Page 137 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Thirty

Ridge

N adia and I share a shower in which we end up dirtier than either of us started.

My wolf is purely fucking content as she snuggles into our chest while we congregate on the couch in Constantine’s living room.

It’s an ostentatious space that gives me the creeps now that he’s gone.

Fuck, it would have made me equally as uncomfortable when he was alive.

Echo sits at my side. He’s so riled that I toss an arm over the back of the cushion, allowing him to cuddle closer to Nadia. He leans against her chest, running his fingers over her bare ankle.

Shelby stands with Carina at her side. They’ve lived in town for a while. I recognize them by name, but not much else.

Carina sighs, glancing at Nadia. “We’ve got a lot of information, but a few pieces of the puzzle are still missing.”

“This is creeping me out,” Nadia mutters, linking her hand with Echo’s. “I knew them when I was in my teens, but apparently, I don’t know much, because I’ve got no clue what’s happening right now.”

“Carina and I joined the paranormal council in the years we lost contact.” Shelby’s wings flutter behind her. “I would have warned you to stay the hell out of North Falls, but you were already here.”

“What?” Nadia’s entire body jolts. I don’t like it one fucking bit.

Wraith tosses back his hood. He glances our way from where he’s been staring at the unlit fireplace.

I’m fairly sure he’s thinking the same thing I am.

Maybe it makes me a true monster, but I’m not above taking out a couple of council agents to keep my mate safe.

It doesn’t matter if they’re female. If they put Nadia at risk, their chances of survival will plummet.

“I tried to think of any way I could scare you into leaving town, but Echo was always up your ass.” Shelby sighs heavily. “The North Falls ward has been on the edge of collapse for nearly ten years.”

Carina nods. “Way before we were active agents. Blood witches are the ideal candidate for sealing a ward. Though other types of witches can manage in a bind.”

Nadia chokes, coughing and nodding awkwardly. “Clearly, because I’m not a blood witch.”

Carina gives her a dubious look that has Wraith taking a step in her direction. She raises a hand of blood-red magic. I’m not the only one frowning.

“If you’re a blood witch, then why the hell haven’t you repaired the ward?” I growl.

“I’m not shadowborn.” Carina ignores my question, staring at Nadia. “But my magic still recognizes yours.”

Nadia smiles tightly. “I think you’re confused.”

“Stop,” Shelby groans. “We’re obviously not going to rat you out to the council. We all just need to be on the same page.”

“Why allow the ward to continue to fail to the state it is now?” I repeat.

“My assignment wasn’t to touch the ward,” Carina says, like that should be evident.

“Start explaining. We want a clear idea of what you know and what has been happening,” Wraith says in a clipped tone.

“We asked to be assigned to North Falls after the last blood witch was murdered.” Carina frowns, shaking her head. “She was a close friend. She tried to warn me that something was off with this entire town. I was on assignment and didn’t receive her messages until she was already gone.”

“Would you like to guess who the agent assigned to North Falls was?” Shelby asks.

“Kash?” Nadia suggests.

“Correct,” Carina says. “We’ve been suspicious of him for three years. We came to North Falls deep undercover.”

“How very covert of you,” Echo says dryly.

“We believe Kash was allowing the jobs to be partially completed to keep the flow of witches coming. We’re unsure what use he had for blood witches, specifically, but it’s clear he needed them for something.

” Shelby crosses her arms over her chest. “The council still believes it was the town paranormal council murdering our agents. They never believed Kash was to blame. They set us in place to monitor the council.”

“But they refused to send any additional blood witches, since we’re so rare.” Carina shrugs. “We’ve spent the last few years watching the council and, more specifically, Kash.”

Nadia shudders out a heavy breath. “Kash is dead, so how do you explain the demon and vampire attack on the peaks?”

“Shit,” Carina whispers.

“He attempted to sacrifice me to a High Lord of Hell in exchange for immortality,” Nadia informs them.

My claws elongate as I process what she just said.

“And you somehow bound them to yourself instead?” Shelby sounds every bit the stuck-up sentinel she is.

“Don’t make assumptions.” Wraith frowns.

“That’s what that one is best at,” Echo says bitterly.

“Fuck you,” Shelby hisses.

“Never, under any circumstances. I’d cut my own dick off first,” Echo deadpans.

“We’re not that type of demon,” Wraith says, getting us back on track. “We were able to step in during the summoning to intercede on her behalf. If it had been another cluster, then Nadia would likely be dead.”

“Back to who attacked me.” Nadia glances between her old friends. “Kash is dead, meaning he didn’t plan that attack.”

“He did not,” Carina agrees. “I set that up in an attempt to scare you into leaving town.”

Shelby’s wings flutter as she pulls her shoulders back. “We couldn’t risk outing ourselves, but we wanted to warn you of what you were walking into.”

“I almost fucking died,” Nadia grinds out. “If Brant hadn’t intervened, I would have taken an arrow to the face.”

“You had two bodyguards.” Shelby’s wings bristle. “We truly had no intention of hurting you.”

Nadia scoffs.

“What do you intend to tell your council?” Echo lines his words in his compulsion, which I swear to fuck, seems to have gotten more powerful since he claimed Nadia.

Shelby glares. “They’ll be informed the council had to be removed due to the risk they posed to not only civilians, but also their own council agents.”

I frown. That does get confusing with the town council and the paranormal council.

Ehh, it’s not my problem. Nadia runs her free hand over mine that rests on her stomach.

She smells delicious. Her scent now carries hints of the four of us, but I’ve quickly grown just as addicted to it as I am to her in general.

“You’re going to take credit for our kills?” Wraith asks in a level tone.

“They didn’t want to hear us when we explained who the problem was. They’ll likely give us a promotion.” Carina shrugs. “They like things wrapped up neat and tidy.”

“I’m exhausted.” Nadia snuggles back into my chest. “Thanks for letting us know.” It seems like she’s desperately trying to hold herself back from saying more.

“We’ll be sticking around while the town builds their new council.” Shelby crosses her arms over her chest. “Will you be able to assist Carina in completing the ward?”

Nadia sighs but nods her agreement. The two undercover council members leave, and the mood is somber.

Overall, it’s a good thing the paranormal council is unlikely to come for retribution on behalf of the town council.

On the other hand, I don’t like having to place our trust in anyone outside of our group.

“Shouldn’t we head back to your apartment?” Nadia bumps Echo with her shoulder. She’s staring at him like she’s desperately trying to figure out how to comfort him.

“It would be cramped.” I run my fingers through her hair. “My house is a much more feasible option.”

“Yeah, but if your brother tries to punish you for Drake, then I’m pretty sure I’ll have to kill him.” She snuggles deeper into my chest.

“You wouldn’t need to,” Wraith pipes in, taking a seat on the opposite couch.

“We’d be glad to handle it for you.” Knight winks, making his way into the room with a plate of cheese and crackers. “After all, it’s part of our binding contract.”

“Wait, what?” Nadia squeaks, sitting up to stare down her demons.

“When you blood bound us, that was a binding contract.” Wraith clears his throat, but his cheeks are pink.

It makes me mildly suspicious. Nadia seems to be equally perplexed, because she jabs a finger in their direction as Knight takes the seat next to Wraith. Her mouth opens, but no words come out.

“You soul bound us to you in the warehouse that night with Kash.” Knight shrugs, grabbing a cracker and shoving it into his mouth.

“Meaning what?” Echo grinds out.

“There were no terms discussed verbally,” Nadia says a little breathlessly.

Wraith grimaces. “Correct, meaning your soul would have had to accept our terms, as ours did in return.”

“Okay, and what were these terms?” Nadia asks.

“We agreed to protect you above all else, kill anyone who threatened you—” Wraith starts.

“Give you good solid dickings,” Knight interjects, winking like an idiot. “Although the soul binding contract lists your terms as hot, psycho, will-do-anything-to-protect-you fuck buddy.”

“Ohmigod,” Nadia snorts. “That’s actually ridiculous.”

“Our terms were much more streamlined.” Wraith gives a smile that indicates he’s in pain.

Knight nods. “Our command into the human realm and your agreement to carry our spawn. You really got the better end of the deal.”

“What?” I chuckle, pulling a hand up to cover my mouth.

Nadia goes stiff in my arms. “Is there a time limit stated in the contract?”

“It’s a soul binding agreement,” Wraith says, completely avoiding answering the question.

“Wraith.” She jabs a short finger in his direction.

“You’ll be pregnant within a year, but please remember that I love you.” The poor, clueless fucker gives her puppy dog eyes if I’ve ever seen them on an actual person.

“Holy shit,” Echo whispers.

“Truly, and I’ve never experienced that particular emotion before. It makes what I feel for you extra special.” Wraith continues nodding and smiling, like he can mentally force her to be excited about the bomb he just dropped.

My nose falls to run along the column of Nadia’s neck. My wolf has been obnoxiously sure that we were capable of breeding her this entire time. A low growl rattles out of my chest at the thought.