Page 113 of Land of Monsters

A year could have been lived in that single second, a moment suspended in the air like a balloon. My pulse ticked against my throat, my muscles spring-loaded to attack.

The guard’s lids narrowed on us, but he dipped his chin, waving his arm to the other sentries to move off the road.

The car in front rolled forward as they gestured us through. None of us reacted, our heads forward as we passed the troop, the tension in the car pounding like a drum.

The pressure driving through the spell stabbed into my head like a migraine, then washed away instantly, granting us passage to the castle grounds.

We made it in.

“Did it feel too easy?” Brexley uttered the same thought pecking at the back of my head.

Thick fog lapped at the car, an unsettled feeling locking up in my chest the further we moved. The lights from the castle above cast heavy shadows over the mist, playing tricks on my eyes. The sensation of stepping into a horror story clipped my breath.

“Of course they would let me through,” Dimitri arrogantly huffed in back, his ego shoving back what he had to feel as well. “I amthe ruler of Russia.”

None of us responded.

“There are a lot of dead through here,” Brexley spoke again, her eyes glazing over the land. “So much death here.”

“You would know,” I retorted, trying to keep things light, but my voice held no humor.

“Something’s wrong…” Raven’s chest pushed in and out, her body rigid, her eyes squinting into the thick mist.

“What?”

A squeal of tires in front of us yanked my head to the car in front. I slammed on the brakes, coming within a hair of the bumper of the other vehicle.

The fog, as if it was pure illusion, dissipated, revealing what was hidden within it.

“Holy fuck,” Brexley breathed out in alarm.

Terror constricted my esophagus. I gasped in a small intake of air, but it never reached my lungs.

Lines and lines of soldiers stood perfectly still, covering the grounds. The glow of hundreds of torches reflected off the window, shadowing their outlines in a diabolical scene. As if they were washed in blood and death.

My gaze drew up to the castle, taking in the silhouette of a woman and man perched on the high wall, looking down, their troops ready for an order.

Sonya and Iain.

Dressed in matching red outfits, like they were already mocking the blood that would spill across this ground, their blonde hair reflecting with the firelight.

“She knew,” Raven muttered. “She knew we were coming.”

“How did she know we were coming?” Brexley asked, her gaze moving around, seeing the guards move around the car, blocking us in. We were trapped.

It was clear. She was waiting for us. This was a setup.

“Are you too afraid to face me, Dimitri?” Sonya’s voice boomed over the gardens, full of condescension. “Fae or human, all male leaders are alike. All puffed-up chests and preening. But when it comes down to it, you’re insecure little boys who need a woman to do all the real work.” Sonya’s red lips peeledinto a vindictive smile. “Like your wife. She seems to know more than you. A better ruler, I’d say as well.”

Kozlov’s muscles constricted, his expression turning to murderous rage. He was known to have an ego and a temper. Human or fae, unchecked power was corrupting. They could no longer take criticism, nor see beyond their own narcissism. But the mention of his wife made him scramble for the door handle.

“Stop.” I reached back to stop him. “She’s trying to provoke you. Don’t let her.”

Kozlov’s lips lifted in a snarl, but he let go of the handgrip.

“Is that a no, Dimitri? Rather save your own skin? See, you are proving my point.” Sonyatsked, her hand going to her belly. “But let me see if this works.” Sonya peered behind her as a guard drew up a tall, thin woman. The twist in her hair sagged to one side, her nice dress dirty and ruffled.

Raven gasped in recognition, her hand going to her mouth as the barefoot woman was pushed onto the ledge.

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