Page 115 of Their Pretty Little Monster

“No, it’s fine,” Wolfe states firmly, also on his feet. “We’re done here. Stay. Everyone else can leave.”

When he says everyone, he means everyone other than me and my three true mates. The others, including Clay, trudge out, their gazes lingering on me suspiciously. Clay gives me a strange look, one that I can’t quite decipher. Is it pity? Resentment? I shake off the feeling and step deeper into the room.

“Join us.” Wolfe gestures for me to sit near him. “We need to talk.”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “It’s about the vessel spotted near us, isn’t it? That’s why I’m here.”

“They’re from the kingdom, but they are now long gone,” Nyko explains.

Silence follows his words. Killian runs a hand through his hair, the other at my elbow, guiding me to the table.

Wolfe remains still, his gaze fixed on me. “Nyko told us everything about your ritual vision.”

Chapter

Thirty-One

WOLFE

The moment Sage entered the conference room, her presence instantly caught my full attention—dressed in tight pants that follow those beautiful legs and a black shirt with buttons pulling slightly across her bust. Her nipples are hard, pressed against the fabric, and the sight leaves me breathless. Add to that the gaps between the buttons revealing a tiny bit of skin has me hyper-focused on her chest and the reality that she wears nothing underneath the shirt. I’m mentally willing her shirt to rip open, to have her tits bouncing out.

It’s incredible how her entrance can completely change the mood of the room from a stoic, serious, tense situation to one where her scent floods the room, and I’m unable to think about anything but her.

At my command, the room clears except for the four of us.

Sage joins us at the table, sitting between Killian and Nyko, who immediately places his hand on her leg.

“I think that vessel is here because it belongs to my father. He knows I’m here. And that puts everyone in this vessel in danger.”

A blade twists harder in my heart, the same one that had lodged there when Nyko told us earlier about their vision of the burning vessel and Sage’s plan to deal with her father. The thought of her being in danger sharpens the ache.

“You’re right,” I state from across the table. “I had scouts swim underwater to the smaller vessel just before dawn. They confirmed it was the King’s guards. We’re still a day’s travel away from the kingdom since we paused our mission.”

“Howler in flames has been haunting me.” Nyko glances at Sage, and she leans into him, her presence seeming to ground him.

My fingers itch to reach out and touch her, to pull her into my arms. It’s been too long since she’s been at my side.

“Our time has run out.” There’s a determination in Sage’s eyes that wasn’t there before. “I want your support to go and tell him that I am his heir, and as my true mates, so are all of you. And if he wants to find out anything about my ability, he’s going to have to accept us into his kingdom.” She’s fidgeting nervously in her seat.

“I fucking hate that idea, but maybe you’re right.” Killian studies her, his lips poised downward. He takes her hand into his, unable to keep his distance, either.

“We go armed and with backup,” I explain, repeating what we’d discussed with the team earlier, but I don’t expand into the tactical details.

I pace the length of the room, knowing Sage’s plan puts her front and center to a danger we may not be able to completely protect her from. I’ll guard her to my dying breath, but the risks are fucking enormous. I step closer, my eyes locked on her, and she grimaces.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask.

She nods. “We’re offering my father what he wants, me, and I won’t reveal to him what he’s dying to know—what my abilities are. That should keep us safe initially. I’ll drag that information out for as long as possible to keep Howler and everyone else protected until we can determine if he’s open to negotiating with us.” She pauses, breathing heavily. “And who knows, maybe if I get him alone, I can use my ability against him?” She’s smiling nervously.

Killian clears his throat. “There’s no guarantee how the asshole’s going to react, and you’re not taking him out yourself. If he gets wind of what you’re doing, he’ll kill you.” His lips pinch tight, glancing at Sage, his expression softening.

“We push him to consider a treaty as we’ve returned you, and now you are his heir,” I add. “We just need him to let down his guard, and I’ll take out the fucker.”

“I want to fuck him over him so badly,” Nyko growls, then looks at Sage. “Sorry for saying that. I know he’s your father, but…”

“Don’t.” She squares her shoulders. “I have no allegiance to him. I don’t owe the man anything, even if he is my blood. He’s not family, as far as I’m concerned.”

“Priority is Sage’s safety, gaining a home for our people, and ensuring your vision never comes to fruition,” Killian says.

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