Chapter Nineteen

Summary

• Bryce and Hunt have an interaction with the Viper Queen, a serpentine shifter who likely knew Hunt before the Fall and knows him as General Hunt Athalar.
• The queen is accompanied by Fae assassins who are experts in venoms and poisons.
• The Viper Queen expresses knowledge of Bryce and Hunt's recent outings together and teases Hunt about his "bedroom prowess."
• Bryce speaks of a salt vendor in the market and the importance of obsidian salt, which the Viper Queen warns will bring out the very worst of "Hel."
• They ask for information regarding the murders of Danika Fendyr and Maximus Tertian. The Viper Queen seems uninvolved but hands them a flash drive with her alibis for the nights in question.
• She also suggests Bryce and Hunt "look toward where it hurts the most" for answers.
• As they leave, Bryce reveals that she bought the expensive obsidian salt using her boss’s account as she couldn’t personally afford it. She deflects Hunt's question about her intentions with it, saying she'll use it to "season her burgers."
• Bryce and Hunt agree that despite her cryptic advice, the Viper Queen is likely not involved in the murders they're investigating. They leave with a new direction for their investigation.