Page 47 of The Monster's Desire

This is not good.

It’s a very serious moment, but I deflect with humor whenever possible. It’s a defense mechanism. You don’t survive nearly being murdered by your own mother without developing some very questionable coping skills.

It’s several agonizing seconds of pure silence before her heartbeat begins to pound.

My magic pulses with excitement as the slow, steady thump turns into a racing cadence. Ohfuck, that’s not right either. A human heart beats on the slower end of the spectrum in comparison to species like wolves and fae.

A low, feral growl sounds outside the cabin. My tether to Echo snaps tight in my chest. My hand flies to rub away the radiating pain. He’s here and he’sfurious.

My shadows form a coffin-like shape around Milania.

Maybe I could try to escape while they’re watching to see what will happen next? My hand clenches the sheet as my other falls to keep myself upright.

Come on. She really needs to be okay, but there are no guarantees.

I’m in the dark as much as they are.

Commotion outside draws my attention, and I stagger to the doorway. Several fae and elven males are blocking Echo and Ridge from coming any closer.

“For fuck’s sake. We’re all on the same team here,” I call out to the men involved in the testosterone pissing match.

A sharp gasp fills the air behind me, and I spin around in time to see Milania sit straight up. Her lips are a deep rosy color, and her cheekbones are slightly more pronounced, but it’s the pointed ears that send my heart racing in my chest.

Holy fucking shit.

She’s fae.

That was not my doing.

I’m not getting blamed for this.

Not today, Satan. Not today.

That’s the last coherent thought I have before everything goes black.

ChapterSixteen

Ridge

Ten Minutes Earlier

Being immortal isn’t the gift many humans would believe, especially when you’re an ancient shifter who’s spent lifetimes waiting to find their mate.

I long ago gave up hope, and that was prior to females of my kind growing rarer. I’ve lived a life of relative isolation and celibacy for so long that my reaction to the little witch immediately made me suspicious.

For fuck’s sake, my wolf thinks her miniature fangs are adorable. Wolves and vampires are often cliché in our distaste for one another. She’s not a vampire, that much is clear. She’s got a heartbeat and a similar body temperature to any other human or witch.

Her coming here was clearly a setup. North Falls is so far outside of a tourist destination that I’m surprised delivery trucks still manage to bring necessities regularly. I’m sure the council’s compulsion has something to do with it.

“I can’t believe she took off with Brant,” Echo says indignantly. “It’s like she’s desperate for my palm on her ass.”

“Try it, and I’ll decapitate you,” I growl, stomping through the woods after him in human form.

I don’t know what the fuck that was back there, but even thinking about the creature sends an uncomfortable shiver down my spine. I’ve seen a lot during my thousands of years, but that shit was disturbing.

“Hey guys, thanks for waiting around for your teammate,” an eerie voice says, appearing beside Echo.

The vampire spins, hissing and swiping with his claws, but the creature turns to smoke.

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