NERO POV
"How much further to the river?" I asked.
The venom was making everything worse. Every jolt sent pain through my shoulder. Down my arm. The black veins were spreading. I could see them creeping up my neck now. Felt them under my skin. Wrong. All wrong.
"Maybe thirty minutes. Why? Eager to face your greatest fear?" Abel responded
"I don't have fears."
"You're terrified of water."
"I'm not terrified. I just. Prefer not to be near it."
"Shut up, Abel."
He was still grinning. Annoying bastard.
We rode in silence for a few minutes. Then I heard it. The sound of running water.
My chest tightened.
"That's the river," Abel said. Helpfully.
"I know what a river sounds like."
"Your jaw just twitched."
"No it didn't."
"It did. Right there. Twitched again."
I forced my jaw to
