Page 50 of Enticing Monsters

GAGE

“How many times do I have to tell you?” I drop my head down, listening to the satisfying thump of my skull hitting the table. “I didn’t do anything!”

Caleb folds his arms over his chest from where he sits across from me.

When Sera’s brother called me, asking to meet, I thought…

Well, is it stupid to believe I thought he wanted to discuss my relationship with her? Maybe give me his approval, as archaic as that is?

Instead, as soon as I arrived at the hotel, Caleb shackled my wrists in magical cuffs and led me into a tiny conference room—nothing but a circular table and four rolling chairs. All of them are currently occupied. Caleb sits in one, Mrs. and Mr. Jenkins have claimed the other two, while I’m in the last one. Maddox, the largest of Sera’s siblings, remains standing, leaning against the wall as if he believes his sheer size will hold the building up.

“Honey,” Mrs. Jenkins begins kindly, reaching forward to place her dainty hand over mine, “we just need to understand.”

“A baku attacked the council, and you’re the only registered baku in the area,” adds Mr. Jenkins, his lips thinning.

And, god help me, I can’t help but think of how horrible an impression I’m making on my mate’s parents. For them to think I’m capable of hurting the lords and ladies…

Bile scorches my throat, both at the implication of his words and how royally fucked I am.

They’re right. There are no other bakus in the area. Hell, there may not be any in the entire world. We’re a rare breed of supernatural with immense power. Healing, in general, is revered by the fae community, but to also be able to influence minds? Dreams? Reality? It’s a terrifying concept for people to comprehend.

The only other baku I know of was arrested years ago—more than likely by Serafina’s family.

“Maybe the attack wasn’t by a baku,” I rasp out as my gaze drops unbidden to the photographs laid out before me.

The lords and ladies have been moved to a hospital—a floor specifically used for fae—and are being treated around the clock by some of the best healers, though I know it won’t do any good. If they’ve truly been attacked by a baku, then there’s no saving them.

Just like no one could save my dad.

In all of the photos, their eyes are shut, but their lips are parted as if releasing silent screams. The sight makes my stomach churn violently, and the nausea from before returns with a vengeance.

Caleb inches a picture closer to me, and I don’t even need to look to know that the photo will be of Charise.

The queen’s daughter.

“Look, man.” Caleb forks his fingers through his dark blond hair. “I know you mean a lot to Serafina, which is why we’re trying to help you. But if you don’t give us some answers, the queen will have your balls. And my balls…which I’m rather attached to.”

“I don’t have any answers to give because I didn’t do anything.” I clench my hands into fists on the table. “Isn’t there a mind reader who works for the FIB? A glawackus? Send him here. He can attest to my innocence.”

“I would if we could.” Maddox drags a hand down his face. “But Mylar has been loaned out to the FIB office in Paris. He won’t be back until the end of the month. I doubt you want to wait that long.”

God, all I want to do is leave this damn room, pull Serafina into my arms, and kiss the living daylights out of her. I want to know if her plush pink lips are as soft as they look. If she’ll taste sweet and sugary, like candy. If her skin would feel like silk beneath my fingertips.

But I can’t do any of that. Not now. Not until I can clear my name and get out of this fucking mess.

Mr. Jenkins and Maddox exchange an unreadable look while Mrs. Jenkins offers a serene smile—one that doesn’t reach her eyes.

“Do you think you’ve been framed, Gage?” she asks gently.

I blow out an exasperated breath. “Yes.”

That’s the only explanation I can think of, unless there’s another species of fae roaming the world with powers similar to mine. Honestly, that wouldn’t surprise me. Sera was revealed to be a skinwalker long after we thought that particular species was extinct. Perhaps there’s another type of fae out there that we don’t know about yet, with powers similar to my own. This could all be nothing but an eerie coincidence.

However, a tiny voice in the back of my head can’t help but feel as if this is all connected.

All of the murders.

The virus.

---