Page 61 of Fated to Monsters

I’ve craved her every moment after but have done everything I can to withstand that hunger. Yet with it, I have deprived myself of blood altogether. Since I tasted her, I have not been drawn to consume another even though it’s in my very nature. If I can’t have her, I don’t want it. I’m not so sure that I could. The thought of draining someone else repulses me.

Biting Wren changed me, and I don’t know how I’ll ever recover.

It’s like her blood in my system somehow altered my entire DNA.

“Are you ready?” Sydney glances at each of us.

I nod while Wren says, “Yes.”

“You sure you want to do this?” Sydney asks Willow. “I can come with you.”

“I’ll be fine. He won’t hurt me. It will be better for me to go alone.”

He’s the prince of hell, how is she so sure he won’t harm her?

I’ve been told that this little mission is harmless, that we aren’t actually traveling through the fold the same way we did to get to Arthlia, but we’re doing a sort of astral projection that will send us there while our corporal forms remain without putting us in danger. It doesn’t really make sense, the whole being in two places at once, but they assured me it’s the less strenuous of ways to get there and back quicker. If we fully traveled there, it would require more power and put us all at a greater risk.

Sydney remains rooted in place in the classroom and will be our anchor to Arthlia.

When we wish to return to our bodies, we either say the phrase,“Copeth trebum,”or push this little button that all of us got. A failsafe in case we’re not able to speak for whatever reason.

“Okay,” Sydney speaks. “I need all of you to lie down and hold hands.”

“Does it matter who is where?” Wren asks.

“You should be in the middle since you have a strong tether to both Willow and Bo.”

We lower to our respective areas, and I reach for Wren.

She weaves her fingers between mine, my entire world rocking despite everything being so incredibly still.

It’s just her fucking hand, you idiot.

But when I've deprived myself of her for this long, it's that much more. I want to be fully consumed by her. I want to hold on and never let go and force her to realize just how much she means to me.

I’ll never do that though, because it wouldn’t be fair to her.

Wes might be able to be selfish enough to allow his hound to claim her, but I care enough to allow her to keep her free will.

Even if it fucking kills me.

“Close your eyes,” Sydney tells us. “And don’t let go until you’re there. If possible, come back at the same time, too.” He mumbles something I can’t make out. A blur of words that don’t sound anything like our language.

My body feels heavier, and then lighter. I keep my eyes shut, noticing the brightness that’s quickly replaced with darkness. Heat swells around me, and all I can seem to truly focus on is the small hand wrapped tightly around mine.

“We’re here,” Willow says from her spot on the other side of Wren.

I blink a few times, allowing my vision to adjust to this new place. It’s dark but somehow light at the same time, flames flickering over the barren land. Lava flows like a creek near us, and steam rises from crevices scattered about.

I stand, keeping Wren’s hand in mine, not yet ready to let go of her.

She doesn’t bother releasing me, either. “It’s warm here.”

Sweat beads on her brow, and I salivate at the idea of stepping toward her and licking it from her forehead. Anything to taste her sweet essence. Against my growing desire, I restrain myself.

“I’ve tried getting him to turn the temperature down, but he’s rather persistent on keeping things hot.” Willow looks around her. “This way.”

“You two are like friends or something?” I ask her.

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