Tempted By My Ex's Brother-in-Law (Aria and Grayson) novel Chapter 197

**Wore 197**

**Chapter 197**

**Aria’s POV**

I remained perfectly motionless, my breath caught in my throat.

Don’t move, Aria, I silently admonished myself. Just don’t move.

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A cold, unsettling sensation lingered on my thigh, hesitating for a fleeting moment before it began its ascent. It slithered upward, its slender form coiling around my waist with a disturbing familiarity. Then, it released a sharp hiss that echoed in the stillness of the night.

A snake, I realized, my heart racing at the horrifying thought.

An icy shiver cascaded down my spine as the implications settled in.

Oh my God. A snake was lurking beneath my bedsheet. And worse, it was wrapped around my body.

My hatred for reptiles surged within me, igniting a tremor that coursed through my limbs. The snake, sensing my fear, responded with an irate hiss that reverberated in the silence, lifting its head menacingly.

I glanced down, and there it was—confirmed. It was indeed a snake, far larger than I had anticipated. Its entire body occupied the space beneath my blanket, and its eyes glimmered like two ominous lanterns in the darkness, fixated on me with an icy, predatory gaze.

Our eyes locked, and it bared its fangs, which sparkled with a sickly green luminescence. A wave of dread washed over me; I knew without a doubt that it was venomous.

In an instant, it lunged at me.

Reacting on instinct, I rolled violently to the right. But that wretched creature was swifter and more agile than I had imagined. It twisted in midair, coming at me again with terrifying speed!

Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, a sharp, searing pain shot through my arm.

Shit. I was bitten.

But fear had to take a backseat; I needed to confront this creature first.

The snake writhed across the sheets, hissing menacingly, preparing for its next assault. I refused to give it the opportunity. With a surge of adrenaline, I yanked open my bedside drawer and retrieved a dagger.

I plunged it down at the snake with all my might.

The blade pierced through its tail, embedding deeply into the mattress, effectively pinning it to the bed. It let out an enraged hiss, thrashing wildly, but it was trapped.

I felt the strength drain from my body, and I dropped to the floor, gasping for air.

Simultaneously, a numbing, prickling sensation spread from the bite on my arm.

The skin where I had been bitten turned an ominous shade of black, the discoloration rapidly expanding. I didn’t dare contemplate what would happen if that darkness engulfed my entire body. It surely wouldn’t be anything good.

Summoning the last of my resolve, I pushed myself up and staggered toward my dresser. I fumbled through the drawers until I found two long ribbons that my maids often used to style my hair. With trembling hands, I tied them tightly above and below the bite mark.

This might slow the blood flow, buying me some time against the poison.

The commotion had finally attracted the attention of the maids outside. They rushed into the room, their faces pale as they caught sight of the snake on my bed, and a chorus of horrified screams erupted from their lips.

“Who entered my room while I was away?” I demanded, my voice steady despite the chaos.

They exchanged fearful glances, shaking their heads frantically. “No one, my lady… Just a couple of servants tidying up your bed and tending to the fireplace…”

I knew it was pointless to question them further. Anyone in this packhouse could be in league with my enemies.

I rolled down my sleeve to conceal the bite on my arm and approached the snake, which was still writhing angrily on the bed.

With a firm grip, I seized it by the head, yanking the dagger free, and made my way toward the door, the snake in tow. The maids recoiled in terror, their eyes wide.

“Where is Lady Tasmin’s room?” I inquired, my voice cutting through their panic.

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Their eyes darted nervously to the snake in my grasp. “U-Upstairs… right above you…”

“Lead the way!” I commanded.

“Y-Yes, my lady.”

A few maids hastened ahead to guide me. I strode after them, the snake dangling from my grip. We ascended the stairs and traversed a long corridor until the maids halted at a door, gesturing that this was Tasmin’s room.

I turned to the guards trailing behind me. “Knock this fucking door down.”

They hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances. “But… but my lady…”

“You know I’m your lady, so you will do as I command. KNOCK THE DOOR DOWN!” I snapped, my voice laced with authority.

The guards flinched, perhaps intimidated by my demeanor or the knowledge that I had earned the Alpha’s trust. They complied.

One soldier stepped forward, delivering a powerful kick to the door panel. The hinges groaned under the force, giving way with a deafening crash.

BANG!

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