Page 31 of The Monster's Mate

I bury my face in his T-shirt, kinda wishing I could climb out of my own skin. “I was the first fool he came across who fell for his bullshit.”

He smacks my ass. “You’re far from a fool.”

“Really? I fell for his crap, hook, line, and sinker.”

“You also got an incredible kid out of the deal, so fuck him and his intentions.”

“Yeah,” I agree.

Veryn is the most perfect gift.

“I believe Cyril, or possibly the king, commanded Eldritch to the human realm.” Bane tenderly tilts my face up to look at his. “I don’t know if Eldritch’s mission was to find and guard Veryn or if his orders were something more sinister.”

Alarm rips through my chest as I stutter, “W-What does that mean?”

“I almost don’t want to tell you, because I know it’s only going to cause you more pain and anxiety.” Bane teases his fingers into my hair, trying to pull me closer as I struggle to push up enough to glare at him. “I will say it. I don’t want there to beany secrets between us, but I wish you would trust me to handle it.”

“I do trust you,” I assure him. “At the same time, if it involves my kid, I need to know.”

“I knew you were going to say that.” He sighs. “Children aren’t crowned into the royal family until the age of seven. They wouldn’t announce any hatchlings until they reached seven years old, but if Cyril ever intends to name Veryn his heir, he would be bound by custom to do so on his seventh birthday.”

“Why would he want to claim him?” I ask as my heart thumps against my rib cage. He’s going to be seven in just a few months.

“The current king is exceptionally old, even by dragon standards. However, he’s always maintained that he wouldn’t allow Cyril to ascend until he produced an heir.”

“You think he might come for my child, and you never told me?” I hiss, shoving his shoulder until he releases his hold on my back enough that I can sit up straight.

“Until Eldritch came into the picture, I had nothing more than a hunch. But let me make one thing perfectly clear—I will die before I let anyone touch a hair on Veryn’s head, and I assure you, I’m very fucking hard to kill.”

It’s easy enough to feel his sincerity.

I nod as my stomach wobbles.

His eyes glow yellowy-green. “I’m serious. They trained me for a very specific purpose, but they’ll find out exactly how sharp the blade they honed became if they try us.”

My eyes ache, and I glance away from his piercing stare. It’s very sweet to hear him use the wordus.

I’m a little afraid I’m about to burst into tears. “What does that mean for Eldritch? I don’t think he would hurt me or Veryn.”

Bane sighs heavily. “About that…”

Chapter Thirteen

Athos

I’m all out of refreshing cherry-flavored carbonated beverages. Is an assistant who goes for refills too much to ask for?

I place Eldritch’s passed-out body on the mattress in the guest bedroom of Bane’s house. I briefly contemplated bringing him to Charity’s home, but he could wake up disoriented and shift back out of habit.

If that happens, I’d rather it be Bane’s house that’s damaged.

I need to check in on my mate, but I’m also tempted to make a trip to the store.

It would only take me a minute or two.

Who knew artificial cherry flavoring could be so delectable?

I certainly didn’t.

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