Page 10 of Their Pretty Little Monster

Fear skates down my back, and I sprint faster, not daring to even look back. My breaths come in quick, panicked bursts. Careening around the mess hall, something dark and fast whisks out in front of me, moving as swiftly as the wind. Something… something huge.

I gasp for air, my chest squeezing as terror swallows me. Stumbling backward, I stifle a scream.

Then it’s gone.

I run quicker now in the opposite direction, finding myself in a garden, having no idea where I am. Checking over my shoulder, I don’t look where I’m going, and my foot catches on something.

Tripping forward, I barely catch myself, noticing I’m trampling over vegetables.

Another sound, closer this time, something like the rush of air.

What’s going on?

I whip around, recoiling until my back hits a tree. A small wincing sound drips from my lips, my gaze searching the darkness frantically.

Was it a bat? Large owl? They swoop down on small animals at night, and Gods know, we have our fair share of rats in this village.

Around me, shadows seem to move, and the darkness feels alive, pressing in on me.

My breaths come too fast, fear strangling my lungs.

Then, I notice someone standing across the garden, someone who wasn’t there seconds earlier, holding on to a lantern by his side.

A shudder sinks through me down to my soul.

“Who goes there?” I hiss, my fingers digging into the tree behind me as though I need its strength to remain upright. I blink, clearing my vision, thinking it’s the Protector. Is he making me pay for standing up to him? For challenging him?

The figure almost glides forward, making a soft humming sound that sings on the breeze. He’s raising his blinking lantern to reveal his face.

It’s the Viscount.

Bile rises to my throat, and I’m going to be sick. Fates, this is so much worse.

Did he witness my exchange with Jason?

My legs aren’t working anymore.

His eyes are on me, vibrant blue with hints of gold, like the sky at twilight, unnaturally bright. He saunters closer, still making that unnerving humming sound.

Shaking, I can’t bring myself to move, feeling more prey than girl.

He won’t hurt me, right? He’s the new Viscount of our village, our guardian. I almost snort a laugh. Right… as much as the last one was protective of us.

Tonight, the Viscount wears a charcoal-colored warrior’s shirt that embraces his broad chest and shoulders, bronze buttons running down the front fashioned into emblems I don’t recognize. A matching metal band encircles his thick forearm over the sleeve, and a belt cinches his waist, revealing muscles straining against the fabric. Black trousers hug strong, long legs and end at sturdy boots. One could easily mistake him for a warrior rather than a Viscount.

He appears much younger than when I first saw him upon his arrival. His square jawline, sharply chiseled cheekbones, and parting lips are hypnotic. I catch myself staring at his mouth, and my cheeks heat up when he notices.

His long, dark hair tumbles messily around his striking face, stirred by the breeze and cascading over his shoulders. I’ve never been this close to him before, and he’s not what I expected. There’s a wicked sensation curling through me in his presence, one I don’t fully understand but that burns deeply—a dangerous feeling that I know could lead to trouble.

The blade at his side glints under the moonlight, heightening my anxiety.

“Are you going to punish me?” I manage to ask, my mouth dry and palms sweating. Is this how it feels to speak not only to a Viscount but also to one armed with a weapon?

He stops just a pace away, his intense gaze never leaving mine. The silence between us is thick, making it hard for me to keep my breathing steady.

“Why are you out at this hour, Sage?” he asks, his voice low, eyes darkening.

I swallow hard, trying to mask how much I’m trembling, but he knows my name. Why does he know my name?

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