Page 59 of A Kingdom of Monsters

Well, there went that suggestion just as quickly as it had come. I slumped back in my chair, drumming my fingers on the table.

Realizing he hadn’t spoken in a while, I looked over at Bael. “What do you think?”

Instead of taking one of the bar stools, or even sitting at any of the small circular tables that took up a large portion of the room, Bael had decided to sit on the floor. He was leaning against the same wall where Scion had once nailed an incubus who had tried to attack me. Fortunately, the body had long since been removed, but I thought I could still see a hint of a blood stain.

At my question, Bael opened his yellow eyes and peered at me, half-lidded. “Were you talking to me, little monster?”

I frowned. He looked worse than I’d felt last night. Like he hadn’t slept in days.

Evidently Scion agreed, because he walked around the side of the bar to get a better look at Bael. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” Bael began. “…that you need to worry about right now.”

I frowned. Clumsy technical truths were never a good sign. If he wasn’t feeling well enough to think of a decent misdirection, something was undoubtedly wrong.

Before I could press him further, a heavy door at the end of the room flew open with a resounding bang, startling everyone in the room. In one swift and urgent motion, I was shoved behind the bar by Scion and Ambrose who stood protectively in front of me. Bael, who had seemed to be dozing off, was now wide awake and on his feet in an instant.

Part of me wanted to roll my eyes. I wasn’t helpless anymore, yet they were all still treating me as if I was made of glass. Even Ambrose, who had no real reason to care what happened to me aside from the curse, didn't seem to be able to resist the need to shield me.

Maybe that was just Fae males in general. Aggressive, over-protective, and too controlling for their own good.

Suppressing the urge to complain, I leaned in close to Bael’s broad back and peered around him. My eyes fell upon a mysterious figure who had just entered through the doorway. The person was cloaked in a dark garment, concealing their identity. But as they pushed back their hood, revealing a familiar face with a mischievous grin, my heart leapt with relief.

"Siobhan!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with relief. “Thank the fucking Source.”

Siobhan was the closest thing I had to a friend among the thieves guild, and had helped us on several occasions in the past. She was Cross’s favorite daughter, and often acted as his right hand on missions for the guild. The last time I had laid eyes on her, she was in the midst of a battle with Ambrose's rebels. I couldn't help but wonder how she would react to seeing him again in this setting.

At my shout, Siobhan’s face changed from an expression of suspicion to a relieved grin. “I should have known it was you all, again.” she called, striding toward us. “What are you doing here?”

I darted out from behind the protective wall of princes, and hastened to meet her in the center of the room. “We could ask you the same. We thought you’d all left.”

“We have,” she replied. “But you don’t think father would leave this place unguarded, do you? We’re taking it in shifts to keep an eye on the base.”

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Sorry, can’t tell you that. Father specifically ordered me not to tell anyone.”

“Oh, he did?” Scion drawled, his voice growing louder as he came to stand behind my shoulder. “That fucker. We’re supposed to be friends, but he can’t even tell me when he’s leaving the city unattended.”

Siobhan looked up at Scion and smirked. “Sorry, my lord. You can complain to him yourself the next time you see him.”

My brow furrowed in annoyance but it had absolutely nothing to do with Cross or the missing thieves. Absurdly, hearing anyoneelse—particularly someone as pretty as Siobhan—use the phrase “my lord” had set my pulse racing.That was absolutely insane, I told myself firmly. I shook my head quickly. I needed to get a grip.

I looked up at Scion and found him smirking down at me, looking a bit too satisfied for my liking. Clearly he knew—or had guessed—what I was thinking. My cheeks burned.

“So, what are you doing here?” Siobhan asked, clearly unaware of the silent conversation going on between Scion and I.

“Looking for you all,” I replied. “We need your help finding something.”

Siobhan’s grin widened. “Of course you do. Well, I’ll help if I can, but I can’t leave the den until Arson arrives and that won’t be for another two days.”

“Hopefully you won’t have to,” I told her. “Come sit, we’ll explain everything.”

Siobhan nodded, stepping around me to approach the bar when she stopped short. Her large dark eyes widened as she looked at Ambrose, then she spun back around to look at me. “What the fuck is he doing here?”

I tried to smile, but I was sure it came off more like a grimace. “Another long story.”

To my relief, Siobhan merely laughed. “I can’t wait to tell father.”

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