Page 102 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

“He’s not.” Wraith steeples his fingers in front of him.

“Stuck, that is. He’ll be able to exit at will once he’s played his part.

However, the council will look into a missing agent with additional fervency.

He needs to fool his coworkers for long enough to fulfill his stake in this delicate game. ”

“My life isn’t a game,” Nadia says as her fingers dig into my arm.

A wide smile crosses my face. There’s that backbone I’m so fond of. She rarely backs down, which I find greatly arousing. The only time she’s reasonably submissive is during our sessions. I glance down, willing my cock to cooperate. Now really isn’t the time.

“Would you prefer to take the blame for the council agent’s death?” Malice grins an unfriendly smile. It’s goddamn disturbing is what that is. His face is still in line with the warlock’s ass, and that type of unnatural angle isn’t helping shit.

“I didn’t kill him. He would have killed me. He sacrificed me to you assholes without a second thought.” Nadia slaps my arm away from her lower back, but she wobbles without my support.

Wraith immediately siphons across the room, offering her assistance.

“Calling your saviors names, love?” Wraith tilts his head. “That’s not very polite.”

Nadia goes rigid at the nickname. He called her that a few minutes ago, but I’m guessing the drugs are beginning to wear off.

He’s called her “love” while wearing a lot of different faces over the years. Perhaps it’s the familiarity in the cadence of his voice that does it, because she blinks repeatedly, like she’s desperately trying to figure out where she’s heard that before.

“Have we met?” She stares up at him, swiping a dark, wavy strand of hair behind her ear.

“Oh, this is going to be good.” Malice rubs his hands together. They’re still facing the wrong direction from his face, and it’s impossible to tell exactly how we fucked up this plan so badly.

“We’ve met many times, but never with my true appearance.” Wraith offers a timid smile. “Well, not that you would remember.”

“Christ, who nominated you to speak?” I ask incredulously.

“Oh my God.” Nadia glances between the two of us. “You’re my...Sam? Wait, how is that even possible?”

“When the two of us are called to the human realm to reap a supernatural soul, we intertwine?—”

I cut Wraith off to clarify, “In a completely platonic way.” Not that I’m opposed to men, but Wraith is a little too much like a brother for me to ever see him in that light.

Nadia’s head swivels to face me. “You called me doll ...” She looks at Wraith. “And you called me love . Holy shit.”

“Sin eaters are even rarer than reapers. If the knowledge that we can possess one body was known, it was never passed down to us. We’ve visited you many times as one.” Wraith brushes his fingers over her cheek. “But we met for the first time the night you were to turn thirteen.”

“Jack said I should have died,” she whispers. Back then, she was just a big-eyed, innocent pre-teen without a serious sin to devour.

Wraith took one look at her and refused to reap her soul. As such, she got to live to see another day, with an extra secret buried away inside her.

Nadia has secrets galore.

I adore it. Really, I adore anything that can surprise or intrigue me after so many years of existing.

“The portal seems to be closing on its own, but I’m a little concerned that you performed the wrong spell,” Malice says.

“We’re slipping,” Wraith announces as his hand becomes see-through.

“Thank fuck we secured the relic,” Malice says helpfully.

Wraith shoots Nadia a hopeful look. “Would you like to command us to stay?”

Nadia glances between the three of us. “Why would I do that?”

“If you don’t, I can assure you I’m going to spank your ass red the next time I see you,” I inform her, raising my eyebrows so that she knows I’m serious.

“I’m not sure that was the best course of action.” Malice snickers, bending down to look at Kash’s grimoire that Nadia dropped at some point.

“You know, I think I’m good. I’m not really a take-charge kind of girl.” Nadia slowly begins to back away. Apparently, the drugs have finally begun to leave her system. “I don’t think I’ll be doing any commanding today.”

Malice chuckles. “After they saved your life? That’s kind of cold.”

“From what I heard, you all set this up,” Nadia says indignantly.

Well, she’s got us there.

“Little witch, before you go, could I inquire as to which page you read?” Malice frowns at the book, nudging it with his heel, since his hands are still on the opposite side of Kash’s body.

“The one on the right page. Left is opening, right is always closing.” Nadia gives him a look like he should know this.

“That does make sense,” Malice says in a strangely melodic tone. “Unfortunately, in this case, the summoning spell was at the top of the left side and the closing at the bottom. It appears congratulations are in order.” The delusional fucker claps, but his head is still facing his ass.

“Why?” She sounds truly perplexed.

“She just tethered the two of you to her. Can I just say thank fuck I was in this vessel!” Malice cackles.

“What?” Nadia chokes out, still backing away. “No way, I don’t do anything dark with my magic.”

“Tethering for a demon and a blood witch isn’t inherently dark,” I tell her truthfully. “It simply means you’ve blood bound us, which is exactly what we were hoping for.”

“I’m honored.” Wraith nods like she meant to do it.

Malice snorts. “You poor, delusional bastard.”

The look of horror on Nadia’s face assures exactly the opposite, but what’s done is done. I personally couldn’t be happier with this turn of events. I’ll be a loving and doting partner to my adorable spitfire witch.

“Today went to shit so fast,” Nadia laments.

At the same time, I say, “Today is my favorite day in all my long existence.”

I frown.

She scoffs.

I’m going to spank her ass for that. She just bound us to her for the rest of her life. Sure, to solidify our claims, we need to seal it with a claiming bite, but that’ll happen soon enough.

I can wait. Immortality tends to lend itself to patience.

“Since you insist on being stubborn and refuse to command us to stay, I need you to know—if you require help, or us at all, all you have to do is call. We’ll be obligated to answer you, even across the veil.” Wraith brushes disappearing fingers over her cheek.

I groan as my eyes start to itch. It’s always the first symptom I notice. “Are you sure you don’t want to keep us?”

“When I see you again, you’ll be carrying my babies before you know it.” Wraith leans in to kiss her cheek.

I begin to feel the achy pull to the other side in full force. It’s damn annoying.

Nadia gasps, staring at where Wraith last stood. I’m not sure if she’s shocked by his words or his sudden disappearance.

“Mine too.” I chuckle, sauntering over. “I’ve asked this before, but can I kiss you?”

Nadia frowns. “Are you going to eat my soul?”

“No, you dramatic woman.” I grin. She really is adorable at the most inconvenient times.

“I guess. That’s my thank you for not?—”

Her words cut off as I wrap my hand around the back of her head, pulling her mouth to mine.

I’m much taller than most of the demons we’ve possessed to spend time with her. It takes quite a lot of bending to make the kiss possible, but as she moans into my mouth, I slide the other hand down to squeeze her luscious ass.

Her fingers brush my bare chest, and I really fucking hate the laws of the universe as I feel the strong yank toward Hell.

“I’ll see you again soon, doll.” My magic sizzles. “Forget us and all that happened here until you see me again or if you’re ever in dire trouble. If that happens, remember that you have two monsters ready to rip apart anyone and everything to keep you safe.”

And with that, I’m pulled to Hell.