Page 34 of Enticing Monsters

Though now isnotthe time to be thinking about that.

Xander continues to move towards me with a lethal grace I’m not sure any of my other guys could replicate. Not even Devyn or V. He doesn’t lumber or fumble or anything like that.

Hestalks, like a predator hunting his prey.

Anger radiates from him in palpable waves, and I can practically sense it permeating the air and coiling around my throat like a noose.

“Teacher’s pissed,” V says in a singsong voice.

Xander’s close enough he can probably hear V, but he doesn’t respond. He keeps his gaze locked on me.

Foster audibly swallows from my other side, and I reach down to intertwine our fingers together…only to immediately pull away when my palm begins to burn.

“Motherfucker!” I curse, cradling my now red hand against my chest.

Foster’s face turns ashen, causing his freckles to stand out starkly. “Lost, I’m so sorry!”

He stares down at his hand as if he doesn’t even recognize it.

But before I can respond and assure him I’m okay, Xander’s right there, bearing down on me, a glower on his painfully handsome face, and I realize he’s not the trap in the cookie jar. He’s the disapproving parent who makes you feel like shit for your choices and then forces you to accept your punishment like a good girl.

“Ms. Jenkins.” His low, husky voice caresses my skin like fingertips.

A shudder of pleasure works its way through me.

“Did you follow me?” My hand has already stopped burning, so I drop it to my side, flexing out my fingers to get my blood flowing once more.

Xander’s lips tighten, compressing into a thin line. “Believe it or not, Serafina, I don’t stalk your every waking movement.”

“Too bad,” I deadpan. “That would’ve been hot.”

And I swear—I freakingswear—I see his lips twitch upwards microscopically in what some may consider a smile. It only lasts a second, though, before he’s utterly impassive once more.

“I actually got a text from V, of all people.” He fishes his phone out of his pocket and hands it to me.

Belatedly, I wonder if the land of fae receives cell service before scoffing at how ridiculous that thought is. I blame it on my lack of sleep.

Xander has his phone pulled up to his most recent text chain, which is just one message from an unknown number.

Unknown

Party in Faerie. Be there or die. Bring snacks.

I spin towards V with a brow arched. Because yeah, it may not have his name attached to the number, but he’s the only psycho I know who would text this to one of my guys, let alone Xander.

V simply shrugs unrepentantly. “What? Isn’t he supposed to be your smart mate or something? I just assumed that he should be involved in this whole ‘quest to save the world’ thing.”

It takes considerable effort not to pinch the bridge of my nose and pray for patience. But honestly, I don’t even know who I would pray to here. Does Faerie even have a religion?

I make a mental note to ask Xander about it—when he’s not glaring at me with his arms crossed over his chest.

“So you thought it would be a good idea to travel to Faerie with only Foster and V as company?” Xander speaks slowly and succinctly, enunciating each word as if he’s searching for a new meaning in them.

Or maybe he just thinks I’m hard of hearing. Either way, my hackles rise.

I don’t bother to mention that V wasn’t technically invited but showed up anyway like an unwanted houseguest.

“I can look after Serafina just as well as any of you can,” Foster snaps abruptly, and the raw, unfettered rage in his voice takes me by surprise.

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