Page 84 of The Monster's Wife

ChapterTwenty-One

Malice

“Well, this isn’t what I was expecting,” Silence mutters.

“Me either.” Ali blinks up at me from where she’s wrapped around my chest. The darling little fae climbed me like a tree in front of her husband. Apparently, she’s more relaxed in the dream realm, because she never once launched herself straight up my torso in all the years that I siphoned us. It was extraordinarily cute, while Silence ruined the moment with his constant nagging that he might vomit.

“I think I’m going to siphon up there and check things out before bringing you two.” I pat her ass, nodding to the ground.

Silence wanders a few feet away, staring up at the cliff face in what I think is awe.

“Nope, I’m coming. I trust you to keep me safe,” Ali says, burrowing closer. “I need to know Charity is okay.”

“She was fine as of five minutes ago,” I remind her.

“Let’s all pop in at once,” Silence says, coming back to my side. “And for the love of God, don’t drop me.”

I chuckle.

One less male vying for Ali’s time would increase mine with her, but she’d also grieve his loss... I think. As such, the soothsayer is safe enough, at least from me.

Look at that—I’m evolving into a decent packmate. If he were Wraith or Knight, I’d drop him just because it’s funny as hell to hear them scream. Though, they’re truly immortal, and we’ve done a fair amount of tormenting each other over the years.

In the case of the Prince of Spring, I’d rather build camaraderie.

We make it to the cave not forty feet from the top of the peak. The wyvern—I still don’t know that fucker’s name, as I’ve never seen him in human form—lifts his head and chuffs.

Charity lies with her head against his stomach, and she’s chattering away about why she needs to get home to her son. She doesn’t seem to be in any particular distress, but my nostrils flare with the scent of blood.

Fuck me, what happened in the five minutes I was gone?

“Aline?” Charity says, pushing to her feet. “Whoa, who’s that?”

“Malice,” I say, bending at the waist in greeting. I turn to Silence. “You may want to do the thing where you slightly influence the beast before he attempts to barbecue us all.”

Silence steps forward, rolling his shoulders back.

“Please be careful,” Ali whispers.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Charity blocks Silence from getting any closer.

“I’m attempting to calm the monster, so Malice can whisk you to safetyaway from your kidnapper,” Silence says haughtily.

“I’m fine,” Charity says, planting her hands on her hips. “He didn’t hurt me.”

“You smell of blood,” I note.

“I almost took a tumble right off the edge of the mountain, but he saved me. Unfortunately, his teeth nicked my arm.” She swipes a hand through the air. “My kid is a dragonling. I know better than anyone that accidents happen.”

A chilling roar fills the air just down the mountain.

Well, shit.

I thought I was giving Bane the opportunity to play the hero by rescuing the princess from the dragon.

Erm, type of dragon. Kind of dragon? Whatever. I’m not sure if wyverns qualify or if they are their own species.

However, I clearly forgot one important detail. Bane is also a dragon, and he thinks Charity is his mate.

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