Page 19 of Land of Monsters

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The sun had long set by the time we reached Bra?ov, frozen and stumbling down dimly lit streets clouded with the stench of urine. Returning here was dangerous, but it was the only town nearby we could get lost in, hiding among the mass populace and debauchery.

Crowds mulled outside busy pubs and brothels, conversing and drinking around barrels crackling with fires, drunks spillingin and out of the establishments. A dozen off-duty soldiers mixed in, yelling and falling down into the dirty slush.

“Like we never left,” I muttered into Ash’s back while we weaved through the dark alleys.

His bright green eyes flickered back to me, his head deep in his hood. I could see the strain on his expression, but even more unsettling was how much I could feel it. Without the bracelet, everything about him was sharper to me, thrumming under my skin.

His mouth parted, and I could hear him silently tell me to “stay close” and “keep my head down,” but he closed his mouth as if he didn’t need to remind me. I understood.

His hand reached back, linking with mine, pulling me tighter into him. I sucked in from the pain, my shoulder throbbing where the hawk-shifter dug her nails into me.

Concern wrinkled Ash’s mouth as he turned us down a familiar passage.

Women and men were already hanging out of the windows, displaying to anyone who could afford it that they were open and ready for business.

“We’re going back here?” I glanced up at the brothel sign. We had stayed here just over a week ago, but it felt like a lifetime. Two different people walked in now, changed by what had happened… or not happened here last time.

“We have no money.” Ash shrugged. “We have to bank on pity and hotness.” He tried to play it off cheeky, but it didn’t quite hit.

The warmth of the overcrowded room slapped my face, burning my cheeks and tickling my nose. “Wow.” I blinked around at the overflowing room, patrons and prostitutes heaving in every direction, the commotion jarring me after hours of the quiet forest.

“Oh my gods!” A dramatic pitch turned us to the foyer. Dressed in a glossy gold robe and wearing a blonde wig with sparklers sitting on it like a crown and thick, glittery gold makeup, Maestro Silk strutted up to us, his red-painted mouth open in shock. “My beauties have returned!”

“Good to see you.” Ash dipped his head.

“Oh, we are past formalities, my kittens.” He came up, air-kissing our cheeks. “I am so happy to have you back.” His nose wrinkled when he peered down at our dirty, torn, and definitely smelly clothes. “A little worse for wear, but nothing a bath and some clean clothes can’t change!” He waved off what we were wearing and returned to look at us. “My goodness, I forgot how unbelievably stunning you both are. And so beautifultogether.” He winked with a little shoulder wiggle. “Are we looking for a room together for a few hours?” His painted eyebrow arched up dramatically, his eyes flaring with insinuation. “A party room?” He was somehow able to speak with this dramatic flair, but also a million miles a second. “Itisa celebratory night, after all!”

Awareness crept in, and I understood his crown of sparklers and the overabundance of customers. “It’s New Year’s Eve,” I muttered, peering around at the alcohol, drugs, and prostitutes flowing through the room, a surreal feeling setting over me.

Last year, right before my world came crumbling down, I had been partying in a nightclub with my friends, drunk on champagne, dancing with the man I loved, thinking life was perfect. I had found my happily ever after. Found my “mate.”

Now I could look back with clearer eyes. How distant Wyatt was being, how he watched Piper. The guttural pain in his eyes observing her with her date, wanting to tear the man apart. The excuses he would make to be near her.

It was later that night he declared how he felt to her, and she could no longer deny she was in love with him, seeing him with me.

Star-crossed lovers.

And I was Roseline, not Juliet.

Reid and Eve were there guarding me at the New Year’s party, Reid gushing about his daughter learning to walk, and Eve patting my back when I threw up in the toilet later. Not yet a traitor.

That party girl was a stranger to me, as I would have been to her. A one-dimensional character I’d watch on TV and roll my eyes at, while she would have laughed uncontrollably if anyone told her where she’d be in a year.

How young and innocent to the world I was then. Pampered and naive, thinking I had it all. My life set. Rich, powerful, pretty, and with the most desired man around.

And in less than two weeks, I became a murderer.

A monster.

I stared down at my filthy, torn pants and sweater, which still had blood stains from myself, Ash, and the two men I killed. My hair was stringy and dirty, my skin dry and cracked, standing in a brothel with a vengeful tree fairy.

My life had changed so much from the girl I once was.

Tucking hair behind my ear, my eyes prickled with emotion, not knowing if I was mourning that girl or she was mourning me.

“Speaking of a room.” Ash retrieved my attention, a flirty grin tipping the side of his face. “You don’t have an unused storage room or abandoned basement?”

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