Page 49 of Monster's Pretty Bride

“Don’t.”

The touch burns more than it should. Not because it’s painful. Because it isn’t.

I don’t want her to pull away.

She doesn’t look at me. Her gaze stays locked on Catalina, silver eyes steady, unwavering. “I already told you, he’s mine to deal with.”

A sharp, slow inhale.

A barely concealed shift in the room.

Catalina's fingers twitch, but she doesn't draw the blade. Instead, she studies Eryss carefully, her eyes narrowing.

"You hesitate."

Eryss doesn’t deny it.

Neither does Amelia. The other Purna woman, the quieter one, the one who has been watching more than speaking, she sees it too.

I hate it.

I loathe that these witches look at her and see something I can’t control. Something I can’t hold in my hands and bend to my will.

Something I can’t predict.

"You don't need to protect him," Catalina presses, her voice low, edged with a different kind of warning. "You came here to kill him. You still can."

Eryss tenses, but she doesn’t step away from me.

Her voice, when it comes, is too even. Too calculated.

"He saved my life," she says again, but softer this time.

Catalina scoffs. "For what? To keep you as his captive?"

I expect Eryss to snap back. To argue.

But she doesn’t.

She just stands there, her breathing too controlled, her fingers still resting against my chest, as if she needs to keep herself steady.

The rage in my gut shifts, turns into something heavier, something dangerously close to possession.

"You think you have a choice in this?" I snarl, turning my full attention on Catalina.

She doesn’t back down. Neither does Amelia.

But Eryss stiffens.

Before I can react, she pulls away and faces me fully.

"You don't get to tell me what choices I have."

The fire in her voice sends something sharp through me, something I should ignore but don’t.

"You gave up your choice the moment you stepped into my stronghold," I growl.

Her eyes burn silver in the dim light.

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