Page 15 of Becoming Monsterous

"I want you," I tell him. My eyes go to Angus, just behind him, then Morpheus, who stands a small distance away, his expression thoughtful. "I want a relationship with all three of you. It's unconventional, I know—but everything about us is unconventional.

"I've never wanted the three of you to fight over me, or feel like I place myself above you. We're equals, even now that I've ascended, and even though you're my triumvirate. That's why I'm going to free you, no matter what."

"Those are a lot of words," Morpheus says. "All about your feelings."

I nod. "I want you to know that I'm not going to betray you. I'll free you from captivity. And I'm willing to talk for ages about how I feel—I wish you'd each do the same more often."

Angus, of course, jumps in hooves-first. "All I've ever wanted is for you to be happy, Ellie. I'll gladly support a relationship between you and my brothers-in-arms if it means I get to be with you and see you be happy."

"Thank you," I tell him, and I truly mean it, because I drop Aleron's hand so I can reach out to take his broad hands in mine and squeeze them tight. "That means so much, Angus."

I look at Morpheus next, because I'm afraid to look up into Aleron's face. The King of Dreams has a thoughtful expression on his face, as always. He leads with his head, while Angus leads with his heart, and that's what makes the two of them work in harmony so well.

"It's unconventional," Morpheus acknowledges. "Most of our kind aren't adept at sharing. Oh, we fool around, and we cheat, but openly sharing a sexual mate is... nearly unheard of. Though notcompletelyunheard of, which is why I think that it could work."

Tension loosens in my chest. Where Morpheus leads, maybe Aleron will follow. He can't be surprised by this request—he's known for a while that I like him, Angus, and even Morpheus. It can't be a shock to hear that I want to be with all three of them.

When I finally gather the courage to look up into the Mothman's face, his expression is nearly unreadable.

Crushing disappointment threatens to overwhelm me. But I take a deep breath, push down my strong emotions, and try to pay attention to whohe is,not my own expectations for him.

Which is when I realize: there are readable emotions on his face. Maybe not to someone who hasn't been around him a lot, but I have. I've seen his monster side, and felt his disappointment and anger.

His brow is smooth. His irises are light green, without the swirl of his dark magic. His mouth... his mouth is pressed together, but not in a thin line. And his eyes are crinkled in the outer corners, as if he's worried.

He's looking at me without turning his head, like he wants to stare at me but doesn't want to be caught. Except his body from the neck down hasn't gotten the memo, because he's turned his hips and shoulders towards me. The arm I placed my hand on is still in exactly the same position, as if he's waiting for my touch to return, and his fingers are curled around empty air without my hand locked in his.

This is it. This is my moment to be brave. I'll never get another.

I dare to ask, "How do you feel about me, Aleron?"

I wait for him to tell me that he cares for me. Admit that he wants to touch me and kiss me. Tell me that he was eager to seduce me, maybe even more than a little nervous, because hewantedto be the monster in my bed.

He makes a small grumbling noise. Licks his lips. Inhales deeply and slowly, turning his head towards me deliberately. His eyes dart around the place before settling on my chin, which he stares at like his life depends on it.

"How do I feel about you." He says it as a statement; I hear Morpheus snort, and can almostfeelhim roll his eyes. "How I feel. Well. It should be obvious to anyone with eyes that I feel—"

The answer is cut off before he can finish his sentence.

By an earthquake that throws me to my knees.

Chapter13

Ellie

Irecover quickly, of course, because I'm a goddess now. My divine form comes to me instinctively. Snakes as long as my elbows snap from my head and lunge into the air, mouths open, fangs dripping venom.

My hand goes to an empty space at my hip where a sword would be. I feel Medusa inside me, her awareness and mine flowing together side-by-side, looking for a threat. Around me, my three men are similarly on edge, arranged in defensive stances at my front and sides.

The ground shakes beneath me. There's a commotion down the hallway. I feel all my hair stand on end as I realize that somethingcaused the trembling that felt like an earthquake, and it's slowly approaching this wing of Occult House.

Uncharacteristically, Morpheus throws his head back and laughs. At my expression, he sobers somewhat, though he keeps on grinning.

"It's Magna House," he says, motioning down the hallway to the right. "They're the only ones who make that much noise, and they'll be headed towards the weapons room. It's the only place in the entire house with high enough ceilings to fit them."

What he's saying only makes a little sense to me. I know about the weapons room, with its soaring ceilings and wide-open combat space. But I have no idea who or what Magna House is.

"Buckle up, Buttercup," Aleron says to me, shaking his wings back into place and settling into a relaxed stance. "If Magna House is here, that means that a quorum was called while we were fighting Aphrodite, and we'll be expected to attend. You're about to meet the other houses."

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