Page 32 of Charming Her Monsters

“Why can I do it then?” I ask.

“You…” she hesitates, as if she doesn’t want to tell me. “You are made differently.”

“Are you in the spirit realm watching over me or something? How do you know what I can do?”

She ignores my questions and says, “Now that your full magic has been freed, you need to learn to use it. Quickly, mija. You are in more danger now that they can no longer control you. They won’t suffer a witch such as you.”

“Why didn’t you warn me before? With Rob?” I demand.

“He turned your pendant against me, blocking me,” she explains. “Before he corrupted my gift, I had visited.”

Conflicting emotions collide inside my chest. “That was really you in my dreams.”

“Yes, after I was killed.” She warns, “You feel safe with these males, but you aren’t meant to be with them.”

She was murdered?

Why would she tell me they aren’t for me? Her words conflict with the knowledge I have in my soul that theyaremeant to be in my life. It hits me like a lie. Anger rises up in my heart. I wonder now if this is actually the spirit of my grandmother. And if it is, does she care about me? Or is she just mean like my mother?

“Go now. Don’t return.”

An unknown force shoves me backward and I shout as I fly back into my body. I wake up in bed with hot, heavy limbs weighing me down, pinning me to the bed.

I scramble to break free, not realizing at first it’s just my guys snuggling me.

“Jade? What’s wrong?” Arran asks. “Is Osen attacking you?”

“What? No.” I shake my head. In the darkness, I barely can make out the shapes of them next to me. Why did he instantly think Osen was hurting me? “I just had a weird dream about my grandmother.”

Arran’s eyes now glow gold, as if gleaming with worry. Maxum’s flame with red, and I can actually see their faces with their light.

“Are you sure it wasjusta dream?” Maxum asks, his voice wary, and he appears ready to attack anything that moves.

“It might have been her spirit.” I frown, but relax into their hold. “I need to learn how to have more control with this dream magic.”

“As soon as you have recovered, I will teach you what I can.” Maxum strokes my cheek and gazes into my eyes.

“I wish I could do more to protect you,” Arran says.

“It isn’t your jobs to do that,” I argue. “I need to do it myself.”

Both males growl. They don’t like that idea, but don’t debate my statement either. They know the wisdom in it, even if they’re acting out the trope of ‘touch her and die vibes.’

Can’t say I mind having someone fighting on my team for a change. It helps that they are actual monsters that would have no problem tearing someone apart that was about to hurt me.

My naughty bits tingle with excitement.

“Jade?” Arran sniffs the air. “What are you thinking about, you minx?”

“Just how sexy it is to feel as though you might do almost anything for me,” I admit.

“Might? Almost anything?” Maxum cups my chin, his intense gaze dangerous and feral. “You have to know wewould do anything for you.”

I gulp with his intensity. “Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I’m not used to that. My mom essentially disowned me as soon as I was eighteen. And as you know, my ex-boyfriends are the human equivalent of black mold—and that’s being generous.”

Again, they curl their lips with disgust at the mention of my ex.

“We won’t let you forget it,” Arran promises. “Even if you no longer wish to be with me intimately, I will always show up for you. I will always protect you.”

---