Page 12 of Fated to Monsters

I untuck her hair from inside her shirt and scoop her into my arms, carefully gliding her under the covers and closer to Dash, who remains completely zonked out with his arm resting over his head and his mouth agape.

Once I've dressed, I walk across the room to shut off the lights and climb in next to her.

I settle into the plush mattress and wonder where this level of support has been all my life. No hard lumps. No lack of pillow. No thin blanket. And to top it off, a beautiful girl nestled into the crook of my neck and intertwining her body with mine.

Is it possible I’ve died and gone to heaven? Because I can’t imagine anything fucking else that could be better.

* * *

I sleep better than I ever have in my entire life, only, it’s cut short by about fifty-seven hours when we’re woken by the sound of an argument.

I shoot out of bed and rush to the door.

“Where are my knives?” Wren shows the same level of concern that I do.

I blindly point to where I put her armored clothing and slowly turn the door handle. I peek through the thin gap and see Tremont standing at the end of the hall and another man, easily half his age, a few feet in front of him.

This newcomer has his hands in his dark, curly hair, and he seems distraught but has no visible weapons and he hasn’t done any harm to Tremont. Maybe this threat is not as severe as it appears.

I hold out my hand to Wren to hopefully stop her from going into full defense mode.

“We can talk about this,” Tremont says to this other man.

“What is there to talk about?” The man draws in a breath and shakes his head. “You shouldn’t be here. This ended years ago.”

Tremont nods. “I can assure you, I am a changed man, Sydney.”

Sydney—the man has a name.

“If she finds out you’re here, she’ll kill you herself. Tell me why I shouldn’t do it right here and now.” Sydney remains in place a few feet from Tremont, and Tremont makes no effort to evade him.

“What’s happening?” Wren whispers as she tries to see through into the hallway.

Dash stretches and yawns.

Wren and I turn and shush him at the same time.

He offers a quiet, “Sorry.”

“I have…” Tremont pauses to find the right words. “Information.”

“About what?” Sydney rubs his chin. “What information could you possibly have that she doesn’t already? You have no idea the power she wields now. You’re a nobody.”

“I know.” Tremont doesn’t dare argue with this other man, yet he tries to plead his case. “I mean no harm, Sydney. I am ashamed of what happened and the role I played in it. I wouldn’t have come here so foolishly if I didn’t mean that.”

“Why did you come here? Huh? This is the worst possible place you could have chosen.”

“Because I’m telling you the truth. I was going to find you, or Silas, or anyone. I needed to give my travel companions time to rest. They are not from this world.”

Sydney’s eyes go wider. “What kind of evil did you bring here, Tremont?”

My hound overpowers my arm and forces the door open, exposing myself and Wren to this random man assuming the worst of us. And if my hound continues to call the shots, he’s going to be proven right.

Sydney doesn’t jump, he doesn’t falter, he simply turns his attention on me. “Who are you?”

Tremont steps between us. “This is Wes, he’s from another realm. He and his family have sought refuge here on Earth.”

“From where?” Sydney eyes me and then Tremont.

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