Page 36 of The Monster's Wife

Atlas would fight to protect me, but his brute strength isn’t really a match for the level of power my two High fae mates possess. I’d still choose him as my partner in any situation, because Itrusthim.

Hex continues to stare at me like he’s waiting for me to reply to his question.

“She’s carrying a fledgling,” I spit out. He doesn’t care. Neither of them value life or morality. Which is kind of ridiculous, considering they think the Seelie are the honorable fae. Really, they’re a bunch of condescending dicks. “The gods wouldn’t have given me my gifts if they didn’t want me to use them.”

“Let’s negotiate,” Silence says, grinning wickedly as he approaches.

My head tilts as I study him. Does he want me to negotiate my surrender to the council? And if so, which one?

The Earth paranormal council might be my best shot.

The fae want me dead. I mean, I think they do. That, or they want to use me as a weapon, which is almost worse.

“Give us three months to prove we can be excellent mates. Don’t run from us. We’ll keep our mouths shut about whatever the hell you created and even help defend her if the need should arise.” Silence raises his eyebrows.

Whatever the hell I created?Is he serious? I guess Emerson is more of a wild card than even Ary, because I have no idea how my magic interacted with the vampire blood.

Today makes the list with all the other worst days of my life. It started so promising and plummeted so quickly that it’s difficult to fathom how I ended up here.

“You know how powerful we are. I wasn’t fighting at full capacity, because I didn’t want to injure your friends.” Silence smirks, giving me a look I can’t decipher.

I have no idea what’s happening right now.

They wanted no part of me all those years ago.

“Whatever abomination she’s carrying will need protection,” Hex says, agreeing with Silence. “A newly turned pregnant creature? You’re just asking for the council to strike her and her pup.”

“What?” Emerson gasps, staggering back a step as her hand flies to her mouth.

More chatter and chaos occurs, but I’m still trying to figure out what’s happening. They didn’t want me as a mate. They were miserable on our wedding day. It’s been years, but that much is clear, despite the haze of pain that came after. It would be impossible to forget the embarrassment I felt, standing at their sides with their displeasure plain for everyone to see.

I’m sure the urge to be done with our union has only grown over the years.

It finally clicks—they’re trying to lull me into a false sense of safety.

“Not to be an interrupting dick, because it’s clear this is an important moment, but did you decide to take our deal?” Hex asks, scratching at his thick brown beard.

“Today sucks,” I whisper. My hands shake, and I clasp them together in front of my middle in an attempt to hide my anxiety.

I don’t know what to do or say.

My life fell apart in the span of half an hour, but now that they’re here, I have no choice, except to play their game until I can escape. There’s a weird ache in my chest whenever I look at either of them.

“Three months, then you fuck off back to nowhere,” I deadpan, rolling my jaw from side to side.

“Of course,” Silence agrees, bending at the waist.

I’m so numb, I miss out on most of what happens next.

My eyes keep migrating back to The Den. Atlas is inside. I need to speak to him. I’ve got to warn him before he hears it from someone else.

I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with him for years. I’ve never said it, because it didn’t seem fair to confess my feelings if I wasn’t going to be completely truthful about my past and all the baggage that comes with it.

* * *

Dread sends Emerson and the others away, so he can call in the council, but I aim for Atlas.

“What are we meant to do?” Hex follows me inside the employee entrance to The Den. “I assume you own a home. Will you allow us to stay with you, or should we find other lodging?”

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