Page 60 of Fated to Monsters

“I need a favor.”

I cave and turn toward her. “What?” Can she sense how desperate I am to do anything I can for her?

“I need you to come with me somewhere.”

“Where?”

“Balial’s hell realm.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“He has answers, Bo. About Prania.”

My hand tightens into a fist, but I refuse to let my anger unleash itself. “You don’t know that.”

“Neither do you,” she spits out. “You hate it here. Why wouldn’t you jump at the opportunity to go somewhere else?”

“I don’t hate it here.”

“You’re miserable. More so than usual.”

“Am not.”

She sighs. “Whatever. Fine.” Wren stands. “I’ll go without you.”

I latch onto her wrist. “No, you won’t.”

Wren tries to yank herself free. “I’m going one way or another, Bo. You can either go or don’t, but you can’t stop me.”

“Let me rephrase then. You’re not going without me.” The mark on her neck would surely light up if she werethatfar away from me. The distance between here and the academy today was enough to flicker it to life. There’s no fucking way I’m allowing her to go to a realm filled with demons with that marker blaring on her neck.

“Was that so difficult?”

“When do we leave?” I ask her while ignoring her own question.

“Tomorrow morning.” She pulls herself from my loosened grip and turns to walk away.

“Birdie?”

Wren stops in her tracks. “Yes?”

“Did you ask me because of the mark or because you want me to go?”

“Does it matter?”

“No,” I lie. It matters more than anything, but I won’t tell her that.

“Then you can decide for yourself what the answer is.” She marches away, leaving me here where I began—alone with my thoughts.

* * *

I stand in a classroom at Harper Shadow Academy with Willow, Wren, and Sydney.

Willow was strangely nice considering I'm a demon living in her husband's parents’ estate. She's prettier than I thought she would be, too. There's something familiar about her, like there are pieces of Wren inside of her because of their bloodline connection. Her presence isn't threatening, but it is powerful. I can sense the magic rippling through her veins at a sheer volume, unlike any other witch I have ever come across.

The witches from Prania were weak compared to the strength of this vibrant woman standing before me. Is that what’s in store for Wren when she comes into whatever magic Sydney keeps claiming she has? I don’t doubt that there’s something hidden under the surface, but I’d be surprised if it’s as vast as Willow’s.

I could taste the heavenly power upon sinking my fangs into Wren’s flesh. There was nothing as sweet as her blood on my lips, but within a split second, I knew the gravity of the situation and that if I didn’t restrain myself, I would suck her dry.

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