Page 26 of Guarded By a Monster

“Oh, don’t look so surprised. I’m eighty-one years old and have depths and multitudes of layers you’ve only scratched the surface of.”

“But how do you know supernaturals exist?”

“I spent an amazing month with a vampire named Killian.” She fanned herself. “The things that bloodsucker could do would curl your toes.”

“I get the picture!” I needed to cut off that line of conversation before she went into far more detail than anyone wanted to hear. “It still has to be up to him. You can’t invite yourself.”

“Fine, fine.” She plopped onto my couch and patted her lap. Three cats came running to vie for her attention. “Be a dear and grab my go bag from the trunk while we wait.”

eighteen

I walked through theback door into Jade’s house and said, “You’re staying with me.”

Her voice wove over mine. “Can I stay with you?”

We both smiled, and I relaxed a bit. Then a strange woman stepped beside her. Her eyes went round and her jaw slack, but then she grinned and elbowed Jade.

“Please tell me you’re hitting that.”

“Nanna!” Jade’s blush spread to her chest.

“What? If you aren’t, I might throw my hat in the ring. You never know, he might have a granny kink.”

Jade’s head fell back and she stared at the ceiling. “Please stop talking.”

The older woman winked at me before she shuffled over and wrapped my waist in a hug. I patted her back. Even with Kendal’s daily hugs, I felt awkward.

She backed until she held me at arm’s length. “Sit down, boy, and let me get a good look at you.”

I fell to my haunches. Despite Jade’s reactions to the woman’s words, this was clearly someone she cared for. I grunted when she grabbed my horns and yanked my face close to hers. “If you hurt her, I will string your balls from the fence post at the Sunset Springs community center—with you still attached to them.”

I swallowed and nodded as much as I could. Her grip was strong and the promise shining in her eyes left little doubt she’d do it.

My eyes flicked to Jade, who was pinching the bridge of her nose, her glasses perched on her forehead.

“Nanna, we need to go.”

“Nonsense! You haven’t even properly introduced me.”

Jade flicked a hand from me to the woman and back. “Thurl, meet Nanna, my grandmother. Nanna, meet Thurl.”

I dipped my head. “A pleasure?” I didn’t mean to make it sound like a question. Instead of being offended, Nanna laughed.

“Nanna wants to come with me, but you don’t have to say yes.”

Jade was clearly trying to convey something with the look she gave me, but I couldn’t decipher whether it was to allow her grandmother to come or not.

“If you wish it.” I would risk my delicate bits being crucified while still attached if it meant Jade was happy.

“Of course she wishes it.” Nanna patted my arm. “Be a dear and get my bag.”

Somehow, I ended up with two small suitcases and a cat carrier. Jade insisted on carrying the bag of supplies she was bringing for the cats and the other cat, saying he would need time to warm up to me. I didn’t know what that meant, but the enormous orange cat seemed happy with me, judging by the loud purring that came from his carrier.

We were a strange, slow parade through the woods. Nanna had kept a steady stream of questions flowing in Jade’s direction, but as we stepped onto my porch, she went quiet.

I rubbed at my suddenly itchy arms and tried to see my house through fresh eyes. By the time she spoke, I was ready to tear it down and build whatever Jade wanted.

“What a lovely home.”

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