Page 77 of The Monster's Desire

“Why?” I ask. I’m not necessarily stuck on staying in North Falls, but I have been here several hundred years now.

“My nan is getting older. I can’t abandon her, nor would I feel comfortable asking her to move. She’s practically elderly.”

I laugh. “That’s all right, little witch. I’ll gladly relocate. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“She’ll likely pinch your butt,” Nadia says, stepping forward. My still hard cock falls from her cunt. She spins to face me, and her soft hands land on my chest. Her blue eyes stand out starkly in comparison to her dark lashes. She truly is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. “I’m pretty sure I wished you into reality. I was complaining recently, and I wished for a hot-as-fuck, stoic protector—”

“You’re both completely fucking insane,” Echo growls from the doorway. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

I’m still grinning at her words. I’m pretty sure she’s delusional, since I’ve been alive a lot longer than she has, but Echo’s words sober me up real fucking quick.

* * *

Nadia climbs out of the car, and the silky material of her dress brushes my forearm. While Nadia and I showered, Echo procured dinner-party attire for all three of us.

“I’m telling you right now,” Echo says, pulling on his shirt sleeve nervously as he glances over his shoulder. “This is a bad fucking sign.”

“I’m not sure,” Nadia says. “My shadows aren’t concerned, but they haven’t exactly been reliable.”

“Come on.” I wrap my arm around her lower back. The silky, cream-and-silver dress contrasts her dark hair and blue eyes perfectly.

She’s absolutely stunning, but I agree with Echo. Had I fully considered the situation prior to acting, then I wouldn’t have bitten her. At least not immediately before a meeting with the council. I haven’t been summoned before them in years. My bite is fully visible on her right clavicle and the backside of her shoulder. My monster wanted no doubt in anyone’s mind about the fact she’s taken.

We approach the front of Constantine’s mansion.

Nadia stays tucked in close to my side as we approach.

Echo continues fidgeting on her other side. I’m not shocked. Imogen will undoubtedly be in attendance. I’d be surprised if all the council wasn’t present. There are valet attendants and waiters loitering around the entrance.

“Whatever you do,” Echo murmurs close to Nadia’s ear, “do not antagonize Imogen. No matter what she does to me, you can’t react.”

Nadia frowns, opening her mouth like she might protest, but she sucks in a sharp breath as her shadows spill back to her from wherever they’ve been. “Yeah, I changed my mind. It’s going to be a shit show.”

“Fucking lovely,” Echo mutters, striding through the door the attendant holds open.

“I’ll be by your side the entire time,” I assure her.

She gives me a nervous smile, squeezing my waist where her hand rests. “Just be safe. Don’t get yourself killed because of me.”

“Oh, little witch.” I chuckle. “I’m very fucking hard to kill.”

ChapterTwenty-Six

Nadia

“You successfully completed the first cornerstone.” Constantine smiles dangerously. “Only three more to go.”

Imogen stands across the room talking to Warren and Lysander Godfrey with a drink in her hand. Her reddish-blonde hair falls around her lithe frame as she wobbles a little.

I grimace. That doesn’t seem like a great sign. She almost looks plastered. I’m not one-hundred-percent sure vampires can get wasted. Not on alcohol, anyway. I guess, with enough determination, anything is possible.

“I heard you were attacked,” Constantine says in a conversational tone that sends a shiver down my spine. “It appears your personal security was able to keep you alive.”

Echo glances away, carefully studying Imogen and the two male council members. My magic, the jealous bitch, doesn’t like it very much. Clearly, it’s influencing my need to claw the female vampire’s eyes out.

Constantine chuckles, drawing my attention.

“We had some unexpected backup.” I give Constantine a plastic smile. “It was lucky that Ridge happened to be prowling the woods. He was able to come to our aid.”

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