Page 130 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Twenty-Six

Nadia

“ Y ou successfully completed the first cornerstone.” Constantine smiles dangerously. “Only three more to go.”

Imogen stands across the room talking to Warren and Lysander Godfrey with a drink in her hand. Her reddish-blonde hair falls around her lithe frame as she wobbles a little.

I grimace. That doesn’t seem like a great sign. She almost looks plastered. I’m not one-hundred-percent sure vampires can get wasted. Not on alcohol, anyway. I guess, with enough determination, anything is possible.

“I heard you were attacked,” Constantine says in a conversational tone that sends a shiver down my spine. “It appears your personal security was able to keep you alive.”

Echo glances away, carefully studying Imogen and the two male council members. My magic, the jealous bitch, doesn’t like it very much. Clearly, it’s influencing my need to claw the female vampire’s eyes out.

Constantine chuckles, drawing my attention.

“We had some unexpected backup.” I give Constantine a plastic smile. “It was lucky that Ridge happened to be prowling the woods. He was able to come to our aid.”

“Intriguing.” Constantine laughs. “And that somehow led to a claiming bite?”

“Nadia is my mate.” Ridge wraps his arm around my lower back, pulling me into him with the hand on my hip. “I have every incentive to ensure she succeeds. Having a fully functional ward can only benefit North Falls.”

His words are completely logical, but I don’t think Constantine is the kind of demon swayed by rational thought.

“That’s true enough.” Constantine claps Ridge on the shoulder. “Enjoy the party. We’ve got quite the live show coming up shortly. I’m sure you’re going to love it.”

My gaze follows the demon as he swaggers away with a jaunty skip in his step. I find it highly suspicious.

“Yeah, that’s fucking disturbing,” Echo mutters in barely more than a whisper.

“Agreed,” Ridge growls.

I swallow thickly. Those two rarely agree on anything, which makes it even more ominous.

The evening event drags into nighttime. I repeatedly ask if it’s possible we can graciously leave early, but Echo makes it clear we can’t leave until we’re dismissed.

Hopefully, the council understands I’m a mortal witch, who requires sleep on a daily basis.

Considering they’re all demons and vampires, I’m going to guess they don’t often think about the fact most beings sleep to rest and reset.

“It looks like everyone has mostly started to leave,” I say around a yawn. Maybe my magic severely overreacted when we were coming in?

“The three of you will join us in the parlor,” Warren says, his words lined heavily in his compulsion.

Ridge growls.

My magic pulses, but it leads toward the room Warren is gesturing to. That’s not helpful. Echo strides forward at my side. Ridge’s warmth eventually envelops my back, but I’m fairly sure he’s only following because of me.

That’s a major problem.

My brain registers the sight as I stumble forward, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing. There’s a giant platform with a mattress. It’s definitely a bed. There are no pillows, but there is a blanket, and the four-poster style canopy has no curtains.

Before I can blink, two men I don’t recognize are yanking Echo to an empty area to the left of the raised area. Imogen appears in front of me, ripping me away from Ridge. I put every ounce of strength I have into not panicking.

I’m a sex worker. If they want a show, well then, they can take notes, especially the bitch with her claws digging into my forearms. I can fuck both Echo and Ridge in front of an audience to stake my claim, and it won’t make me uncomfortable one single bit.

Or that’s what I tell myself, because I’ll be damned if I let these assholes continue to bully and intimidate me.

My heart drops when Garth appears behind Imogen, quirking an eyebrow.

“Tonight’s entertainment is a real treat,” Constantine says, sounding every bit the unhinged lunatic I know he is. “It’s a dual double feature.”

I spin around at the commotion to find Ridge struggling against several large men. They’re likely shifters of some form.

“Continue being problematic, and I’ll simply have Imogen break the witch’s neck.” Constantine smirks, gesturing toward me. “It’s your call.”

Echo and Ridge stop fighting back. A shiver runs down my spine as my stomach drops.

“Now, the rules are simple. Garth gets to have his way with Nadia for all of our viewing pleasure while the wolf and the vampire fight to see who will come out victorious.” Constantine claps. “She only needs one bodyguard. Two is redundant, and we all know that’s not my style.”

My jaw falls as my gaze flicks from Ridge to Echo. The bond between me and Ridge pulls tight as the tether does the same with Echo. This town really is fucked up on a level that’s difficult to comprehend.

Garth has the good sense to grimace when I glance back at him. Incubi gain no energy from sexual experiences that aren’t consensual, and if what my friend Arsyn told me is true, then it’s actually physically painful for an incubus to attempt.

Okay, game plan—call my demons and have them help us get the hell out of here. My eyes slide shut as I focus all my energy into calling Knight and Wraith.

“Are you going to cry, little witch?” Imogen asks in a condescending-as-hell tone. She slurs her words, and I really think she might be drunk.

My eyes pop open.

I’m going to murder her before all this is done. Then I’m going to set fire to her headless corpse and laugh like the psychopath I apparently am.

“Nah, I’m not afraid of putting on a good show.” I wink. Her nails dig into my flesh and blood pools. She doesn’t realize it, since the fluid immediately transforms into black smoke.

“This miniature version of a battle royale has no rules, except that you may not begin fighting until Garth has the witch fully nude. You can watch until then and allow your misery to percolate.” Constantine gestures to the platform. “Get on with it. I can’t wait to see how this plays out.”

Garth rolls his shoulders, and I genuinely don’t know if he’s the operator or the machine. It’s likely he’s as much at the council’s mercy as the rest of us.

“Let’s do this,” I say seductively. If there’s one thing I’m excellent at, it’s making men feel desired. Also, listening to them complain about their problems, but whatever. I’m busting out a different set of skills tonight. “If you could release me?”

Imogen glares disdainfully, but her nails retract nearly immediately.

Garth swipes a hand over his face and extends an arm for me to go first. My dress puffs out as I spin.

I do my best to send calming thoughts through the bond to Ridge.

And reassurance to Echo. They’re not allowed to kill each other.

My magic hums in agreement, and my knees go a little weak.

Fucking finally, we’re on the same page.

Garth’s hands land on my hips once I hit the top step.

Music and conversation fills the air, like the party guests decided to get back to their mingling.

The incubus lifts me, twisting me in the air and tossing me down on my back.

The sparkly dress, that I actually really freaking like, flies up around my thighs.

“I will murder you before that asshole ever gets the chance to stick his dick inside her,” Ridge growls.

“Yes, well, you can try,” Echo replies. “I’ll certainly be doing the same in return.”

Garth rolls his eyes but pounces. It’s a physical struggle not to push him away. He’s hot. All sex demons are, but I’m not interested in expanding my harem. I have four cocks attached to four stubborn dicks that I occasionally like from time to time. More than that would be overkill.

“I sure hope you have a plan,” Garth whispers against the shell of my ear. “Because once one of them successfully kills the other, they’ll be coming for me.”

“How altruistic of you,” I say, wrapping my feet around his legs.

“I’m not stupid. I want in on whatever plan you’ve got brewing. I’ve got no fondness for the council.” He speaks so low, it’s hard to pick up all his words. “I believe you met my mate. Scarlett earned a bullshit debt with them that we’re both working to pay off.”

I gasp, digging my hands into his shoulders. This entire place is corrupt to the point it’s disgusting. What Echo told me about The Mirage sits heavy in my mind.

Okay, so, I think I believe him.

“I’ve changed my mind. This is tedious,” Constantine says. “Release them. Allow the entertainment to begin.” His voice turns our direction, growing louder, but I can’t see him. “Better hurry it up, Garth. You know how little I enjoy being disappointed.”

My magic pulses in response to his implied threat. I’m really over the bullying. Warren never said I couldn’t attack him. My shadows spill out, and I focus on keeping them as clear as possible.

The sounds of fists hitting flesh fill the air. My heart races as I fight the urge to shove Garth off me. I have five targets. The members of the council need to be replaced. I seriously don’t get how a town filled with monsters hasn’t risen up and fought back.

“Do something to help,” I whisper, patting Garth’s arm.

“Like what?”

“Dose them with lust, so they’re all preoccupied.” I can feel my own eyes rolling. Really, evolution should dictate that monsters are smarter than this.

“Oh, fuck yes,” Garth growls, sounding truly satisfied by the idea.

“Come on, that should be common sense,” I whisper as my magic latches on to Constantine and Imogen. Warren, that slimy bastard, isn’t within reach just yet.

“My magic won’t work on Valaine,” Garth says against the shell of my ear. “But Lysander Godfrey has it bad for her. So, I’m going to focus on him.”

I nod as he pulls back. The next thing I know, he’s rolling us until I kneel over him. His hands land on my hips, and I struggle against the urge to slap them off. An ache fills my chest, a crossover from Ridge’s emotions.

I fucking hate it. There’s no way I’m going back to work after this.

I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that, but I can’t stand feeling his discomfort.

Shit, I’m going to be eternally patching up elderly fae sperm and helping she-wolves conceive.

Which is fine. I vaguely remember promising the universe I would be a perfect little fertility witch if I survived Kash.

I probably shouldn’t go against my word.

My head swivels, taking in the scene. Ridge and Echo fight back-to-back. Holy shit, they aren’t fighting each other.

Thank God .

Constantine lets out a dangerous sounding growl, and a shiver runs down my spine as my eyes fly to him. My jaw falls. Oh shit, his demon form is extra creepy.

Imogen screams, and my eyes bug when I catch sight of her. Her eyes, mouth, and ears all stream blood.

Good, that cunt deserves a wake-up call.

“Are you sure you want to posture against me?” Constantine’s voice rattles around the room with the power of his monster. An involuntary shiver runs down my spine, but my shoulders pull back as I once again call for my demons. “Snap her fucking neck.”

I don’t know who the command is directed toward, but I suck in a sharp breath, willing my magic to work faster. I call for my demons again, but they don’t magically appear.

I really hope whatever or whoever the council has that intermittently blocks my magic isn’t here, doing that exact thing at this very minute.