Page 92 of Monster's Obsession

I screamed that time, frantically using the flowers in my hand to wipe it off me.

Ash was at my side instantly. “What’s wrong?”

“Get it off me, get it off,” I cried, batting at the slobber, but I still felt it as if it slid over my skin.

Ash wiped the rest off my chest with his hand, not bothered by the mess. “It’s just a bit of slime from the guard molting his skin.”

Horrifying slurping sounds continued from the monster eating it, and I gagged once more, about to vomit. Yet I kept wiping at my chest. “I can still feel it, like it’s wriggling on me. Please, Ash, get it off me.” I desperately clawed at his arm, pleading for his help.

He lifted me into his arms, and we were running across the field. “We’ll go wash it off, hold on. The lake is made of purified water that cleanses anything. But you know the spider skin is a delicacy to many…it’s not going to hurt you.”

“Stop telling me thinks are delicacies,” I all but screeched, my skin itching with a gross feeling.

When Ash finally set me on my feet, they sank into cool water. We were in the paradise lake and I didn’t waste a moment, throwing myself into its embrace.

The cold water was a shock to the system, and I was frantically rubbing at my chest to get the slime off.

Bright lights popped suddenly behind my eyes, and a sharp pain cut through me. I curled up, terrified.

Then it started…memories flashing across my mind, coming so fast that my underwater world spun.

I was in a cave with Tempest. Him healing my wound from the sandworms, and I had cried in pain from where it bit me all because Tempest had thrown me out of the city to kill me. Then he fucked me, revealing all his secrets, then cursed me to forget it all. And he told me things he never wanted me to know. And now they were running wild in my mind.

I wanted to cry, to scream.

All my lost memories rushed over me, slamming into me, tearing at my heart. And when it all settled into my brain, terror clung to me.

I threw myself up through the water for air, my head breaching the surface, panic in my veins, and the words on my lips flew out at Ash, my words splattering out.

“I remember it all. Oh fuck, Tempest killed The Red Queen. And he tried to kill me!”

CHAPTER 20

TEMPEST

“Tempest, are you coming in?” Queen Eruthria called in her sweet voice that had me grinding my teeth. She never beckoned me unless she was in one of her moods, and it sure as hell wasn’t a call to fuck me. Feeding the population was reserved for her favorites—King Creed, Ash, Seven, and Steele. But me, I was the asshole she kicked.

I entered her chamber because no one said no to the queen of Wyld, For a long time, I’d believed I loved her, and that with time, she would feel the same way toward me.

I was stupid for holding onto hope.

Lifting my gaze from my monster form, I met eyes of every infinite hue of blue. One glance, a light tug of the corners of her lips upward, and I fell once more for her charm, a lifetime of desire built up inside me that had rarely been put into use. But maybe today she’d see me for me. She’d welcome me to her bed instead of the occasional quickie. She’d whisper those words I’d longed for…that she loved me too.

She lounged on her throne in the great hall, the walls carved with monstrous depictions of our ancestors, and herself…but I couldn’t take my eyes off her beauty.

Caramel red skin glowed beneath the burning torches, and watching my approach, thorns pushed out of the flesh around her neck, flaring in aggression like they always did in my company.

Small silvery horns at her temples stood out amid thick curls that tumbled over her shoulders and to her waist.

She was naked and absolutely spectacular. I reminded myself to not expect anything. Then she couldn’t disappoint me. But keeping my gaze away from her full breasts, from her silver-tipped nipples, became unbearable. Sitting cross-legged, she tapped her fingers on the armrest of her throne.

“Hurry, boy,” she chided.

I fell to my knees before her, but she scoffed. “For Darkevers’ sake, stand up. I’m not in a patient mood today.”

“Your majesty,” I bowed my head instead. “How may I serve you?”

“Well you see, that’s the thing. I’ve been hearing rumors from my guards that you stole from me.” I twisted my head to her Guard Captain, Vero, smirking in my direction.

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