Page 87 of Monsters of Desire and Nightmares of Passion

“They’re guys, what do they know? They fucked up. Now I have to catch up with them and fix this mess. They should never have left without me in the first place.”

Lisa nods. I didn’t realize I was so upset with the guys until I had this out of my system.

“Go, kick ass, Ivy. You got this, girl.”

I nod. Lisa’s confidence in my abilities is astonishing. I only wish I had the same level of confidence in my knowledge and talents that she does. We manage some a fist bump and an exploding hand.

The hairs on my arms and on the back of my neck stand up the closer I walk to the little portal. It must be a portal, either that or something is projecting the image of a broken TV next to the lake.

The night around me is peaceful, as if nature is holding its breath so as not to disturb the small rift that appeared. The rift is right next to an old tree, the spot where I kissed Draw the first time. There’s a heart that he scratched into the bark with his claws. D and I. It should still be there. My heart jumps inside my chest when I see it. I’m ready to kill the entire world just to get my beloved mates back.

I’ve already lost Khal and I won’t lose the others, too, not if I can get them back.

Energy fills the area. Small stones float around this entrance to another world. Where will I land? I never asked where the damn artifact was, or whatever they called it that was part of The Church of Light. I was way too busy almost getting killed.

Ugh, this training I allegedly had needs to start surfacing fast or I’ll be facing a huge fucking problem. I push the two daggers into my boots and hang the sword down from my belt. I need to set things right. But who’s going to do that? Me and what army? Am I about to fuck this up like the idiot I am? My shoulders slump and I exhale.

Images of action movies with men who shoot entire arsenals and defeat armies bloom into my mind. Maybe I should have taken a gun and not these silly blades. Will I at least be able to bend fast enough and reach my boot and pull out a dagger? What do I know about using a sword? Nothing. I feel my cowardly self rising to the surface. I can’t do this. I can’t. I’m too weak, too afraid.

Nonsense, I tell myself.You’re making yourself nuts.

A last, deep breath. Yes, it’s what I need to relax before battle.

Velvet flies toward me, barking. She lands on my shoulder and starts licking my face.

“I couldn’t hold her back,” Lisa calls from the door of the house.

“It’s okay,” I shout back. Then to Velvet, “What are you doing, my little one? What do you want, baby?”

I cuddle her. Her soft fur and pretty, blue eyes make me feel less loss. She purrs and my heart stops hurting. I bite my lip and look at the portal. Fuck, I’ll have to jump. It’s the only way.

Suddenly, strong arms wrap around my midsection and pull me back, and clawed fingers dig into my body, restraining me. My heart beats so fast that breathing is difficult. His body is close to mine, burning me. His scent fills my senses. I barely dare to turn my head.

“Khal?” My lips part and his name leaves my mouth.

Tears fill my eyes, and a hiccup contracts my chest. I don’t know how to cry elegantly. I cry like a toddler, with snot running from my nose, collecting on my upper lip. My red eyes fill with tears.

“I thought you were dead. I mourned you. My heart is broken.”

My hands touch his face, frantically hoping he’s real, needing to feel him, see him, taste him.

All six of his arms wrap me and press me hard, so hard I can barely breathe. “You should know I’ll always find my way back to you, Ivy.”

Our lips meet and my body enjoys the feeling of being pressed against his hard body. Muscles move under his tattoo-covered skin. As much as I want this, to feel Khal and have him inside me, alarm bells ring inside my head. I must save the guys, or at least try.

“Khal, we can’t do this. Not now. Draw and Mrez, they left, and I think they want to sacrifice themselves. It’s all my fault.” My chest is wrecked by a dry sob that hurts like hell and that I can’t control.

Khal cups my face with two of his hands. His red eyes lock on mine. There are so many advantages of having a lover with six arms. He can wipe away your tears and hug you at the same time.

“Draw is as old as dirt. I don’t think you can make him do something he doesn’t want to.”

“No, I did. It’s all my fucking fault. I yelled at them. I told them I wanted out of all this and that I wanted to get back to my life. It’s all my fault.”

As I admit this in front of Khal, my heart sinks and breaks, bleeding and filling my chest with bitterness and hurt.

“Ivy, none of this is your fault. It’s not your fault you’re from the oldest bloodline of humans who have the sight. It’s not your fault we love you. Any one of us would have sacrificed himself gladly for you.”

Khal’s eyes change color from fiery red to silver, but only for a moment before switching back again.

---