Page 26 of Their Pretty Little Monster

I freeze.

Round, high-placed breasts.

A small mound of hair between those gorgeous thighs.

I lose my grip, suddenly falling. She glances in my direction again, and I’m kicking against a shelf, throwing myself higher up to where light won’t reach.

Pausing in the spot, it’s impossible to flush out the images of me stripping her, giving her my personal welcome to the vessel. Wolfe would go ballistic. He made it clear she’s not to be touched or played with because she’s our answer to gaining our kingdom back.

But would a bit of play hurt anyone?

She’s so much more than I expected, so much the perfect little package needing unwrapping. I assumed I’d just have some fun with her, scare her a bit, but now I’ve got something else in mind.

The girl’s stunning, incomparable to anyone on our vessel. Silver hair tumbles over her shoulders with a faint tint of violet… a sure sign she’s coming into her breeding term—a time when her body seeks her mate, where she’ll cry for him to fuck her. Most women never find their true mate, and the Shadowfen males are well versed in pleasing a female to sate her during these times.

The idea that this innocent human has no clue about the changes her body is undergoing amuses me. If she needs guidance, I’m here, lurking in the shadows, ready to emerge.

Suddenly, she’s plummeting down in the lift, her screams piercing the quiet. Why doesn’t she simply tap the lever more softly to control her descent?

As she stumbles out of the cage, disoriented and nearly collapsing, instinct propels me toward her. I swoop down, my form nothing but a swift blur.

Catching sight of me, her eyes widen with unmistakable fear, and she bolts from the room, her screams echoing down the corridor. I pursue her frantically.

When I catch up, she’s recoiling from a collision with Killian. His arm swoops around her back, pulling her closer and guiding her away. He throws a knowing glance back at me—damn him, he’s always aware of me.

Under my breath, a low growl rumbles, a sound of frustration. I back away, leaving them, knowing I’ll get my chance soon enough.

Chapter

Ten

SAGE

Killian’s hand is a vise on my elbow as he ushers me swiftly down the corridor, while I glance over my shoulder back at the library, convinced I’d seen something.

“I came to collect you for the evening meal,” he explains in a low rumble that vibrates through the air between us.

“So, what’s the rush?” I pant, fighting to pull myself free from his grasp. It seems as though we’re heading back to my room. Are we dining there?

He lets out a long exhale. “First, you’re changing clothes for your first time meeting the Pack.”

I glance down at the one-piece suit clinging to me, its fabric soft and oddly comforting. “I had no idea I had to dress up in something fancy,” I quip.

He stops so abruptly I nearly crash into him. His breath hitches, those azure eyes darkening as they sweep over me again. I pull away, my back hitting the wall, my stomach fluttering. His gaze dips lower, and I instinctively hug myself, suddenly feeling exposed under his intense stare.

“What’s going on? You’re acting all strange… I mean, stranger than normal.”

Killian steps closer, the space between us charged with electricity.

“What you’re wearing, Sage,” he starts, voice rough, “is usually reserved for nights you want to entice a Shadowfen into your bed. Something I’d entertain in a heartbeat, but I suspect you aren’t aware of the impact your outfit will have on anyone.”

My eyes bulge, my mouth dropping open in shock. “What, th-this jumpsuit?” I stammer, my face scrunching in disbelief.

He licks his lips, his hand grazing the underside of my jaw, tilting my head back. His touch leaves a trail of heat that zips down my spine. Since our encounter in the garden back in Nightingale Village, I’ve been irresistibly drawn to him, my body responding in ways I’ve only read about in the hushed corners of my bedroom with my mom’s elf books.

“It is when it’s transparent under bright light.”

I gasp, covering myself with my arms, and he chuckles—a dangerous sound.

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