Page 5 of Charming Her Monsters

“A supernatural’s spirit?” Amira asks curiously. “Not a witch or warlock?”

Maxum admits, “An incubus.”

“Well, that might explain what I sense that’s so odd about her.”

“I don’t feel either of their spirits right now. She feels…” Maxum bites his lip, drawing blood. He really doesn’t want to tell me. “Arran, maybe we should go outside. And let Amira work.”

My head spins. He wants to contain my beast. There’s only one reason for that. He thinks Jade is beyond return.

“No!” I howl and my berserker breaks free from my hold.

My claws descend and pierce Jade’s hand. What have I done? I’ve hurt her more.

My berserker releases her and falls back to the floor, scrambling away.

“Arran, come with me,” Maxum says calmly. I don’t know how he can be so calm with Jade in this condition. Does he not care?

But I can’t leave her. I shake my head because I can’t speak in my full beast-like form.

“Okay, just stay there and let Amira heal our woman.” Maxum stands between me and Amira, protecting the healer.

However, it’s unnecessary. Even my crazed beast wouldn’t hurt that witch, since her healing ability is the only thing preventing me from losing my mind completely.

2

DISASTER

FLINT

My phoenix friend, Calder, doesn’t appear as though he will pull through, but I know he will make it, even if it’s through his death. Either this body will heal itself, or he will die and be reborn. My money is on the former. I’ve seen him go through worse and recover.

The unfamiliar phoenix, Raithe, is working on stabilizing Calder and patching him up. I know he’s in expert hands with someone who knows how to treat his own kind.

So instead of worrying about the phoenix, I direct all my concern to Arran, Maxum, and their sweet little witch.

Our wolf shifter is a wreck.

Maxum’s putting up a brave face, but the demon was more than charmed by the unusual female. I believe he is falling in love with her.

I also find Jade a genuine delight. Her chaotic, creative mind amuses my overly logical one. It’s her pure heart that draws me in, enticing me in a new way I don’t fully understand yet. Surprisingly, she actually appears to be interested in being my friend, even though I’m an odd one even among the supernaturals.

If Jade passes away, the realms will be dimmer without her presence.

With the somber mood permeating the house, it feels like her death has already come to be.

In his beast form, Arran is curled into a ball on the floor. I’ve never seen his berserker side like this.

Maxum paces next to him, watching his old acquaintance Amira work her magic on Jade.

Jade’s magical creatures quietly sneak into the great room and watch on as their witch battles with death. They also shoot worried glances in Calder’s direction, as they’d started to bond with the phoenix in the last few days.

I wish I could assure everyone that it will be alright. But I don’t know it to be true… not for Jade, at least. If she dies, Arran might lose his mind as he loses his heart.

My soul aches for him. He had just found his center and his anchor in her presence. Now this tragedy threatens to take that all away.

I wonder what happened. Why was she in the alleyway? Did Osen force her to go to his death spot? From what the guinea pig said, it sounds like this is the case. But what would be the purpose?

If it weren’t for the precarious situation here, I would go investigate the scene myself. But as it is, I need to stay here and help Maxum if Arran’s berserker goes wild and tries to harm anyone.

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