Page 14 of Enticing Monsters

But I’ve seen his dark side. I know that underneath his seemingly impassive exterior is a fire that burns white-hot and blistering.

“Probably the same asshole who murdered the assassin and put him in my bed. And probably the same person who killed all of those fae with that one virus.”

Foster’s gaze turns contemplative as he turns the car onto a side street. “The FIB believes it’s the same virus that once ravaged Faerie, correct?” he questions, speaking of the mythical land it’s believed our people are derived from.

I don’t know a whole lot about it, but apparently, a virus decimated most of the fae population before they escaped to Earth to live with the humans.

Foster doesn’t wait for me to respond before he forges ahead.

“Why does everything seem to stem back to this one virus? How was this person even able to create a virus that only exists in the fae realm?” He turns towards me before quickly focusing back on the road. “Your parents traveled to Faerie, right? That’s how they found you?”

I swallow. It sometimes still hurts when I remember all of the secrets my parents kept from me for years and years. Yes, they believed me to be a changeling—a human that is swapped with a fae baby at birth—but they still could’ve saved me years of torment if they had just told me the truth. I don’t blame them, but it doesn’t negate the hurt.

If they had told me I was a changeling, exposed me to this world earlier, would my health be better than it is now? After the stress of Tristan and Kian’s kidnapping, I’ve been plagued by nightmares, interrupting my sleep and calm that I desperately need for my body to cooperate with me. I’m sure that if any of the guys know that I’ve had several seizures across the past few days that they’ll all get behind Xander’s continued threats to spank me.

Heat flares in my cheeks as I consider it. It seems odd, sometimes, to be so turned on by the idea of Xander spanking me, inflicting pain, when I’ve lived with pain all of my life. Even now, I have to shift in my seat, attempting to relieve some of the tension in my back and neck that is sending shocks of pain up into my skull.

It’s hard for people who haven’t experienced them to understand the idea of headaches that encompass not just your head but your shoulders, your sinuses, your teeth…

But I can push through. Iwillpush through. Tristan needs me, and there’s nothing, absolutely nothing, more important than taking care of my mates.

Even if I still struggle with the idea of them taking care of me.

“Why does everything seem to be leading back to Faerie?” I murmur more to myself than to Foster.

An idea occurs to me then—a small seedling of an idea that hasn’t yet begun to grow but has the potential to flourish if I allow it to.

I can’t help but ask, “How do you even get to Faerie? Obviously, you can travel through portals, but where are those portals located?”

Foster whips his head in my direction so quickly that the car nearly slides into the opposite lane.

“Lost,” he begins gently, “you know that entering Faerie as a…well…as a fae is a death sentence. The virus is still prevalent in the air there.”

“Do you know that for sure?”

I don’t know why I’m even arguing. It’s not like I truly plan to travel to Faerie…right? That’s completely and utterly insane.

Right?

Right?!

“Um…” Foster slowly untangles his fingers from mine to place both hands on the steering wheel. He turns the car into Xander’s apartment complex but doesn’t move to shut off the vehicle. He simply stays there, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the rubber, his face leaching of all color. “Not exactly, but?—”

“I’m not saying we’re going to travel to Faerie,” I rush to reassure the fire elemental before he can descend into a full-blown panic attack. “You don’t need to worry.”

Foster tosses me a tentative smile, though I can still see worry etched across his face.

“I know you want answers, Lost, but you need to be smart about where you get them.” He reaches once again for my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. A tiny bit of his fire magic migrates up my arm from where he touches me, infusing my body with warmth. “None of us can lose you. Not now. Not ever.”

I swear the fire from his touch seeps into my chest, making me feel light and airy. A blush crawls up my cheeks at his words.

“You’re not going to lose me,” I assure him, returning his squeeze. “I promise.”

Yet I can’t help but feel a niggle of…something as I walk towards Xander’s apartment.

Premonition, perhaps?

Why do I feel like all of the answers I’m looking for are just a portal ride away?

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