Page 72 of Land of Monsters

“We’re not blood related.” Dzsinn’s lip lifted.

“How do I know you aren’t somehow working with her now?” Ash continued on.

“Believe me, I want her dead as much as you do. And I’m sure she feels the same about me.” He scoffed. “She stole what is rightfully mine.”

“The necklace?” Ash wasn’t really asking a question.

“The stone in the necklace.”

“Start explaining,” Ash barked.

Dzsinn let out a long sigh. “Sonya and I were raised together, along with my brothers. Her mother, Anastasia, had attached herself to my uncle.” He cupped his hands on the table. “Anastasia was the local beauty. Stunning, charming. She had that thing that made men, fae or human, fall to their knees and give her anything she wanted. Which worked in her favor. Anastasia was a gold-digger, and my uncle was kind and giving with his money, a perfect mark for a widowed mother who was looking for someone to take care of her and her daughter. He pampered and adored them, not seeing the manipulative bitch she was, totally taken in with her fake charm and beauty. Anastasia made Sonya in her exact image. When Anastasia died, Sonya stole our family heirloom and disappeared, knowing its worth and power.” He rolled his shoulders back with irritation. “I have been hunting her for a long time but could never getclose enough. You provided the opportunity. If I had told you of our past, you wouldn’t have trusted me.”

“The stone she took was the Cintamani stone,” Ash noted.

“The Cintamani stone?” I peered between them. “Wait. That’s the jewel known as the ‘wish-fulfilling’ gem.” I recalled reading about it in one of my fae history classes. “You can get almost anything you wish for.”

“It has limits, like genies do, but it gives you the luck and opportunity to achieve anything,” Dzsinn said. “A source of nature’s energy, it also prolongs your life, heals any ailments.”

“It’s why Sonya has gotten so far, and become so powerful with very average fae magic.” Ash sat back in his chair. “How she’s been able to attach herself to very powerful leaders—climb in power, escape unscathed in war, and probably why President Lazar folded to her so easily.”

“And she will continue to grow and conquer, as we’ve seen.” Dzsinn’s eyes darted to me. I shifted in my seat. I hadn’t let myself think about what had happened in that cave or what could’ve happened if Ash hadn’t come for me. “Unless we stop her.”

They assumed I’d be a viable breeder, my Druid body popping out monsters like them, but it would’ve been a huge disappointment.

My brother came out ideal. I came out fucked up, a glitch in my makeup, which left me barren. I found that out when I went through fae puberty—I would never be a mother.

As if Ash could sense my dark thoughts, his hand reached for mine, then stopped. Pulling it back, he sat up in his chair, keeping his focus on Dzsinn.

“She will hold all the power until we get the stone back,” Dzsinn said. “You get it back for me…” He took a breath. “And your favors are paid in full.”

Ash’s head jerked, his spine going rigid, staring at the genie as if to make sure he was in earnest.

“Okay.” Ash swallowed, his head bowing. “How do we get it back from her?” He clasped his hands, like he wanted to keep them far from me. “Cut off her head?”

“Not as easy as it looks.” Dzsinn sighed. “She has all the luck and magic on her side.” He tilted his head. “I have a connection I think can give us an in, plus others I’d like to contact. I will need a week or so to reach them.” Dzsinn stood up from the table. “Daciana said you can stay here until I return.” He tapped at the table, lifting an eyebrow. “Though she asked you to stop drawing attention to this place.”

“Drawing attention?” Ash shifted, peering up at him, perplexed.

A rare smile hinted on his mouth. “And tone down the sex. Stay out of trouble until I get back.”

The man walked away, his figure slipping in with the bikers and disappearing as if he never existed.

Ash rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes still staying off me, the tension growing like weeds between us the moment Dzsinn left us alone.

“You owe him favors?” My voice came out more unsteadily than I wanted. “What for?”

He let out a dark laugh, his head wagging, bitter amusement crossing his face. “The price of revenge.” The chair screeched back as he stood up. “And you.” His tone was contemptuous and annoyed. He turned away, stomping out of the bar, not able to get away from me fast enough.

I stared after him, anger simmering inside my chest, hating that his dismissal dredged up my deepest insecurities.

A failure in who I was born to be, not loved enough by the one boy I loved more than anything. My brother was the one everyone adored, his talents easily praised while mine werehidden away. My parents were too scared of how the world would react if they knew the princess was a dark dweller and obscurer in one, not able to control her powers. Druids were hated enough, but an obscurer, even in the Druid world, was a detestation.

Something that shouldn’t exist.

My parents raised me to be strong; their love and support were never the problem. It was outside the family bubble that was all pretend. The media bought into the image of me, the reserved, pampered princess. And after a while I bought into it as well. Shopping, lunches, parties—but having Wyatt by my side kept me grounded, reminded me of who I really was.

Until he was no longer there, and the ground vanished from under my feet. For so long I’d felt I was falling, with nothing to hold on to. Scared of what I was capable of, not trusting or believing in myself, hiding behind the bracelet on my wrist.

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