Page 106 of Land of Monsters

“Fuckin’ genies,” Scorpion muttered, lowering his gun, though my spine still prickled with warning. There was a smell I recognized, a warning tugging in my gut.

“Sonya’s army, the monsters she has hidden in the depths of that castle. You cannot win against them,” Dzsinn stated.

“So you brought us here to tell us we have no chance?” Scorpion’s forehead lined with irritation.

“She also has ten times the soldiers you have here.”

“I’ll take those odds,” Warwick growled, his chest puffing up.

“Me too.” Caden’s tone almost mimicked Warwick’s, their mannerisms so alike.

“Then you’ll all die,” the genie replied with no emotion. “Unless you have help.”

“Help from who?” Brexley stood beside Warwick, her arms crossed over her chest. “Killian can’t assist us, or it’s a declaration of war.”

“But I can.” A familiar accented voice came from behind Dzsinn, the two other covered figures veiled in Dzsinn’s energy. They stepped forward, lowering their hoods.

Terror cut through the room and daggered into my lungs. Fear burned fire into my veins, springing the dweller’s defense. A growl rose from my throat, my teeth snapping at the man standing only feet from me.

The man whose vengeance was to bury me in pieces—like his son.

Dimitri Kozlov. The leader of Russia.

Everyone responded to the threat, pointing their guns at the new additions, their confusion and surprise filling the air after realizing who he was.

And next to him was… Eve.

The turncoat I thought we left dead back in the museum. But here she stood, next to herVozhd. Healed, healthy, and the reason my brother was in Sonya’s hands.

“Bitch.” My dweller pitched forward, Latin spilling from my lips.

“Raven!” Ash grabbed for me, my body flinging toward her.

“Stop!” Dzsinn held up his hand. “That is not necessary.”

“That’s where you are wrong,” I growled. “It’s a necessity.” I tried to push out of Ash’s arms.

“Mroczny,” he snapped in my ear, turning to Dzsinn. “Why the fuck did you bring them here?” None of us bothered to ask how he knew Kozlov; Dzsinn had connections everywhere in the world. But to have the actual leader and not his proxy was jarring.

“He is not here to hurt you.” He looked between me and the two behind him. “Nor will she.”

“Bullshit,” Ash spat, still holding me tight. “He’s been after Raven from the start. He’s the reason she had to go on the run. He wants her dead. And Eve is why Sonya has Rook. She may be his proxy, but it’s personal to her.”

Eve lifted her chin, glowering back, but stayed silent.

“True,” Kozlov’s cool voice replied. “I do want vengeance for my son.” He narrowed his gaze at me. “Alexsei was my only son. My heir.” His dark brown eyes pierced mine with deep hatred. It swirled inside his pupils, coating his skin, but his expression stayed impassive. “And she took him from me. Brutally. And what did the queen and king do? Sent her off to university.” His teeth clenched. “So yes, I wanted her dead. Wanted Queen Kennedy to feel the pain like I did.”

Images of Alexsei’s face sprang to mind, bits and pieces of that hazy night before I woke up covered in blood, bone, and flesh. His glossed-over eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, his throat torn out.

Could I blame him for hating me? Wanting me to pay the price of his pain?

My dweller faded back, the grief and guilt of what I did making my molars clench together. Holding a sob in my chest, I stayed on guard, my disdain narrowing on the woman behind him.

“But for my country and my people, my son’s revenge will have to wait.” Dimitri returned his attention to the room. “My country has always come first.”

“What are you talking about?” Ash demanded. “You’re in bed with Sonya. We’re the ones who need to protect our country from you.”

Kozlov shifted on his feet. “Sonya has gotten some of my government officials to turn on me.”

---