Page 50 of Held By a Monster

The fae looked around and scrunched his face. “Well, pass it along. I don’t want to stay here long.”

Zeus shook his head. “Impatient, as always I see.” Zeus’s voice took on a hard edge. “I’ll need something from you in exchange.”

“Of course.” Aymar waved his hand in an airy circle.

“I’ve come across some knowledge of a new creature existing right here in Damruck.”

He tried to hide it, but I could see the fae’s demeanor perk up. “What sort of new creature?”

“One capable of taking on dragons.”

Aymar’s hand fluttered around his neck, but his shock was only performance deep. “Well, that is a worthy piece of news.”

“Word on the street is that these creatures are associated with a human.”

That was my cue. I moved closer to where the two men stood. I kicked a pinecone, sending it skittering in front of me as I made my way through the sparse pines.

I kept my nose pointed deeper into the woods. My eyes would give too much of my location away.

I’d gone maybe fifteen feet when I heard Aymar gasp.

“Did you see that?”

“I saw a firefly flicker orange.”

“No, not that.”

I moved deeper into the woods, having confirmation I’d been seen. A low hum directed my attention skyward. The dim light of a small moon made it hard to see, but the object darting overhead had followed us on so many missions, it was easy to recognize.

“Drone!” I called out to my brothers stationed nearby. I didn’t have time to do anything more. Multiple soft whistles heralded the hundreds of darts that rained down on me. I threw my forearms over my head and roared in frustration. There was nothing I could do.

“Stand down! Regroup. Kendal will know where to find me.”

Men in tactical gear, weapons raised and eyes wide darted toward me. My vision went blurry. I sank on my haunches and held my palms out. If I could escape capture without serious injury it would better my chances during any rescue attempt.

I sought Kendal’s window as nets wrapped around my body from three directions. Her hands were pressed against the glass, her face ashen. The fear in her eyes was the last thing I saw before the drugs sucked me under.

It wasn’t the first time I’d been drugged, and I knew it would wear off quickly. I’d also learned to stay still and silent, feigning unconsciousness for as long as possible. The time to assess my situation was invaluable.

The scientists always put more faith in their sedatives than they should.

Slowly, the sounds separated and became distinct. I was inside a transport, my wrists and ankles bound. Two guards rode in the back with me, and I heard a driver and a scientist from the front.

The guards were whispering, trying to keep their conversation unnoticed.

“Can you believe this shit? What is that thing?”

“I don’t know, but I hope like hell it doesn’t wake up before we get to the facility. I don’t want to tangle with it.”

“Aww, c’mon Carl. It gave up without a fight. Maybe they have some sort of control over it.”

“Or maybe it knew the drugs were gonna knock it out and decided to bide its time.”

“I think we could take it. Nothing survives a point-blank rifle shot.”

I’d love to tell him that he would need to make damn sure the bullet entered my brain. And hope my reflexes were so dulled I didn’t gut him before he could pull the trigger.

I tuned them out and focused on the front of the vehicle. The scientist’s voice seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place it. She was quietly giving the driver directions, which the driveracknowledged with grunts. Neither of them were as chatty as my two guards.

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