Page 68 of Monster's Pretty Bride

I grit my teeth and force myself to stand, ignoring the stiff pull of barely-healed wounds. “How many?”

“Dozens. Maybe more.” Thryx’s jaw ticks. “And they’re not alone.”

That has my full attention. “What else?”

He hesitates.

Ihatehesitation.

Thryx exhales sharply, as if already anticipating my wrath. “They brought somethingnew. Magic,strongmagic.” He glances at Eryss. “It’s Purna magic.”

The world slows.

Iturnto Eryss, watching the way her facelocks up.

She knew.

I step toward her, rage licking up my spine. “Youknewabout this.”

Her jaw tightens, but she doesn’t retreat. “I didn’t.”

“Liar.” My voice is deadly soft. “Your sisters are working with them. Aren’t they?”

“Idon’t know?—”

Another lie.

Shewantsto believe they wouldn’t betray her, but deep down, she already suspects. I see it in her hesitation, in the way her throat moves as she swallows.

I stalk forward. “You think I’m just going to let you waltz out there with your precious little kin and whisper your way into my enemies’ ears?”

Shesnarlsup at me. “If you think I’d ever betray you—” She clamps her mouth shut.

There it is.

She doesn’t even realize she just admitted it.

Theimplicationof that admission slams into me like a stone wall.

Thryx shifts at the door. “We must not waste time.”

No, we don’t.

I yank my armor over my head, wincing as it grates against my raw skin. My body protests, but I don’t have the luxury of weakness. Not today.

Eryss watches me, her breathing a little too quick, her hands clenched at her sides. She’s trying to decide something, trying tounderstandwhat’s happening inside me, insideus.

I don’t give her the chance.

I step closer, leaning down until my mouth is level with her ear. “You staybehindme.”

Her fingers twitch. “I don’t take orders from you.”

“Youwillif you want to live.”

Thryx clears his throat. “I hate to interrupt this touching moment, but we really need to?—”

The entire strongholdshakes.

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