Page 95 of Their Pretty Little Monster

My breath catches in my throat, my fingers instinctively also reaching up to touch the smooth, cool surface of the pearls. “These came from that terrifying thing out there?” Shock shudders my question. “He fought one of those?” Nyko’s lying in bed after almost dying, and earlier, he was still making jokes with me. Does nothing scare that Shadowfen?

“We’ve been hunting for most of our lives.”

Since I arrived in Blight, it has been an endless ordeal of surprises, fear, and adjustments. Maybe if I stay here long enough, I’ll start to feel normal and not freak out on a daily basis.

The waitress returns, her gaze lingering a bit too long on Killian, leaning over to him as she offers the menu to him again with a flirtatious smile.

“My Lord, may I take your order?” Her tone is a tad too sweet.

Killian, who doesn’t even accept the menu, begins to order effortlessly, as if from memory, listing off items with ease. I have no idea what he’s ordering, but the waitress is nodding rapidly, then she excuses herself.

“Wait, fuck! Forgot to give her our drink orders.” Killian frowns, twisting around to search for the waitress. But when I twist around, she’s gone. He signals to someone across the room, and I turn to find Clay, the captain of the vessel, making his way toward us.

“Clay, good timing,” Killian greets him with a nod. “Take a seat with Sage for a moment while I go sort out our drinks.”

“Oh, no, that’s not necessary?—”

“I insist.” His words leave no room for argument.

Clay nods and slides into the booth on my other side, his feet up on the seat as he sits perched like an oversized bird, feathery arms by his side. He truly is terrifying.

“You got it.” His presence is oddly disarming—feathery fingers drumming lightly on the table, a friendly grin lighting up his face.

Once Killian shuffles out and vanishes, Clay glances at me with an awkward smile.

“You’re going to like the food here,” he begins. “They only serve seafood. It’s a favorite of the crew.”

“Are you here with your family?” I ask, feeling uncomfortable about being dumped with the captain as my babysitter. I get Killian is paranoid about leaving me alone for even a few moments, but I’m the one who has to face the uncomfortable conversation.

“Friends,” he answers, glancing over my shoulder at the room as though he’d like to be anywhere else. Yes, I feel the same way. There’s a scrunch of feathers on the bridge of his nose. “I hope you’re starting to fit in well here. Any kind of change can be… disruptive. Not just for you, but for everyone else on the vessel.” There’s an edge to his tone, a sharpness that makes me sit up straighter.

“You mean my being here?” I think back to Killian’s words about some Shadowfen who are not happy with my presence. Is that what Clay’s hinting at? It’s not as if I asked to be brought here.

He smiles, which just looks strange on his white face with darkness sweeping from his hairline and back, but it’s way too creepy. Leaning back in the seat, he’s inspecting his fingernails on his hand, long talons that could easily tear into flesh.

I suddenly feel uneasy in his presence.

“I mean the movements of the vessel, our course adjustments, our stops, they don’t go unnoticed. Even in the deepest waters, eyes might watch, ears might listen.”

“You think there are spies on the vessel?”

He twists his head toward me. “Someone like you needs to remain vigilant because in such turbulent times, if you don’t make the first move, it gives the enemy a chance to do it.”

I blink at him, swallowing hard as a chill races down my back. He’s talking about my father; he has to be. “Clay,” I start, just as Killian returns.

The captain rises to leave as Killian thanks him. Then he’s gone, and I’m left with my insides twisting.

“Everything all right?” Killian asks, shuffling closer to me and taking me into his arms.

I smile at him, nodding, then I shake my head.

“Do you think my father knows I’m on this vessel? Could he have spies on here?”

He exhales loudly, his brow deepening. “Why do you ask? Did Clay say something? We’ve had no new additions to our population for over a decade, so I highly doubt we have spies. But everyone has different agendas, so I can’t rule it out. But I promise that we’re going to keep you safe and protected. No one will touch you.”

I shrug, half grinning up at him. “I know you will. I’m paranoid, I guess.”

Embracing me, I soften against his side, my hand resting on his chest, unable to let go of Clay’s words.

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