward Slyvarakh afterward, then toward Zeramet. Meanwhile, Sarash remained trembling nearby, eyes lowered, body stiff and still unable to process that the serpent standing before him was alive.
