Page 39 of Monster's Pretty Bride

His voice comes low, rough. "This isn’t over."

I swallow hard. “The fight or whatever the hell this is between us?"

His lips curl slightly, almost like he’s amused, despite the pain still carving through him.

"Both."

I exhale sharply, stepping back, needing space, needing air that doesn’t feel thick with whatever this tension is becoming.

He watches me.

Still bleeding. Still standing.

Still looking at me like I am something worth keeping.

I have no idea what should I feel about that.

18

NARANUS

The rain comes fast.

Thick, relentless sheets of cold water crash against the trees, drenching the already treacherous terrain. Thunder rumbles in the distance, a warning that the worst has yet to come. I tighten my hold on Eryss’s wrist, dragging her forward as she stumbles over uneven ground.

She’s struggling to keep up.

I should keep going, push through the exhaustion, push through the pain in my shredded wing and bleeding side, but I catch the way she’s shaking. She hasn’t said a word in the last mile.

That isn’t a good sign.

I grit my teeth, scanning the area. There has to be something, a cave, some kind of cover, anything to get us out of this. The longer we’re exposed, the easier it is for the rogues to track us.

I see it. Half-hidden by the surrounding trees, a small structure stands alone in the woods, dark and silent against the backdrop of rain.

It doesn’t look abandoned.

Not entirely.

My wings twitch instinctively, but the searing pain reminds me of my limits. Useless. They’re useless right now.

I glance at Eryss. She’s barely holding herself together, her skin pale, lips tinged blue. She lifts her gaze to the cabin, and something flickers in her silver eyes, relief.

“Move,” I order, shoving her toward it.

She doesn’t argue.

The wooden door groans under my grip as I push it open. The interior is dimly lit, the remnants of past fires still staining the stone hearth. There’s furniture. A cot shoved into the corner, a table, a few scattered supplies that suggest someone still comes here.

Who the hell lives in a place like this?

Hunters, maybe.

Or fools.

It doesn’t matter. It’s shelter.

Eryss steps past me, running trembling fingers along the wall, her body still shaking violently.

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