Page 75 of Forgotten Monsters
Lydia wades her way through the crowd, Trent and Mallory a few steps behind her.
I wave for Cole to follow his sister. “Go. I’ll join you in a minute.”
I hug my best friend, breathing a little easier now that she’s here. “Thank you for coming.”
“I figured you might need some back-up.”
Mallory gives me a small wave, her long brown curls braided over her slender shoulder. “Hey, Jules.”
She’s got the most peculiar expression on her face, like she’s…excited to see me.
“Hey, Mal. I’m glad you decided to stay. You, me, and Cole can have a chat later about how to involve you in our plans.”
She nods. The demon wants to help us navigate the Underworld, and now that she’s no longer cursed, she probably hopes to find her people again, though we haven’t had the time to get into the details.
“My queen.” Trent bows with a goofy smile on his face. He’s ditched the Fae soldier uniform in favor of a jacket and tie.
I slap his arm playfully. “Stop it.”
The vampire skims Lydia’s waist. “I’m going to get a drink. Do you girls want something?”
We all shake our heads, and I give my best friend a knowing glance.
Blood pools on her cheeks. “Don’t start. We’re just friends.”
“Mm-Mm.” I wiggle my brows, barely holding a chuckle in, and Lydia elbows my side. I force myself to sober up. “Have you guys…talked?” I motion between my two friends, remembering the time Onyx almost ripped Lydia to shreds.
“You mean, did I forgive her for being cursed into an evil cat form as a child and almost scaring me to death? Well, I could hardly hold that against her, could I?”
We all share a laugh, and things almost feel…normal again.
“What’s going to happen to Dark Falls now that the tear is closed?” I ask.
Lydia’s green eyes shine with hope. “Deveraux accepted the Council’s offer to become headmistress. Trent and I will help her whip the school into shape. The next batch of students won’t benefit from some mysterious power underground, but they’ll have good teachers—and a better chance at survival.”
“That’s good.”
“What about you? Are you really going to hunt downallthe hollows left?”
I gulp down what’s left of my drink and discard the empty flute on a nearby table. “Yep. One by one. The Magisterium will corral those that escaped on Earth while we find a way to take down the Unseelie hub in the Underworld.”
“And I’ll help,” Mal adds.
Lydia squeezes my shoulder. “I’ll be there, too, whenever you need me.”
“Thank you. Both of you.” I say, my voice muted by the burst of emotions threatening to floor me. Cole and I found each other again, Flynn is okay, Dark Falls is safe… I can finally,finallybreathe again.
Mal surveils the crowd. “Allie and Barron will be sorry they missed this.”
“Allie’s been through a lot. She deserves a bit of time to find herself without her life revolving around me.”
The light music dies down, and all heads turn to the entrance. My father is there, and he straightens his jacket at the top of the stairs. To my horror, Oz follows right behind him, along with a second Magisterium agent. Both of them are wearing the traditional black and gold uniform.
Cole joins us almost immediately.
“The nerve! Why would he show his face here?” Lydia says through her teeth, echoing my current sentiment.
I’m simply shaking with rage. “What. the. Fuck.”
