Page 9 of Guarded By a Monster

Roul hauled the body up and over his shoulder and I was grateful I wouldn’t have to carry it. They started walking toward the backyard, but I stopped them.

“I need to pick up her things. Feed her cats. Lock up for her.” Care for her in the only way I could.

Kragen nodded. “Make it fast. We’ll wait beyond the tree line.”

I found an outside faucet and washed my hands. I didn’t want to leave blood all over her things. I picked up her bag. Her keys were still in the door. I let myself inside, quickly closing the door behind me so none of the cats would escape.

Her house was small, but comfortable. It felt like home—if home had a dozen cats who stared at you from their various perches. The biggest of the bunch, an orange cat I’d seen in the window earlier, sashayed to me and rubbed itself against my legs.

That seemed to unfreeze the others and they all rushed me, some chirping and others meowing with several running from me to the kitchen and back again.

I chuckled. “Yes, you’re hungry. Let me see what I can do.”

The first cabinet I opened was full of containers and cans neatly labeled with names like Catticus Finch and Purrito Supreme. I looked at the swirling mass of fur at my feet and sighed. “I hope you know which of you is which.”

I picked up a dozen bowls from the floor and set them on the counter. Putting cans of food into them and adding various powders from matching labeled containers was easy. I kept the bowls in the order they were in on the floor and filled them according to the order in the cabinet, before placing them back on the floor.

All the cats lined up at their bowls, some going around others. I hoped that was a sign that they knew who got which bowl. Her disappointment if I made one of them sick would kill me.

I found my brothers in the woods, and we walked to the compound in silence. My house appeared first. I veered to go inside but Drym stopped me.

“What did it feel like when you saw her?”

A low rumble started in my chest. “Like I never wanted to let her go.”

He nodded and turned his attention to the backs of the others as they continued to their own houses. Roul splintered from the group, taking the body somewhere no one would find it.

“I think she may be your mate.”

My mouth fell open. “My mate?”

He nodded. “If that’s the case, you’ll need to show yourself. And if she’s in danger, you need to do it sooner rather than later.”

I shook my head. “She will run and scream. I will terrify her.”

He tilted his head. “We didn’t terrify Kendal.”

My mouth shut with a snap. “Kendal is different.”

He shrugged. “You won’t know unless you try.”

I sighed. “Even if she reacts well, I am broken, Drym.”

He shook his head. “You are not. Damaged, yes, but not broken.” He walked away, leaving me the one place I didn’t want to be. Alone with my thoughts.

seven

I instantly regretted thedecision to open my eyes. The sun had moved into my house and hung out on my ceiling. I didn’t think the sun was bright white, but I had to have been wrong. Light filtered red through my eyelids in testament to how bright it was.

I opened my mouth and it felt like I’d tried to eat an entire bag of cotton balls. Or an entire sleeve of Saltines like that internet challenge.

Someone grabbed my hand. Who was in my house? Had to be Emma. She was the only other person who had a key.

“You’re okay. You’re in the hospital.”

“Hospital?” I croaked.

“Here’s some water.”

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