Page 140 of Their Pretty Little Monster

I take a deep breath and reach out with my newfound power, and my shadow rises from the ground.

The Nythrax lunges, and this time, I meet it head-on, both of them clashing head-to-head. I lash out, striking the beast with claw after claw, tearing into its hide. It’s reeling, bleeding, but I don’t back away, knowing if I don’t remove the creature, it’ll come after us.

The beast stumbles, legs wobbling. I can see bottle-green blood, the wounds I’ve inflicted finally taking its toll. With a final charge, the shadow slams into the animal, teeth to its throat, and rips it out.

I flinch. Did I just do that?

“Sage, you’re savage. I love it,” Nyko says behind me.

The creature crashes to the ground, letting out a deafening roar as it thrashes in its death throes.

I stand there, panting, my void form flickering with the remnants of the battle’s energy, then it’s gone, and I’m back to normal.

I stumble, breathless.

Nyko and Wolfe are there, catching me.

“My princess,” Nyko admits, smiling with his eyes. “You realize what this means? I’m not dying because you didn’t drain me. Neither is Wolfe or Killian. You’re taking the energy from the universe, from the world, like all of us do.”

I laugh, shocked, overwhelmed, scared. “I can’t believe I did that.” But ever since my sister helped me finally unlock my ability, it flowed so easily, like it has always been a part of me.

Wolfe kisses my face. “I knew you would be incredible in your true form. And we’re going to celebrate, but now we must face the real monster. Your father.”

Nyko darts into the cave and emerges moments later, carrying Killian, who’s still conscious but barely.

I rush to his side just as bells are tolling loudly from down in the city.

In a flash, my vision blurs in and out, the edges dark, and the world in front of me vanishes.

I’m on a balcony in the kingdom, where the bells ring louder. Screams echo in my ears as I clutch the railing, my body shaking.

Below in the streets, everyone is running around frantically, screaming and crying. The sky is deep purple and pink, almost bruised. Smoke rises from several burning buildings, dark plumes twisting into the air.

A deafening explosion rocks the air, and I stumble on the balcony. I whip around just in time to see my father’s elaborate castle engulfed in flames. Pieces of the structure crumble and fall.

“Fuck!” I scream. “What’s going on?”

My breath catches in my throat, and panic flares within me. I’m suffocating, the smoke and heat pressing down on me, even from this distance. Tears blur my vision as I watch the rising flames and the Shadowfen yelling on the streets, running like mad.

My heart feels like it’s being torn apart, the weight of everything crashing down on me. So, I’m swaying on my feet. My thoughts are a frantic jumble. The castle is gone. Everything is falling apart.

Suddenly, my vision darkens, and I’m no longer on the balcony. I’m standing in the middle of the street, the sounds of the bells now mixed with the cries of the injured and the sharp clash of weapons. The smell of blood and smoke permeates the air. My stomach churns, and I fight the urge to retch.

People run past me, their faces filled with fear and agony. A woman stumbles, clutching her bleeding side, crying for help. I rush to her to help, but she runs right through me.

My heart shatters.

Then I see them—armed Shadowfen surge forward from the castle in the distance, a wave of monstrous figures savagely cutting through the chaos. There have to be dozens of them, and the locals are rushing away, terrified. As they get closer, I recognize the leader.

Clay!

Our vessel’s captain.

My mouth drops open, shock ripping through me.

His blade glints in the dim light, and here I assumed him to be frail in his birdlike monster form.

What the fuck is he doing?

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