Page 18 of Monsters in Love

The area between the slabs of stone lights up in a familiar blue light. Shadows recede from its glow, whereas the desiccated vines that cling to the walls swell and bloom.

“I knew you were something special,” a familiar voice says.

I whirl around to face the goat man. His Taurine guards flank him. Out of the corner of my eye, the portal is still trying to connect. I refuse to let someone like him figure out how to leave.

“And I know you’re just some creep in a cheap suit.”

His face turns vicious. “Take her!”

The guards rush toward me. I back up until I hit the wall, then grasp a nearby vine. I imagine the type of nest that Bronn created for us last night. While the guards were seconds away from reaching me, a knot of vines lay on top of me, swelling and growing as it pushes the Taurines away.

“Karis!” Bronn’s voice booms.

“I’m fine!” I say behind my shield of vines.

“Get rid of him!” Goat man screeches as he backs away from Bronn. The Taurines jump on him, and I seethe at the imbalance.

I direct the vines outward until one reaches goat man’s leg. Goat man trips, falls and gets part way into the portal as it is being activated.

“Push him in,” Bronn says, and I do.

The goat man disappears into the void. His endless cry is replaced by a thunderclap, and a shimmering wall of rippling water fills in the space. “Sir! Finally!”

Tag directs his team to subdue the Taurine guards. Bronn tells them to take them in for reprogramming. They need our help, not our punishment.

Then the rest of the team apprehends the various nets. Tag was impressed that there were so many survivors.

“For now. The dead don’t talk and I need answers more than I need vengeance. At least for now.” He looks at me. “Come, let’s take you home.”

Bronn

Tag is waiting for me in my office to debrief on this mission that technically never happened. Just a day ago, I sat behind my desk with a call from Adalyn. Now, a solar day later, I have found not only her but also my mate.

My hand moves of its own accord to rest just below my heart. It’s where I feel Karis’s shadow beat. The pulsations are soft and calm, so I know she’s at peace.

I ignore the knowing smile of my second in command when he sees me wearing only my regulation pants. He had seen Karis wearing my jacket when we arrived, and the state of her dress, or lack thereof. I’d given him a hard stare but said nothing.

“If you wish to give voice to your observations, speak now. This will be your only moment, after which you do not get to speak on it any further.” I consider my words. “Watch what you say regarding Karis. I find I have no humor where she is concerned.”

Tag raises his hands in mock surrender. “I was not going to say anything. I may laugh to myself and cover it with a cough. Or give significant glances, but I had not planned on saying one damn thing.” He grins, eyes wide with fake innocence.

I snort as I make my way to my desk and settle into my chair. The familiar comfort of being in my office with my house in order once more is a relief I cherish. “This is your moment. Do with it as you wish. Except remark on Karis.”

Tag stands, arms behind him at rest. “No worries, sir. Anyone with a lick of sense can feel your claim on her. Only a fool would test that ”

My heart swells at the thought, and I reach for her shadow beat once more. It does not stop me from wanting to be near her or keeping her within sight. Even now, I fight the urge to walk out on Tag and find her. Mark her so well that no other bull would question that she belongs to me.

But my duty as the urso roots me to my chair until I hear from Tag and see what his team has uncovered. I may need to authorize extra assignments and rotations to manage an unseen threat. Ones that may harm Karis or the future of House Nighthold.

Soon, though…

“Do not mention such things to her, at least not at this moment. Karis has been uninitiated, raised with human sensibilities. Talk like this troubles her.” Indeed, she has a hard enough time being able to voice what she needs. It will be quite the treat to train her to open up, in more ways than one.

“Understood,” Tag says, interrupting my lascivious daydreams of rutting inside of Karis.

“Is there anything else?” I ask him.

“No, not at all,” he says, his lip smirking as if he can read my thoughts. “It is interesting to picture you with a piercing.”

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