Page 7 of Veil of Monsters

She smiles, leaning back in her seat. “I was always the perfect daughter, did what he asked, trained for the throne, but he wouldn’t give me it. He loved the throne more than any of us, and I was sick of it. Yes, I killed him with my friend’s help. Do you know, in his last moments, he called for our mother? He killed her and he thought she would be his mercy in death. Pathetic.”

I’m sure a part of my father loved my mother once, but she would never be waiting for him on the other side of life after what he did.

“Hello, Nerelyth.”

The male smiles wrong. His scent is almost like rot, and I nearly choke as I breathe it in. He’s such a contrast to my sister with her long red hair, lounging back in her seat.Death and the sea.“It’s about time you woke up and got here. It’s very nice for you two to drop in, unconscious, to our court. Saves me searching for you.”

“Who are you?” I demand, looking at the male.

He leans forward, his black eyes void of life and emotion. “Do you not remember me? We used to play board games together on rainy days. You used to bring me food sometimes when we didn’t have much, and I felt empty. You used to come and keep me company when Calliophe had to go out to work and you didn’t. I always had a crush on you.” Sickness rises in my throat as he looks me over. “Do you not remember who I am?”

“Louie?” I gasp, horror smacking me in the chest. He’s no longer the little boy I remember, but there are echoes of him there that I can see now. He clearly has Louie’s memories, but whatever he is now, this is not Louie anymore. This is a fully grown male who is far more dangerous than anyone I’ve met before. “What do you want?”

He grins like a snake as he rises up off the throne. “I expected a warm welcome from my old friend. I’ve just burnt down the city I grew up in, and I’m rather tired. I heard sirens were far better company.”

Felix takes a step in front of me, only to be hit with something that looks like grey shadows but is not the same as Emerson’s magic. Felix flies across the room, slamming hard into the wall, his head smacking on the stone with a sickening thud. I go to run to him only for that same darkness to wrap itself around my legs and arms, holding me in place. “Felix!” I scream, struggling against the darkness that’s coming from Louie himself. I open my mouth to sing, only for shadows to snap my mouth shut. “Take the Wyern and torture him for information on the Wyern cities. Make sure he tells you everything, my wife.”

No! I struggle, screaming against my binds. Louie walks in front of me. “You will be the perfect bait.” His gaze is cruel. “I need Calliophe away from the protection of the Wyerns, and who better for her to come to save than her best friend? Until then, we can have some fun, old friend.”

The shadows tighten around me, ripping into my skin, and all I can do is scream.

ChapterFour

CALLIOPHE SPRITE

Lorenzo doesn’t leave.

After one hour, I believe Posy is debating if she should kill him. By two hours, I’m certain she has a plan, and the both of them are making the room tenser by the second. As annoying as he is, Lorenzo’s like a constant shadow to us both. I get the feeling that leaving was never part of his plan. He sits in the cozy room, watching us and eating the various snacks he brought with him. No matter what room we try to escape to, he follows. I even suggested Posy come to the bathroom with me for a little, and he said no to that because two of us do not need to go into the bathroom together. Posy tried to bite him, and he threatened to tie her to a chair. So far, their mate bond is making things worse. While Lorenzo is here, Posy can’t risk using her powers to get us out of here. It’s our one chance, and we both know risking it would be insane. Lorenzo must suspect we’re trying to escape him.

Posy is now sitting on a chair by a fire, glaring at Lorenzo, who is leaning on the dining room table in the corner, sharpening a dagger. I open the door to the stairs. They go up and down, one way leading to the gardens, but the bottom level has a layer of magic stopping me from going down. “As awkward as this is, I’m going up to the gardens for some fresh air.”

Lorenzo flips the dagger in his hand. “Have fun.”

Posy yawns, looking back at me. “Are you sure I can’t kill him? I’m growing bored.”

Lorenzo’s ears perk up. “You could attempt to, but without weapons, I don’t see how you’re managing that, mortal.”

She bares her teeth at him. He does the same right back. I’m definitely leaving. I head up the small staircase to the rooftop garden, which is surprisingly beautiful. It’s covered in tiny little trees that just come up to my waist, their leaves yellow and green, and they have a strange fruit growing on them that smells bitter. The rest of the garden is a maze of stone paths between beautiful, bright flowers and thick bushes. I find a bench in the middle of them and sit down to watch the city stretching out around me. Its noise echoes, almost comfortingly, as people wake up to start their day, unaware of the death lurking outside the mountains, coming for them all. I’m scared to try to sleep, because I know Louie will be waiting for me, like a shadow that torments my dreams for his amusement.

As time ticks on, I begin to wonder how much of the sweet little boy I knew is left. I can’t lose him… but I feel him slipping away into the creature that wears his skin. A single tear falls down my cheek just as I sense another male I care for near. I look up, seeing nothing but a black shadow against the burning light of the rising sun right before Emerson dives to me, his wings spreading out beautifully around him. The sun shines straight through them, almost making them look see-through, and yet they are lovely. With the light at his back, he lands in front of me, his wings fading away with magic.

The Wyern King crosses his arms as he looks down at me. Slowly he leans forward, touching the single tear on my cheek and frowning at it on his finger like it’s personally offended him. “For some reason, I had to come here.”

He looks at me for an explanation, like it’s my fault and my problem alone to fix. I clear my throat. I’ve told him why we are connected. He just doesn’t believe me. “Do you have one of the Vipera?”

Emerson frowns at me, and I get the feeling he doesn’t want to answer. Eventually, he decides that I’m worth answering. He comes and sits on the bench next to me. Careful to keep a distance between us. Before, Emerson would sit so close. I wrap my arms around my waist. Everything between us feels cold and empty, even when my heart burns alive for him. He’s right next to me, but so far apart. Losing someone you love is a bitter pain. Having them forget you is torture. “Yes.” He pauses, looking at the sun that is crawling higher. “Her name is Starmist. She’s one of the biggest, except for her mate. He’s bigger, but he doesn’t have a Wyern. I always hoped a child of mine would ride him one day—” He pauses and growls. “Why do you make me forget that you cannot be trusted? I speak too freely around you.”

“It’s because you do trust me, Emerson,” I softly reply.

I only get a growl in response. He’s here, next to me. It has to mean something. Eventually, he breaks the silence. “Have you seen my city before? Did I bring you here?”

“No. I only swore at your court when we were under the sea, and you promised you’d bring me here. That you’d put me on your throne and claim me in front of everybody, if I remember right? Not that I’m totally into that, but maybe you are.” I pause. “Sex is always interesting with you. You choose the most random places.”

He looks like he wants to laugh, but he stops himself. “I didn’t come here to learn more of us. You know more about this Rift than I, and I demand you tell me everything you know. They’re killing people left, right and center. I may not know who you are. I may not trust you, fae, but to save people, I need to know who I’m fighting against.”

“If you allow me to see the fae who made it here and help them, then I’ll tell you everything.”

He smirks. “Fine.”

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