Page 83 of Their Pretty Little Monster

“What’s wrong with him? Please tell me,” I plead with the doctor, who’s holding a metal coil attached by a black handle, the machine emitting a low hum. He’s looking at all of us instead of just me.

“You will need to vacate the room now, please.” His words are devoid of warmth, but he’s not unkind.

I blink at him, not wanting to leave Nyko’s side, but Wolfe has his arms around me, ushering me out of the room. “Let’s go. We’ll be just outside.”

One glance back and he’s placing the coils against Nyko’s chest. They instantly turn fiery orange, causing his whole body to convulse.

A whimper spills from my lips as I’m rushed out quickly, the door closing behind me. I barely remember moving, but I’m sitting on a chair in a long white hallway, Wolfe and Killian on either side of me I see their distraught expressions.

“Why are you being nice to me? I’m responsible. I don’t know how I did it, but he’s hurt because of my power. The shadow vanished just as Nyko collapsed.” My throat’s thickening, tears sting my eyes, and I can’t stop replaying the scene over and over in my mind—Nyko collapsing just as the serpent shadow fell apart into thousands of particles before vanishing.

Wolfe grips my hand a bit tighter. “Every power is beautiful but can be a double-edged sword, Sage,” he explains in a calm voice. “You didn’t hurt him intentionally.”

I shake my head, the tears spilling over. “It’s not beautiful,” I state. “I hurt Nyko. How can something that causes so much pain be good? And how did you even find me?”

Killian, sitting next to me, frowns deeply. “We finally found a stall owner who happened to see you being kidnapped. Tell us what happened in the cave.”

Clutching the handles of the chair, the hard edges bite into my palms. I recount the terrifying events with the snake—the attack, my failed escape, the surreal moment when the shadow obeyed my desperate commands.

“I don’t understand much of it,” I admit with a trembling voice. “There was this rush of power through me. I didn’t feel like myself, yet it was as though I could fight that stupid creature. I could have died.” I’m gasping for air.

Wolfe’s expression darkens, his brows furrowing, studying me, listening. “Powers like that… are rare and often a sign of deep connection to another’s shadow essence.”

The silence that follows sharpens with the distant hum of the soft whir of medical equipment from inside the infirmary.

“Give me a moment,” Killian says, getting up and hurrying down the hallway.

I stare at Wolfe, murmuring, “It felt like I could take on the creature on my own, which is absurd. And that shadow, it moved with me, following my instructions. Well, sort of, as I really had no idea what I was doing.” I give him a wonky smile, then glance at the door where we left Nyko, my insides turning into knots. “Do you think he’ll heal?”

“I hope so,” he answers, which leaves me feeling dreadful on the inside.

I curl in on myself, but he’s hugging me, and I appreciate his tenderness more than he’ll ever know.

Killian returns, his grin a welcome sight as he hands me a transparent cup filled with something milky orange. And when I sniff it, it smells like dirty socks. I scrunch up my nose.

“Drink it. It will help calm you down,” he assures me.

Despite the odd aroma, I trust him enough to take a sip. To my surprise, it’s sweet, almost like warm, spiced orange juice, comforting me more than I expected. I take a few more sips, letting the warmth seep through me.

A different doctor rushes past us and heads down the hallway.

“I’m still trying to work out your ability. It seems to need to draw energy from someone to work. And why Nyko? Why not me?” Wolfe asks. “Why not one of us? Why not someone else at the nearby market?”

“Maybe because we’d spent time together beforehand,” I suggest, remembering our last discussion, the revelation about my father, the reality of why they brought me to Blight. Nyko never corrected me when I asked him because he knew I was right. I’m here to serve a greater purpose that benefits them in reclaiming their kingdom… and that’s hard to swallow. Perhaps I’m being unrealistic, believing their feelings are true, and now I struggle to accept that they are. And what happens once they get what they want from me?

My stomach hurts, and I’m torn at the heartache I feel for Nyko because I did that to him, yet I’m angry at them…

“What did you do together?” Wolfe persists.

I’m hyperaware of their hands on me, while irritation is starting to fill me. But I remind myself this isn’t the time to get into that argument, not until I know Nyko is safe.

I sip the warm drink. “We wandered through the market, then had a huge meal, during which I put on the brooch he bought me.” I look down at it, still pinned to my shirt, unstained. “And then he gifted me this necklace.”

Reaching up, I touch the pearls cradled in the small curve just below my neck, noticing the dried blood stains on them, and a wave of guilt rattles me.

Wolfe’s focusing on my necklace, running his fingers along the silver chain.

“Do you know where he got this from?” he asks.

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