Page 75 of Enticing Monsters

Cadmus seems to consider his next words carefully. “I might be able to help, if I could see him. As a basilisk, I’m able to detect and drain out most poisons and sicknesses and viruses. Anything that will affect the blood of a fae or human.”

He runs a finger across his lips contemplatively.

My heart skitters with hope.

“But I’ll need something in return, little skinwalker.”

“Anything,” I blurt before I can think better of it.

But I won’t change my mind. I’ll do anything for any of my mates, consequences be damned.

“Wait.” Kian moves to stand protectively in front of me. “What did you just call her?”

I stare at Kian in confusion, but Foster obviously understands where Kian’s going with this.

He moves to join him in front of me. “You called her skinwalker. How did you know?”

Cadmus appears confused. His brows bunch together, and a noticeable fissure materializes between his eyes. “I told you before. The babies were always born with distinct characteristics that set them apart from the others. They were the only fae in existence who began showing signs of their species before their Revelation.”

“Wait. What?” I gape at him.

What does that have to do with anything?

But I have a sinking feeling I already know.

My stomach bottoms out, and I sway precariously on my feet, dark spots encroaching on the edges of my vision.

“I thought you knew. I thought that’s why you came.” Cadmus’s frown deepens, creating twin wrinkles on either side of his lips. “The future ruler was always born as a skinwalker—the only fae of their type for generations. And they always,alwayshad distinct pink hair.”

He takes a step closer as my heart hammers so hard in my chest I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter my rib cage. My breath comes out in choppy gasps that sound abnormally loud in the sudden silence that permeates the tent.

“You, Serafina, are the next ruler of Faerie, and you may just be the one who can save us all.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

V

Don’t do this to me, Virginia.

The words echo in the darkness I’m drowning in, and I struggle towards them, trying to reach the surface. To break free of these chains weighing me down. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t breach the shadows in my mind. Memories wrap their cloying fingers around me and tug me deeper into this abyss.

I’ve told my kitten that I can’t feel pain other than what she provides to me.

But here? Wherever it is I’m trapped? There’s nothingbutpain. And not the exhilarating kind that she causes. For the first time, I understand the idea of being burned alive. Yet, unlike that agony, this isn’t stopping. There’s no sweet relief of death here, taking me to a peaceful rest.

This agony isn’t just physical, though. Maybe it isn’t at all? Is that why I can feel it? The thought fractures almost as soon as it crosses my mind, my memories too strong to avoid.

“Star,” Avril whispers into my ear, her breath barely stirring the hair that’s covering my eyes.

“Star, you’ve got to move,” she whispers again.

Her voice is high and tight, frightened, but I can’t seem to respond to her. I’m so tired.

“Come on!” Her words are more urgent now as she tugs on my arm.

Even her little hand is big enough to wrap around my wrist, as thin and fragile as it is. I can feel it groan underneath her grip, hear the bone as it snaps with an audible pop, but my body doesn’t respond.

There’s no pain.

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