Page 53 of An Inheritance of Monsters

That elusive quarry that had always lurked just out of reach, hiding behind pages and rumors no one would speak of…

Voraal’s pale-fire eyes gleamed. “For you, she removed that male from the island. She has spared his life for your sake.”

That male… he obviously meant Crispy.

My blood ran cold as I thought it through. We’d both felt that the storm was no coincidence, and now I had direct confirmation.

But spared him fromwhat, exactly?

“I’d thank her, if I knew where to find her.”

Voraal cocked his head, and finally uttered a soft laugh. “You will find her in time. After all, you are in the Void, now marked by its power.”

I looked down at myself as though to see the same kind of glowing runes on my skin, but there was nothing but tidal bioluminescence left on me.

No sign of any physical mark… but did I feel changed? Like my world had shifted, and my life and priorities with it?

Yes. I supposed it was more of a spiritual mark.

Voraal’s deep voice softened. “I will show you, Juno. Come with me.”

But a deep growl echoed through the ground, shaking my bones, and I nearly whipped around before I realized the sound was coming from Rask.

“I have not yet tended to her needs.” He bared his fangs. “You may be the chosen guardian-in-waiting, but you are not yet her mate, Voraal.”

The monster of swirling smoke straightened up, muscles gleaming like stone. His eyes flared white-hot as he glared back at Rask.

But a voice rang through our heads.

He speaks the truth.You have not made your claim as of yet.We have.

Despite the tension growing between the monsters, my face split into a wide grin at the sound of his mental voice. This time I did whip around, finding his sleek form bobbing in the waves near us. “Zirin!”

It was a little hard to tell, but his face seemed to soften as he looked at me, the tentacles beneath his slitted nostrils curling gently.

Hello, my mate, he said softly in my mind.

Each time they said it, it felt like a hook was embedding itself deeper and deeper inside me.

But there was no pain. Only surety, and an intense, deep-seated happiness.

I waded back into the sea as Zirin pulled himself into the shallows. His tentacles curled around my legs, twining over my thighs and waist.

I cupped his face in my hands. “I was worried about you during the storm.”

You worried for me?His tone was hopeful, and his rings flared pink and violet, betraying what I now knew was a sense of pleasure.I am one of the chosen guardians, Juno. I cannot be harmed by it.

“I’m glad I know that now.” I told him briefly of the storm that had battered the island, and the loss of Crispy.

One of his tentacles writhed irritably at the mention of my cameraman.

I cannot say I am sorry that a human male has left your presence. He glanced at me sidelong.But I am sorry you were upset by it.

“Believe me, Zirin—you have zero competition on that front.” I laughed softly, trying to keep out the bitterness.

Because as simple as Rask made it seem, I had a whole life off the island.

A career. People who depended on me.

---