Page 53 of The Monster's Mate

It counts.

Bane retreated from something.

That makes me even more interested to determine what that thing is.

I siphon just past him and glance around at the picturesque courtyard.

There’s a look on Eldritch’s face that is very similar to the one on Bane’s.

The sound is a little extreme, but then again, I’ve seen Wraith and Knight in action before.

Only, it’s not the demons, but their demonling currently devouring someone. I’m not quite sure who, but I’m guessing that’s the dragon king, because their mission was to handle Cadryn.

The creature Hazel turns into is something straight out of nightmares.

In all honesty, it might be scarier than anything I’ve conjured in my darkest dreams.

She looks like some combination of Knight when he eats sins and whatever the hell it is Wraith’s face becomes when he reaps.

Black goo flies from Cadryn to Hazel’s…maw?

I’m not sure the word for it, but she’s definitely a creature of Hell.

There’s a whole lot going on there, but not a bit of it screams “newborn.”

I’m good, I think, as long as her crazy little ass doesn’t look in my direction. If she does, I might become significantly less badass than I currently am.

The gooey substance seems to hold memories, or possibly sins, because images flicker in and out of focus as they pass to Hazel.

Damn.

She doesn’t even need to swallow. It’s like a straight shot down a pelican’s gullet. Hmm, I wonder if those have gone extinct since I was in the human realm last?

Wraith disappears from across the courtyard and appears directly in front of me. “Don’t tell anyone she knows how to do that. Nadia is unaware she can siphon on her own, and we’ve made the choice not to tell her. It would only worry her.”

I’m not sure it’s just the siphoning that Nadia is in the dark about. Hazel might be tiny, but she’s strong enough to hold herself up on her hands and knees on Cadryn’s chest.

Perhaps her demon form has a different rate of growth than her human body.

Truthfully, I have no idea.

It’s all speculation.

“I’d like your word.” Wraith glances between Bane and me. “Both of you.”

“Shit, yeah, you got it,” Bane mutters, rocking back on his heels.

“I give you my word,” I assure him.

The last thing I need is that little demonling paying me a visit while I sleep.

I don’t think I’d ever recover.

Knight steps forward as the goo flickers to clear and eventually ceases to exist.

“That was a significant amount of sins.” He scoops his daughter up, cradling her in the crook of his arm. “All that disappeared into your tiny body? Hazel Girl, you’re a black hole.”

My gaze moves to Eldritch, who blinks with a bit of a vacant look on his face. Grabbing Bane’s hand, I tug him across the courtyard.

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