Page 17 of Monster's Reward

Not anymore.

Not since he’d started looking at me as ifIwere that long-ago monster wreaking havoc through the realms.

“Look, there are shadows in every universe, which meant the shadow monsters and their familiars had access to everyone, everywhere, at any time. A decision had to be made.”

“How do you know all this?”

He stared at her. “I’m a Varulvka.”

“I know that. You told me that already. What does that have to do with anything?”

“The Varulvka are a race of elite hunters. When the shadow monsters were condemned, we were the ones sent out to enact justice.”

I leapt to my feet. “Justice? Since when is genocide justice?”

“When it saves entire civilizations—” he began.

“Genocide?” I repeated incredulously. “You would have been killing children.Babies.”

“Not me,” he said quickly. “This was hundreds of years before I was born.”

“So your ancestors destroyed mine. Is that what you’re telling me?”

He nodded.

“Okay, fine, but all of this happened way before either of us was ever born,” I started speaking faster, trying to get my thoughts out as quickly as possible, as if I could somehow stave off what I sensed was coming. “I’m not going to go trapping anyone in the shadow realm and you’re not an executioner like your ancestors were. So we’ll be fine. We’ll just keep my secret, I won’t tell anyone else and—”

“We’re notfine, Kasi,” he snarled.

I froze.

“I’ve sworn an oath. Do you understand? Anoath.To protect the realms from any and all dangers andyouare a danger.Everyshadow monster is a danger. It’swhythey were eliminated from all the realms.”

“But I—”

“No, Kasi. Don’t you understand what I’m expected todonow that I know what you are? My oath would have me executing you without any hesitation whatsoever. I’vealreadybroken that oath by not executing the shadow cat the minute I saw her, but I figured she couldn’t cause any harm here, without a Monster controlling her.” He glared at Kasi, accusation in his gaze.

“I don’t control Shadow! I don’t know how, and even if I did, I wouldn’t want to.” My heart was pounding so hard, I could barely get out my next question. “So, what? You’re going to assassinate your mate? Is that the plan now?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know, Kasi. Just don’t—just stay away from me and I’ll stay away from you and I’ll try to forget we ever had this conversation.” He walked toward the door.

“So that’s it?” To my fury, my voice cracked a little. “You’re just going to walk away? From us?”

He froze, his hand on the door. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Kasi.” He spoke facing the door, refusing to look back at me, refusing to give me even a moment more of his regard. “I took an oath, an oath that would have me killing you right now. But I can’t do it. You’re my mate, so I can’t. But that’s all I can give you, Kasi. A stay of execution. That’s all.

“So keep your head down, don’t show your monster to anyone and don’teverpull someone into the shadows like you did me when we first mated. All this time I thought it was Shadow pulling you and me into the shadows, but it wasyouall along.

“Never again, Kasi. Do you understand? You do it again and I won’t have a choice. Iwillkill you if I have to.” He opened the door and walked away.

CHAPTER6

I’ve never been soangry in my entire life. I fed the anger because as long as I did that, I could stave off the devastation boiling beneath it.

So, anger it was.

I just couldn’t decide who I was angrier with.

Jahrdran for rejecting me or my professors for not giving me critical information Ineededin order to avoid this entire fiasco.

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