Page 105 of Land of Monsters

“She’s the princess of the Unified Nations!” Caden’s hand wiggled at me, and he glanced over at Brexley for backup.

“What?” Hanna stopped, her head snapping to me, really taking me in. “Oh my gods, you are.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Birdie scanned the faces of everyone, realizing it was not a joke. “Wait. You’re really the princess?” She paused, seeing my head bow and my cheeks redden. “Megbasz… should I bow or curtsy or some shit?”

“No.” A small laugh sprouted from me.

“Good, because there is only one I go that low for.” She elbowed Caden. He shook his head with a sigh, but a smile hinted at his lips.

I instantly liked Birdie. She was so angelic looking but gave off “I will fuck you up and not give a fuck” vibes. All my life I was treated with kid gloves, being so formal, afraid to step out of line. It’s why I kept my friend circle close, only letting a few in. It was nice just being treated like an ordinary girl.

“Te geci,” Scorpion scoffed, stepping up to Ash first, holding out his hand. The man was intimidating, covered in tattoos and piercings, but had a sexy bad-boy thing about him. He dipped his head between us, like he approved. “They’d be happy for you,” he said quietly. Ash took his hand, bobbing his head, his throat swallowing.

“And welcome to the club.” Scorpion snickered, his gaze sliding back to Hanna. “Expect to never win an argument again.”

“Yeah, Warwick already warned me.” Ash’s shoulders eased, letting go of Scorpion’s palm.

“Sorry, this is exciting and all, but we have bigger issues to deal with.” Brexley took hold of the room, all attention going to her. She held a power I had never felt before, somethingyou couldn’t help but be drawn to, a magic that overflowed the room.

“Bigger than the missing UFN princess being here mated to Ash? Do you know the power of her mother and uncle?” Caden stressed. “What they’d do to us if anything happened to her?”

“Yes, but they’ll be even more pissed if we let anything happen to her and theprinceof the UFN.”

“What?” Wesley sputtered.

“Kalaraja captured him earlier today. Well, the Russian mafia took him first, but traded him to Kalaraja,” Ash explained.

“Kalaraja is still alive?” Hanna gaped.

“Yes, and working for Sonya.”

“What?” Scorpion’s gaze went to Brexley. “You didn’t share that little nugget with me?”

“We found out a little before you guys walked in, and you were blocking me,” Brexley shot back.

“I had to concentrate.” Scorpion frowned. “This place is crawling with military. And I have a history here.”

“Like we don’t?” Birdie motioned between her and Wesley. “Remember, I was the one you sent in to infiltrate the army and steal the general’s top-secret codes. After I fucked him and his son… in the wife’s bed.” Birdie laughed, looking wistfully in the distance. “Good times.”

“Excuse me?” Caden folded his arms.

“What? Oh, don’t worry, babe. I didn’t fuck them together in her bed.” She coughed. “That night.”

Caden placed his head in his hand, breathing slowly, like he was trying to regain his patience.

“Can we focus?” My own impatience snapped in the air. “Time is ticking. Every moment we stand here, she could be hurting my brother.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, the room turning to me. I was used to leading, having all eyes on me,giving grand speeches and boxed quotes to reporters, but this was different.

This was for life and death.

“And it’s not just the prince,” Ash said. “Sonya has villagers, human, fae… innocent people who only want a safe life for themselves and their children.” He stood strong next to me. “She is using them as test subjects and vessels. What she has down there—”

“You will never get past them.” A monotone voice came from the doorway, jolting us with a crack. We all reacted instantly to the three hooded figures. Most grabbed for their weapons while blades shot from my back, a growl on my lips, my legs ready to spring into an attack.

“Stop.” One of them lowered his hood, his blank face having no reaction to the forces that bounced in the room.

“Dzsinn,” Ash huffed out, shoulders sagging, realizing why none of us heard him creep up on us and enter the room. “Fuck. You want to get shot?”

“None of you are fast enough,” he responded blandly.

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