Page 60 of The Monster's Desire

Luckily, I know that’s impossible.

I shove my hands into my jeans pockets and aim for the closest tree. If they’re going to fuck in the woods while the council has it out for all of us, then I might as well provide security.

After all, my existence hinges on keeping her alive. It has nothing to do with my growing obsession to the shadowborn blood witch. It’s absolutely not because the expression she makes as she comes again seems burned into my retinas.

It’s also not because she selflessly allowed herself to be kidnapped by an unfamiliar bigfoot and thunderbird to save a dying woman.

Yeah, it’s not like I’m fucked or anything. Right?

* * *

The wolf ruts and snarls while Nadia sobs and begs the next few hours of my never-ending existence away. If I were human, the back of my skull would be raw. The number of times I’ve banged my head against the coarse tree bark would’ve certainly killed me if I weren’t immortal. At the very least, I’d have brain damage.

They finally settle as the first visages of light break the horizon. Ridge scoops her up, heading toward his house without a backward glance in my direction.

“You’re welcome for having your back,” I mutter low enough that only he will pick up my words.

Ridge turns, flipping me off with the hand on Nadia’s ass and continues on like nothing happened. I follow them, pondering ways to broach the many different conversations we need to have.

I’m unsurprised when he carries her into his shower.

I lounge against the wall as I run through the facts. I’ve never been close enough to the inner workings of the council to know what’s going on.

The inhabitants of North Falls love to call me the council’s echo, but I was physically incapable of rebuffing Imogen’s demands until Nadia severed our bond. She’ll always be my maker, but the tables have turned.

I’m no longer hers to command.

Imogen won’t allow that slight to stand. She may have agreed because she continually defers to Constantine, but it’s only a matter of time.

Once Nadia has served her purpose, Imogen will strike. That’s something I won’t allow. Our destiny is tethered together. I’m far from altruistic. It’s simply a fact that I can’t survive without the little witch.

There’s also the added component of the demons. It’s clear they know Nadia and are willing to fight to keep her alive, but according to the reaper, only she can summon them, and she doesn’t remember they fucking exist.

My hand flies to my temple, rubbing away the low throbbing ache. I’ve been perpetually drained dry over the last day and a half. All the pieces of the puzzle are only adding to my frustration.

It’s not something I’ll be able to determine alone.

Nadia is the one with answers, and it’s about time she gives them.

Ridge comes out in a pair of sweats, while Nadia is in one of his long, white T-shirts. The thing resembles a dress on her curvy frame.

“Hey,” she says, smiling and waving when she spots me lounging. Her face scrunches as she frowns, yanking her hand down. It’s distractingly cute.

What the fuck is going on in my head recently?

“We need to talk.” I cross my arms over my chest. That ten-minute shower didn’t nearly wash away the scent of her pussy. The fact that her smell is corrupted by the wolf’s pisses off my monster. We prefer smelling her.

“Okay,” she says, but she takes a step back.

I changed my mind. His scent is nothing in comparison to how she snuggles back into his chest, allowing him to toss an arm around her neck. It hangs between her breasts, and he links their hands together.

We’ve known each other for the same amount of time. There’s no reason she should be so comfortable with him.

Our souls are fucking tethered.

“Did you feed? Are you topped off?” she asks.

“I did.”

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