Page 85 of Monster Mishap

“I do, but I’m still mad at my father and I don’t think I’m ready to discuss it with you yet.”

I think I hate the king. “It’s okay. I’m here to listen whenever you’re ready. Or to support you. I know how you feel about what happened with the furies, and I know you’ll make better choices when you’re king.”

His eyes pinch shut, and I can’t help but feel that I said the wrong thing. I move my hand to his tusk and gently tug on it.

“Hey, grumpy, did I say too much?”

“No, little flower. You think I’m better than I really am.”

I roll my eyes. “Maybe you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.”

“I kind of wish I saw the world the way you do.”

“And how’s that?” I trace the length of his tusk with my fingers. It still amazes me that they’re so smooth.

“Like there’s still good.”

My smile fades and I chew on my cheek, trying to find the words to make things better, but nothing comes to mind. That part of me that needs to nurture him demands I fix whatever is bothering him, but what good am I with the current set of problems? I’m human. The vampires and furies would destroy me.

Pinching my eyebrows together, I stroke the smooth surface of his left tusk. “I wish I could help.”

“You are,” he says, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me toward him. “Whenever I’m with you, I feel better.”

“Probably because when we’re together we’re usually having sex or doing something that involves pleasure.”

He chuckles under his breath. “That’s not all we do. We talk. I brought you cake. You berate me. You call me names.”

“And that makes you feel better?” I ask.

“Yes.” The answer is so final, so definite, that I can’t help but grin.

I lean in and brush my lips over his, keeping hold of his tusk and stroking it. “Well, I like hanging out with you too.”

He hums and holds me even tighter. “I hope that never changes.”

“It won’t,” I tell him.

“We’ll see.”

“Is there another … another ogre or female?” Wow. Okay. I said that out loud.Way to throw your insecurities out there like confetti, Daisy.

“No.”

“Would you ever cheat on me?”

“No,” he growls, running his nails up my spine.

I kiss those grumpy lips. “Good. Then it won’t change.” Despite my reassurances, I feel his apprehension filtering through the bond. I hate it and decide to make it my mission to let him know how much I mean what I say.

* * *

The cyclops is closing in.No matter how fast I run, it’s faster. I don’t want to die. I have so much to do. Prometheus needs to find its mom. I have to fulfill my promise to Harald. I have to get fitted for dresses for the ceremony. Being killed by a cyclops isn’t part of my plans.

“MY MOUNTAIN!” it screams and I hear the sound of its makeshift bat swinging back.

I’m too close. I can’t outrun that bat and there’s no way I’ll survive. The bat whistles through the air as it sails toward my head.

“No!” I jolt up, heart hammering in my chest. I grip the sheets beneath me and pinching my eyes shut in anticipation of life ending pain.

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