Page 22 of Monster Mishap

The bond pulses with need and my stomach clenches.

“Food,” she says, voice breathy and light.

“Liar,” I whisper.

Air hisses between her teeth, and she slips out from under my hold, practically running from me, and I let her, despite my brain screaming at me to make her tell the truth and then reward her.

“Here,” she says, shoving a bowl in my direction. “It’s a scramble.” She sits at the table, and I join her, adjusting myself once I’m seated and using the table to shield her from my painfully obvious erection. Looking at me, she tugs her bottom lip between her teeth.

Fucking torture.

I shake my head and take a bite. “Wow,” I say around a mouthful. This is different from what I usually make, but it’s delicious.

“Good, right?” She beams at me and that pure happiness hits me square in the chest.

My stomach flutters a little and I scowl at that. She says she’s not a witch, but Daisy has some sort of sorcery because I don’t get stomach flutters. I’m a hardened warrior. Daisy winks at me and shoves a forkful of food in her mouth. Cursed, stars, why do I want to smile?

NINE

What happens in the bathtub, doesn’t stay in the bathtub. Thanks a lot, Edgar

DAISY

I’ve never seenan ogre blush, but damn if it isn’t cute as hell. Orcus’ navy eyes slip over my face for the fifth time since we sat down and my smile grows a little wider. What’s he thinking about? Moments ago, our minds were on the same track, the bond made that abundantly clear, but now I can’t quite pin down what his emotions mean. Frustration. A bit of happiness. Confusion. Curiosity.

That’s the most dangerous feeling of all.

I start to ask him about it but something falls from the top of the cave and into the bathing pit. Orcus growls and slowly sets his fork down while I scramble out of my seat and race over. That thing was very human looking. They haven’t come up for air. Maybe they’re drowning.

I kneel down at the edge of the bath and spot a familiar face.

“Edgar!” I shove my hands into the water, but he’s too far down for me to reach like this.

One long, green arm reaches into the pit and grabs Edgar, dragging him out. Orcus sets the prone elderly man down with more care than I expect given how nasty he’d been when I was talking about Edgar.

“What are you doing here, Edgar?” I pump my hands on his chest to try and force whatever water he’s breathed in out.

“Why are you doing this?”

I shoot Orcus a look. “I’m trying to save him.”

“Looks like you’re hurting him.”

“This is how we save people when they swallow water.” Edgar gurgles, projecting water out of his body and wheezing as he struggles to breathe unhindered. I roll him over and pat his back. “You’re okay.” I help soothe him until his breathing returns to normal.

Orcus’ eyes are like a heavy weight, but I’m too worried to pay him any mind.

Eventually Edgar flops onto his back and looks at me. “Daisy,” he croaks. “I found you.”

“What are you doing here, Edgar?”

His bushy eyebrows pinch together and those cloudy eyes take me in. “I came to find you. Didn’t think you’d survive on your own.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I say with a shake of my head.

“I knew you’d help me find the way, Daisy.”

I guess portal—or whatever it is—travel doesn’t erase Alzheimer’s.

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