Page 33 of Enticing Monsters

He shrugs as if this entire argument is ridiculous. “You’re mine.”

I roll my eyes, muttering about conceited macho men as I indicate the squirming bundle in his grip. “Don’t hurt that kitten,” I warn him emphatically. “You may usually like it when I hurt you, but I’ll make Foster do it.”

Not that Foster actuallycanhurt V, considering my angel prince doesn’t feel pain. But whatever. It’s the thought that counts.

Foster sputters, but I just glare at V.

He cocks his head to the side, eyeing Foster up and down. “He is pretty, isn’t he? Especially when he lets those flames go. A shame he muted them here.”

“Why are your wings out? Do you want to die or something?” Foster interjects, choosing to ignore V’s blatant sexual reference.

Probably a good idea. It’s a coin toss if the prince of insanity would follow through with his unspoken threats or not.

“Has your potion worn off?” Foster asks. “You should know better than anyone that you shouldn’t use your magic unless it’s a life-or-death situation!”

Worry thrums through me at that, and I step forward, reaching a hand out to stroke over one of the giant, curved wings, the feathers soft and silken under my fingertips.

V smirks at us. “Never limit yourself. You don’t know what dangers you may face.”

As if to prove his point, he tosses the kitten into the air, flinging it high above his head. I gasp, reaching out to catch the creature, but he swirls and twists in the air above us.

I’m not sure if it’s Foster or I who yelp, but we both take a large step back from the creature that could have been a cross between a small saber-toothed tiger and an armadillo now standing in front of us, shaking itself and growling at V.

He has the face of a tiger, his fur purple with splashes of pink, but the body of an armadillo, complete with a white, bony shell that covers the length of his back.

“What. The. Fuck.” At this point, I need it tattooed on my forehead.

I can only stare at the scaled, purple and white creature who settles onto his hindquarters and begins to lick a paw as though that has been his intent all along.

“It’s a shade,” V explains. “He probably would have just taken a finger or two, but they’ll take more if they can get it. They are carnivorous.” His gaze is judgmental as it lands on me. “I’ve told you before to always be on guard. Extra practice starting tomorrow.”

“Ms. Jenkins!” Another commanding voice rings out, and Foster and I both groan.

“Maybe I should have just let it eat me,” I mutter, and Foster nods his agreement as we turn to face the raging man stalking towards us, fury written across every line of his face—from his stormy eyes to the deep grooves of his scowl.

Yeah, letting it eat me is probably the better plan.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SERAFINA

“Oh…fuck,” I murmur as I tentatively venture a single step backwards.

I feel like a little kid who got caught sticking her hand in the cookie jar before dinner—and in my family, that usually leads to two additional hours of training before bedandextra helpings of broccoli. Sometimes, my parents would even put traps inside the jar that would cause our hands to get stuck in there for hours.

But hey, you took the risk, so now it’s time to face the punishment.

Let’s just say I didn’t have a lot of cookies when I was younger.

All of that flits through my mind now as I watch Xander skirt around one of the diminutive homes. He storms towards me like an avenging angel, all dark violence and cold perfection. And yes, the irony of that statement isn’t lost on me, considering a real angel stands just behind me, his shoulder against the wall of the tiny house closest to us as he spins his blade around and around.

But anyway… Xander’s the goddamn trap in the cookie jar, and I’m the idiot who decided she needed dessert.

Foster remains at my side, providing silent comfort, and I appreciate that more than I care to admit. Most people would run in the opposite direction rather than face Xander’s wrath, but not Foster. Sure, he may be pissing himself right about now, but who isn’t?

Xander’s freaking terrifying when he’s angry.

And sexy.

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