Page 40 of Becoming Monsterous

"No, of course not," he smoothly answers, before I can object to the idea of putting Lise at that much risk. "But the summoners who were in the room with him. Maybe even Jean. If I can go into their dreams, I can collect information. Even information they may have been forced to forget."

Just the thought of this makes me uncomfortable. "Isn't it a lot of risk to Lise to do the spells all on her own? If one of the summoners wakes up while you're inside their dreams, she'd be in the most trouble. I don't want her risking herself like that."

"I agree," Morpheus says swiftly. "That's why I'm proposing that we use a sleeping powder."

Lise reacts to this by flinching. I don't understand.

Aleron explains, "Sleeping powders have been banned for centuries. They give monsters like me," he motions to himself, "and Morpheus access to feeding off mortals. Summoners generally...disagreewith the idea of making it easy for us to feed. Even off dreams and nightmares.

"Only summoners can create the powders, by distilling down their spells. By doing so, and using them on mortals, while allying with monsters like us, she would give up any hope her curse will ever be broken. The Magistrate may never find out, but the balance of magic will know."

"The balance of magic?"

Angus answers quietly, "The karmic universe. It sees all."

Morpheus nods. "It'll be different than just gathering information or helping us a little. Breaking summoner law to give us a sleeping powder will mean using magic to ally with monsters. Her monstrous curse will be hers forever afterwards—though if you ask me, turning into a lioness for an hour isn't such a big deal."

I can see howhewould think that. After all, he's only ever been monstrous. Lise is different. She had a whole life planned out before the day Midas cursed her with his touch.

I've seen her in her lioness form. It's not like looking at a wild animal at the zoo. She was ravenous, violent, and absolutely feral.

Almost as if she had rabies.

I can't imagine doing that every day for years. Lise is stronger than she looks.

And I can't believe she's even considering it. But looking at her she clearly is. Her face is thoughtful, her gaze turned downwards, her hands clasped together.

We give her several moments of silence to think.

The first thing she does is raise her eyes up to look at me. I feel the weight of her gaze, knowing that what we're asking her to do is immense.

"Ellie..." She trails off for a moment. "Will you free the monsters from their—fromourcontracts?"

The question has a heavy weight.

I've promised that I'd free my triumvirate. But I've shied away from promising to freeallmonsters. After seeing what lurks in the Shadow World, it's hard to imagine ever doing so.

"I promise that I'll do all I safely can."

"Safely," Lise repeats in a soft voice. A frown creases her delicate face. "I hate to point it out, but there are no guarantees in this new world. Once you have Aphrodite's powers, or Percy gets his hands on them, everything will change. You can't control what happens after that."

I realize that she's right.

I can't waffle anymore. I have to make a choice.

I'd love to know that I can make therightchoice. But the truth is, so much of this rests out of my hands. I can never be sure one way or another what's going to happen next.

I look over at my three men. Kind, warm, and generous Angus, who fills me with love and affection. Knowledgable, charming Morpheus, with his stories and his plans. And Aleron, who hides a vulnerable center beneath his bitter surface.

Adding Lise and all the others to the pile—like the Greymark shifters who protected me, and the intelligent banestrike giant—I find it hard to accept the idea of them being enslaved for eternity.

One way or another, my hand is going to be forced. It's time to promise the people in this room that I'll do what it takes to protect them.

"I'll free all the monsters, one way or another, from their contracts at least," I tell Lise, meeting her golden eyes. "I don't know about letting them out on Earth—I'm sorry, I just don't," I sheepishly look away from Aleron's piercing gaze, "but if it's safe, I'll release those I can."

There's a long silence.

Lise says hurriedly, "We can seal it—a promise in magic. That way, I'll know that if the worst happens and I'm really cursed for life, at least... at least I'll have you on my side."

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