Page 77 of Fated to Monsters

I just hope going back to Prania, especially with Dash, isn't a grave mistake.

I would never forgive myself if something happened to him.

18

Dash

"And you're sure we'll be back by tonight? I told Willow I would help her." Wren asks Tremont from her spot leaning against the wall in Tremont's bedroom.

According to the information Wren gave me, she did some kind of test to determine that her blood was a close enough match to Willow's to ensure that she could act as Willow to help take some things that only Willow could do off her plate. Supposedly they are not threatening in any capacity, just time-consuming when Willow has many obligations to maintain. Wren was eager and willing to help.

“Yes,” Tremont tells her. “If you haven’t returned on your own, I will pull you out myself.”

“I don’t like this,” Bo announces.

But Bo doesn’t exactly ever like anything, so it comes as no surprise he’s not thrilled about me and Wren taking a quick trip to Prania without him.

Wren side-eyes him briefly but doesn't give him any more attention than that. "What do you need me to do?"

“You and Dash need to lie down and hold hands. You’ll have to open yourself up to me again. Do you remember what that was like back in Prania? It gives me access to your magic. I won’t need much since this is simply astral projection, but it will make penetrating the barrier into Prania easier than with my magic alone.”

She nods. “Okay, yeah. I can do that.” Wren tilts her head in my direction. “You ready for this?”

“I am if you are.”

Wren makes her way over to Wes, who has remained quiet through this whole interaction. She stands taller and presses a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”

Wes wraps his arms around her and tugs her toward him. “I’m not a huge fan of this either,” he whispers to her. “So hurry back.”

Wren didn’t want Bo to come, mostly because she wants the alpha beacon to engage. I’m sure it had something to do with their constant disagreements, too. And with Wes’s immense authority, it was too much for Tremont to manage, leaving me as the most viable choice. I kept it to myself that I had already asked Wren about coming with her in my attempt to not make them feel any less important than they really are to her.

I might be aware that she’s capable of caring for us all, but that doesn’t mean they’ve wrapped their heads around it yet.

Bo exhales dramatically and storms out of the room.

Wes points to Tremont. “I’ll make you suffer if something happens to her.”

Tremont nods. “I’d expect nothing less.”

“Keep an eye on him,” Wren tells Wes.

"I will." He pecks her lips quickly with his and leaves in the same direction Bo had gone in just moments prior.

Wren makes her way toward the center of the room, lowers herself onto the rug on the floor, and pats the spot next to her. "Let's do this."

I follow her over, repeating the same movement, and lie next to her. Weaving my fingers through hers, I close my eyes and wait for what comes next.

“Just relax,” Tremont says. He mumbles a few words under his breath, the language unknown.

Wren holds me tighter and rubs her thumb along my hand.

Tremont continues chanting and within another few seconds, it’s like I’m being sucked into a vacuum and spit out.

The air is thicker, heavier, and filled with a stench I had hoped I’d never smell again.

“We made it,” Wren declares while rising to a sitting position.

I blink through the dense fog and take in my surroundings. It’s familiar and foreign all at once. Most of Prania looks the same with its murky atmosphere and lack of lighting. It’s nothing like Arthlia.

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