Page 82 of Fated to Monsters

Part of me wishes I could tell her to run, to use the means to get back to Arthlia, and that I would be right behind her. But I can’t even do that. No, I’m stuck at the mercy of this arrogant and idiotic asshole who refuses to let go of some random vendetta.

If he kills me, surely the three of them can end one wendigo. Suddenly, the thought of being dead while Wren must fight for her life unsettles me. What if she’s unable to escape? What if I’m burning into ashes while she dies her own, very permanent, death? I thought it was a good idea for me to be here, but perhaps I was wrong. Wes would have been the better person, because at least then, if she got hurt, he could heal her. Not to mention, his natural ability to kick ass is a major bonus, too. They probably wouldn’t even be in this position if he were here.

But I can’t change that now, and being mad at myself for making a poor decision won’t serve me in this moment.

I mumble under his strong hold and wiggle in his grasp. If I can get him to release his hand on my mouth, I can blurt out the magic word to bring me home, and Wren could follow suit. Both of us finding safety in Arthlia and leaving Pippa and Gary behind.

The battle with the wendigo is between us, surely, he would leave those two alone, wouldn’t he?

And on the off chance that he wouldn’t, there’s no way that Wren would leave knowing those two would be in danger.

Fuck.

“You don’t need to hurt him,” Wren says, her gaze pleading with the cautious step she takes toward us.

He matches her in the opposite direction. "Now, now."

“Fine.” She throws her arms up like a white flag. “What do I need to do to convince you we're on the same side here? This war, it doesn’t have to be between us. We have a common enemy.”

The wendigo laughs sharply. “You are a hunter marked by an alpha, my dear. You are ripe for the taking.”

Wren shakes her head slowly. “He’s my partner,” she explains. “I came here without him to engage the beacon. I wanted demons to find me. I wanted to convince them that we should be fighting together, not against each other.”

“There are not many that remain.”

“Then what better reason to join me, to join us.” Wren motions to Pippa and Gary.

“I don’t believe you.” The wendigo grips my face tighter, his rough fingers digging into my flesh.

Pippa stands taller. “Then believe me. I am with her.” She shoots her stare at Gary.

He hesitates but bows his head down in submission.

“You’ve convinced a couple demons, so what?” The wendigo leans in closer and breathes deeply. “And whatever this is.”

Wren puts her hand to her chest. “I have made mistakes, okay? More than I’m proud to admit, but my pride doesn’t prevent me from knowing that something must be done if Prania stands any chance of being saved.”

“What makes you the hero of this story?”

“Someone has to do it.” Wren swallows harshly. “I don’t want to be labeled as the good guy. I just want to do the right thing for once in my life.”

“And I want to escape this realm, but we can’t always get what we want now can we?”

"What if I could make that happen?" Wren's chest heaves. She extends her arm toward me again like if she reaches just a bit farther, she'd snatch me from his vicious embrace.

My vision blurs from his hold, and I wish nothing more than to be out of here, to be with her in the safety of Arthlia once again. But like the wendigo just said, we don’t always get what we desire.

“You wouldn’t be here if you could.” The wendigo wastes not another moment when he moves swiftly and snaps my neck for the second time.

It only hurts for the shortest second, the pain of leaving her worse than that of death.

19

Wren

“What is taking so long?” I pace around the living room.

Dash’s body lies on the floor in the center of the large space, unmoving, unbreathing, lifeless.

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