Page 122 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

“We need to talk.” I cross my arms over my chest. That ten-minute shower didn’t nearly wash away the scent of her pussy. The fact that her smell is corrupted by the wolf’s pisses off my monster. We prefer smelling her.

“Okay,” she says, but she takes a step back.

I changed my mind. His scent is nothing in comparison to how she snuggles back into his chest, allowing him to toss an arm around her neck. It hangs between her breasts, and he links their hands together.

We’ve known each other for the same amount of time. There’s no reason she should be so comfortable with him.

Our souls are fucking tethered.

“Did you feed? Are you topped off?” she asks.

“I did.”

“Did you run to the council and tell them what happened?” Her eyebrows rise as she studies me.

Now that really pisses me off. It’s clear that insinuation came from the wolf.

“I did not. I fed, retrieved clothes for you, grabbed my car, and came back to watch the two of you fuck the next several hours away.” I smirk.

She shrugs unapologetically. “We needed some stress relief.”

“Did you warn the wolf what you do for a living?”

“She’s a fertility witch,” Ridge rumbles.

Nadia flinches, her discomfort filling the link between us. I’m unused to feeling remorse, but I do think that’s what I’m currently experiencing. It’s a strange bubbling in my stomach that I’m unfamiliar with.

Her chin tilts up, and she looks at Ridge over her shoulder. “I work at a sex club in Haven called The Monster’s Den.”

Ridge’s face shows a mix of emotions, from confusion to possibly hurt. He hasn’t dated anyone in all the years I’ve known him, but he’ll have to understand witches don’t anticipate mates like shifters do.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t around to look after you. You’ll never have to go back there again.” The clueless bastard actually bends down, nuzzling his cheek to hers.

“It’s not like that.” She spins to face him. “For the most part, I’m happy with my job. Yeah, it involves sex, but it’s also a lot of just companionship for lonely monsters.”

“I forb—” Ridge clears his throat. “I would prefer it if you would consider other options.”

“We fucked, it’s not like?—”

Ridge growls, swatting her ass. “Don’t belittle our connection, or I’ll give you a hell of a lot more than a playful slap on your ass.”

Nadia squeaks, smacking his hand away.

Ridge laughs, kissing her.

As Imogen’s progeny, I’ve stood guard on many private moments. Her weakest child to command, always treated the worst. I’ve seen all types of intimate scenes and never felt an ounce of jealousy or discomfort.

Until now.

I shake away those thoughts; they’re useless.

“I took us off topic,” I say, clearing my throat. “We have bigger issues to address.”

“Command him as your vessel,” Ridge directs. “Demand he answer truthfully and ask if he has betrayed you.”

“Fuck you,” I hiss, pushing off the wall.

Nadia spins to face me, but she puts a hand on the wolf’s chest, shoving him back as he tries to advance.

“We don’t trust you. No one fucking trusts you,” Ridge growls.

“Oh, the two of you are a team now, are you?” I taunt.

“He hasn’t done a single thing to hurt me, and I don’t exactly have loads of allies in North Falls,” Nadia says.

“We’re soul bonded,” I say indignantly.

“Don’t forget why I can’t call in reinforcements of my own.” She rolls her lips, giving me a look that says she blames me for Warren’s compulsion.

“I did all that I could. You think you’re the only one he can compel or command? I gave you as much warning as was possible under the circumstances.”

“I understand that. I also get why you’d take any opportunity to be free of your connection to Imogen,” Nadia says, pushing wet brown hair away from her face. “I don’t even blame you for it. But I was ambushed by that situation.”

“I had no choice,” I grind out. “Warren is even older than Imogen. His compulsion would have overridden any attempt I made to shield your mind. It would have gotten us both killed.”

“Bullshit,” Ridge says.

“No, I don’t think it is.” She sighs. “They specifically asked if I was prepped for the meeting. Normally, my magic gives me a fair amount of protection from compulsion, but it was almost like something or someone was blocking my power.”

“I don’t think there’s anyone on the council with that ability,” I tell her truthfully.

“Then, I have no idea. The other blood witches that came to town—how far into replenishing the ward did they make it before being killed?” she asks.

Ridge growls.

“Half to maybe two-thirds of the way through.” I shove my hands into my front pockets. “Just enough to keep it from falling completely. It would have fallen by now without their intervention.”

“Okay,” Nadia says, sighing heavily. “We were attacked, and I hadn’t even completed a quarter of the ward.”

“It doesn’t make any sense in the first place. None of us want the ward to fall. It would lead to a mass exodus. Those who stayed would have to live as humans.” My head shakes involuntarily.

“There could be a group working against the council,” Nadia offers with a shrug. “They’ve got enough bodies to sacrifice that they could be a real problem.”

“That’s true. No one in North Falls likes the council. Most simply do what they can to survive under their tyrannical rule,” Ridge adds.

I glance away. He’s right about that. There’s no one strong enough to overthrow them, and as a result, most with any intelligence try to stay out of their periphery.

“It’s not even daylight. Perhaps you two should try to get a few hours of sleep. Nothing will be accomplished at six in the morning.” I roll my eyes.

Nadia nods her agreement, and they head to the mutt’s bed.

I settle back against the wall. My mind has always been my most valuable asset. It’s kept me alive this long. Normally, I can strategize the best outcome of any situation. Unfortunately, I don’t yet have enough pieces of the puzzle to accurately surmise how any of this will play out.

The witch and the wolf sleep for two or three hours. Banging on the door wakes Ridge, drawing my attention from my thoughts. I’ve continually pondered the idea. If there’s a group working against the council, they could be possible allies. Except that they don’t want Nadia to succeed.

The main question is: why?

Ridge stomps downstairs while Nadia groans, rolling around the bed and complaining it’s too early to be alive. I snicker. She’s quite adorable with the bedhead and kitten-like stretches.

“You know you’re flashing me your pussy, right, baby darkling?” I chuckle. She continues stretching out her arms with little care. “We’ve got company. Are you able to magic yourself up some pants? I left the spare clothes in my car.”

My head tilts as I listen to the commotion downstairs.

I don’t wait for her reply. I’m instantly in motion and suddenly staring at two very confused teenagers.

Ehh, they may be in their early twenties, but they’re definitely no older than that.

I vaguely recognize them from around town, but not well enough to know either of their names.

“Jenny?” Nadia comes down the stairs in shorts, a tank top, and a weird over shirt that falls down her arm, showing off her delectable neck. It’s the wrong outfit choice when so close to a perpetually half-starved vampire. “Brock? Well, you look better than the last time I saw you.”

I frown, glancing between the witch and the two wolves who’ve joined us.

I did spend a fair amount of time wondering how Ridge came upon her.

“Alpha,” Brock bows his head low, “we have a problem.”

Nadia huffs out a heavy sigh, coming to stand at my side.

“Could we speak alone?” Brock asks.

“Oh, shit,” Nadia whispers, taking a step back. “You didn’t happen to turn into a fae, did you?” She looks at Brock, who simply blinks in response. “Ohmigod, no way. An omega?”

Jenny laughs. “No, but ever since you gave me that contraceptive spell?—”

“Jenny,” Brock hisses, grabbing her hand and nodding at me.

“He’s with me.” Nadia crosses her arms over her chest. “So, spill whatever you came here to say.”

“Smell me,” Jenny says.

Ridge steps forward and leans close to her neck. “Well, fuck.”

“What?” Nadia’s eyes bounce between them. “Someone speak! Witches don’t have the best olfactory senses.”

“She smells sweet.” Ridge steps back, heading to Nadia’s side. “Her scent has subtly changed. It’s not an extreme difference. Not yet, anyway, but it reminds me of the cloyingly sweet scent omegas used to have.”

“Fuck,” Nadia and Brock say in unison.

Brock’s eyes widen. He’s likely too young to be familiar with the smell.

“Seems you’ve got some explaining to do, baby darkling,” I mutter, swiping a hand over my face. Could this shit show get anymore complicated?

Jenny’s phone goes off and she yanks it out.

“What do we do?” Brock asks. “Someone is eventually going to notice. It’s not severe right now, but will it get stronger?”

“I didn’t do anything, except give her a contraceptive spell.

You guys are young. No one needs that hanging over their heads when they’re just trying to have fun and enjoy life.

” Nadia’s shoulders pull back and her chin tilts in the air defiantly.

“Tell them it’s a new perfume. I have no idea, but I’m not getting blamed for this. ”

My eyes fly to the possibly newly turned omega wolf. Her chest rises and falls in quick movements as her hands tremble around her phone. “There’s an actual emergency. Can you help?”

“What the fuck is happening now?” Ridge growls.

Nadia simply nods, stepping toward the wolves because she legitimately has zero survival instincts. I really did get stuck with the only suicidal blood witch to come to North Falls.

That fucking figures.