Page 141 of Their Pretty Little Monster

More monsters follow him, their roars mingling with the screams of the fleeing locals, and I recognize some faces from the vessel… they’re attacking the kingdom. Does Wolfe know about this?

Why is no one stopping them while the castle burns behind them?

I flinch, stumbling back at their approach.

Eyes locked on to Clay, I spot what he’s holding—a head with white hair.

My father’s head.

The sight is like a punch to the gut, and I stagger, my vision swimming. He holds it high, a trophy, a symbol of their victory. My father’s eyes are wide, his mouth open in a final, silent scream. I hate him for what he’s done, for the pain he’s caused, but seeing him like this… it’s too much.

“What the fuck?”

The streets are chaotic, his men slaying anyone they pass, including people trying to escape them. I can see the dark purpose in Clay’s eyes. He’s not just here for revenge. He’s here to destroy everything. To take the kingdom by force. To kill them all.

I scream at him to stop, but my voice is lost. I try to move, to do something, anything, but my feet are rooted to the spot. I can only watch as the Shadowfen carve a path of destruction through the city.

Suddenly, the vision flashes again, and I’m back in the mountains, bursting into tears.

Chapter

Thirty-Eight

SAGE

My vision blurs from the tears streaming down my face.

Anger strangles me, but it’s more than that. It’s grief, it’s fear, and I can’t stop crying from the devastation I just saw in the city.

I’m instantly surrounded by all three of my true mates in the woods. They hold me, staring at me with confused looks.

“What’s going on? And why the fuck is the castle on fire?” Wolfe’s voice trembles, his hand gripping mine.

Their gazes search mine for answers, but I’m staring over the tops of the trees in the distance at the flames claiming the castle, remembering that devastation in the city.

Despite his injuries, Killian holds me tighter, more concerned with me than himself, while Nyko’s brow furrows, and he pushes strands of hair out of my face. The wind that’s picking up just pushes it back, and he keeps brushing it aside.

“It’s Clay,” I finally say. “He’s rampaged into the kingdom, taking over, killing the locals, and he was…” I pause to catch my breath, my body shaking. “He was carrying my father’s decapitated head around, parading it.”

Silence. It’s as though they’re all processing what I just said. Then Wolfe stiffens, snarling like a beast.

“I’m going to fucking murder Clay,” Wolfe shouts, his fists clenched. “Who the fuck does he think he is?”

I can’t concentrate on the three of them bursting into anger over Clay. Right now, I hate myself for crying over my father’s loss, but it’s not just about him—it’s about everything I never got to ask, everything I’ll never know about my past, my monster side.

Nyko fiercely pulls me into his embrace before the other two get a chance, hugging me. “Princess, I’m so fucking sorry. I know your father’s an asshole, but you didn’t deserve to see it the way you did.”

Killian’s embracing me, too, as is Wolfe, our breaths heavy and fast.

“Sage, I’m so sorry,” Killian murmurs, his voice thick with emotion.

I cling to them, shaking my head. “I’m worried about my sister,” I choke out. “And I can’t stop seeing his severed head.”

“You shouldn’t have experienced any of that,” Wolfe murmurs, his brow heavy with furrows, his shoulders bunching up in fury.

Nyko exchanges a quick, grim look with Wolfe. “I never trusted that bastard.”

Wolfe’s heaving for breath. “He kept going on about making those who stuck with the King pay for their betrayal, and now it appears the fucker is trying to start a rebellion, and we need to stop him.” His expression darkens.

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