Page 35 of Enticing Monsters

He takes a step closer, his eyes never leaving Xander’s, and growls. Fire skirts up his arms and hugs his skin like multicolored sleeves of deepest red and orange.

“Settle down, Fire Boy.” V chuckles good-naturedly and slaps a hand down on Foster’s shoulder, seemingly unconcerned that his palm immediately begins to smoke. “We all know you’re more than capable of taking care of our girl. And all of us know that our girl is capable of taking care of herself.”

“Damn right,” I murmur, but he ignores me and continues speaking to Foster.

“But Xander here is just a worrywart.” V rolls his eyes as if the mere prospect of worrying is absolutely ridiculous.

Yet V is the one who initially followed us hereandtexted Xander our location. He can feign nonchalance all he wants, but he wouldn’t do those things for no reason.

My psychotic angel prince was…and probably still is…worried.

Is it just because of the shade creature?

From what I gathered, all of the fae evacuated this world when the land began to fail, and they haven’t been back since. The air is supposed to be heady with the virus, hence why we could only return with our powers dampened, tricking the world into believing we’re magicless humans.

“I could’ve handled the shade,” I insist.

And that’s not even a lie. I most definitely could’ve handled the shade…if I knew it was a shade in the first place. Obliviousness will be my greatest weakness in this strange new world.

Xander’s lips thin even farther, a feat I didn’t think was possible. “I’m not talking about the shade.”

“Are there more creatures here?” My curiosity is suddenly piqued.

Obviously, I know the virus wiped out the majority of the fae who remained on this planet. But what about the other animals? The other creatures? I haven’t seen anything besides the shade and a few birds, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

What exactly is Xander so afraid of? Is it just the unknown in general or something more…malicious?

Either way, I instantly feel like shit for making Xander worry about me in the first place.

I push up on my tiptoes and poke at the crease between his eyebrows. His eyes practically cross in his attempt to keep my finger in sight.

“Are you…poking me?” He sounds dumbfounded.

I just continue to stab at that adorable furrow. “I’m trying to distract you. Is it working?”

“Not even the slightest bit.”

V laughs out loud at that, and even Foster—who still looks shaken from when he accidentally burned me—cracks a tentative smile.

Xander abruptly grabs my finger and then begins to pull me towards the house I just exited.

I dig my heels into the dirt as I mount a half-hearted protest. “Xander, stop!”

“Ooohhh. Someone’s in trouble.” V snickers like a damn child, and surprisingly, it’s Foster who whacks him in the chest.

“Stop it or you’re going to get in trouble too,” he scolds.

“Does the punishment involve spankings?” V asks seriously.

I don’t get to hear Foster’s response because Xander nudges me into the house and then closes the door with a soft click.

And I find myself staring up at my very angry, very sexy mate. His shadows caress my body like the whiskers of a paintbrush before grabbing hold of both my wrists. Abruptly, they force my hands behind my back, the movement pushing my breasts out, and Xander takes a step closer. The sunlight streaming through the dusty blinds behind him highlights his broad shoulders and gives his dark hair a golden sheen.

“Ms. Jenkins.” Xander’s voice can best be described as a purr as he looms over me. “I think it’s time we had a chat about…appropriatemate behavior. Don’t you agree?”

CHAPTER TWELVE

SERAFINA

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