Page 75 of Monsters of Desire and Nightmares of Passion

“Yes. Can you take her?”

“Why?”

I don’t answer. I turn to Mrez and hand him Ivy. Her small body hangs limp in his strong arms. She shakes violently, barely drawing breath. Our home dimensions are so much darker than the human realm. A violet sky with crimson clouds watch over us. We don’t see the sun since we are Shadows. The flora adapted to these conditions and most leaves are dark blue or red to soak the most from the light that’s offered.

My instincts are right. Something was watching us. A roar doesn’t count as a greeting.

The face and the silver eyes that glare at me from the branches of a nearby tree become a body that slams into mine. His features are familiar. Before I can say anything, he lands fully on my back. His fist connects with my jaw, then a piece of cold steel presses against my neck.

“Long time no see, little brother.”

“What a welcome.”

“Get ready to spill your blood. It’s the least you can do after you abandoned us.”

My older brother gave up on the life of a warrior after his mate died, devoting his existence to healing and the forces beyond. But he’s still able to kick my ass.

I grab his wrist, my claws digging deep into his flesh, and rip some of his skin away as I pull him off my back. The steel he had against my neck pierces the skin, allowing blood to flow freely over my chest. Now he’s on the ground. I shift into my half physical form, using my long tentacles to snatch his blade and throw it away.

He also shifts and escapes. Both of us stand there, facing each other, Shadow against Shadow, half-physical forms clashing, ripping, and biting, using fangs, nails, and muscles against our own flesh and blood.

My hand darts out, getting a firm grasp of his neck. He roars. It pains me to hurt my own brother.

He shifts again, this time turning into air. His foot lands a blow to my teeth that rattles my brain. My brother was always such an incredible fighter. Even now, as he pummels me, I’m in awe of the way he moves and the ingenuity of his attacks.

“We don’t have time for this.” Mrez steps between us, roaring. “Ivy is dying.”

We stop and look at my mates.

“Mrez, my boy, I’m so happy to see you.”

My older brother Healer pats Mrez’s shoulder without paying attention to Ivy.

“Xam, please. Our mate is dying. The lost Shadows from The Valley scratched her. She needs you.” Mrez says what I should have.

“I don’t care for a human. She can die. There are a few milliards more left out there that can take her place.”

Mrez’s tentacle shoot toward his neck. “Don’t make me remind you of the blood debt you owe me.”

Xam owes Mrez a blood debt? Why don’t I know about this?

Xam’s silver eyes look to the ground. He orders in his curt way, “Take her to my hut.”

Mrez cradles Ivy closer and runs towards our little village. The last bastion of my people. My brothers and I had run from here and now returned to try and bandage what was left of us.

“You should wash up before entering the village. You don’t want them to see that I beat you up.” Xam’s voice is cold as he walks behind Mrez.

Would I have been able to convince him to help my mate? I seriously doubt. I can sense the cold hatred erupting from my brother.

The village is in front of us, but I turn left to the waterfall. It used to be one of the most wonderful places, a spot that I visited often during all my lives. As I get closer, I wonder about the absence of the sound of water. The forest with its crooked trees is so damn silent. Not a leave moves. There’s no sign of the bat birds that sung so sweetly and lived on the blood of small insects and the nectar of the night roses. There’s nothing except silence around me. With each step closer to the waterfall there’s no sign of it.

I arrive at the area that used to be filled with energy and life.

“What the Dark Lord?”

A dark surface of mud greets me. The waterfall is gone. There’s nothing left. Not a drop of the crystal clean water. If their water source is dry, how does the village survive? They should all be dead.

I take the familiar path down to the village, the one between the crooked trees and the half-dried vines. Instead of meeting others. I’m all alone.

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