Page 70 of Fated to Monsters

“I…I’m not fated to Dash, and I want to be with him.”

Bo sighs. “It’s Dash. He’s the perfect guy. He’s the one you should be with. Not me. Not Wes.”

“You want me to choose?”

Bo puts his large hands on my shoulders. “I want you tohavethe choice, Wren.”

“Then I choose all of you.”

“You don’t get it. Not when your head is clouded with the marks. And the only way I can make you see what it’s doing to you is to take Balial up on his offer.”

I take a step back. “You’re going to say yes?”

“I have no other choice, Birdie.”

“So you get to make the decision for me, under the pretense that you’re doing what’s best for me? That’s not fair and you know it.”

“This is the only way.”

“No. I refuse to accept that.”

“I already told you…I can live with you hating me.”

“If you leave me, you can guarantee that I will.”

“If that’s what it takes, Birdie. I’d give you that.”

“That’s not what I want, Bo.” My shoulders tense and my hands ball into fists. “You’d rather leave me than face the possibility that we might have actually had a chance.” I turn on my heel and march away from him and toward the door. I grip the handle and yank with all my might. It’s strong and the hold is firm but it’s no match to how fucking determined I am to get away from him.

17

Wren

Bo ignores me more than I ignore him.

He sleeps in the chair in our bedroom but doesn’t come in until he’s convinced I’m already asleep.

I’m not.

No, I stay up all night, unable to fall into a slumber, and I consider what I could have done to make him prefer spending eternity in a hell dimension instead of staying here as my mate.

He says he’s doing it to give me a choice in the matter, but what actual choice has he allowed me?

Is life in Balial’s realm more appealing to him than staying in Arthlia? I wouldn’t be surprised if that would be the case, but is he really ready to give Wes, Dash, and Jade up, too?

Jade will remain with Everest, wherever they end up—that much is given.

Wes and I won’t leave each other, and Dash doesn’t seem like he’s wanting to go off on his own. The only person hanging in the balance is Bo, and he’s made his decision to accept Balial’s offer.

The thought of him leaving cuts like a hot knife through my chest. How did I go from wanting to end his life when we first met to not being able to imagine a world without him?

Is leaving that easy for him?

Wes and Dash sleep soundly at both of my sides. Wes with his arm thrown over my stomach, and Dash with his freckled face buried in his pillow.

Carefully, I peel Wes off me and sit up.

He stirs but goes right back into his peaceful slumber.

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