Page 102 of Monster Mishap

Daisy gets onto her knees on my thighs and glares up at me. “I refuse to do the miscommunication trope with you right now. You’re a big ogre. Talk to me. If you can’t… then I don’t know why I’m here.”

I lean forward, hating the way my veins flood with fear. Her leaving would hurt me more than any punch my father might land. “Are you threatening me?”

She sighs. “No, but it sounded like it and I’m sorry for that. All I’m saying is I want, no need, you to communicate with me. Don’t stonewall me. Don’t block the bond.”

“You don’t want to feel these emotions.”

“And how do you know that?” she snaps. “You don’t get to decide what I do and don’t want, Orcus. I think I’m starting to fall in love with you, but that’s going to change if you start cold-shouldering me.”

“Think?” I arch an eyebrow. “Pity, I know I am.”

She gasps then scowls, grabbing hold of my tusks and yanking my face toward hers. “Don’t try to distract me with love.”

Anyone else would be dead. Daisy is the only one who can handle me like this. I chuckle. “You don’t like love?”

“Ilove,love, but I’m being serious right now. Are. You. Okay?”

It’s impossible to deny her when she looks at me like I’m the most important thing in her life. Even after what she saw out there, after I let him make me a beast, she still isn’t scared. My heart cinches.

“No, I’m not okay.”

Her eyes bounce between mine. “Why did you fight him?”

“He insulted you, and then he told me he’d find a way to break my little flower.” Anger flares inside me once again, renewed by the innate desire to protect her. “And no one does either of those things and gets away with it.”

“He manipulated you.”

I nod. “I know.” What’s worse is I let him. I should have known what he was doing.

“Do you really think he’d hurt me?”

“Normally, I’d say no, but I’m not sure I know what he’s capable of.”

She strokes my tusks and frowns. “Well. We can’t let him manipulate you again. You were miserable, and I don’t want to be the reason you turn into a real monster.”

“I’ll always protect you.” I place my hand over my heart. “You have my word.”

Yanking me forward, she catches my lips with hers and gives me a hard kiss before resting her forehead on mine. “I know you will, big guy, but so does he, and he’s going to use that against you.”

“If you’re asking me to let him threaten you…” I can’t do that.

“No, but I have an idea. What if Zyla made a charm that prevented him from hurting me? Would that magic work against a king?”

“Magic works against all monsters, regardless of their station. He’ll be pissed when he finds out.”

Daisy shrugs. “Then let him be mad. What’s the worst he can do?”

“Kill us both?”

She sucks in a breath. “Okay. That’s bad. But I don’t think he’d do that, no matter how mad he gets.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because he needs you to get what he wants. You’re his only son and you taking the throne is the only way for him to avoid taking responsibility.”

“You’re probably right.”

“I know I am. So, should I get Zyla?”

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