Page 26 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Nineteen

Emerson

I 've kind of let my mind gloss over the fact that Dread continually keeps referring to me as his. I've also been doing a pretty stellar job of ignoring when Laithe and Arsyn do the same thing.

Okay, so avoidance isn't one of my better personality traits, but I've had bigger fish to fry.

Not to mention his protection is something that gives me a weird feeling of comfort. He's an alpha hellhound and a top-tier demon.

Not many would mess with him. Which is kind of the opposite of me.

I like knowing he's big and scary. It means man and monster alike will think twice before messing with him.

As Dread carefully drags me toward the stairs to VIP, I start to wonder if I possibly should have protested his claim somewhere along the way? Being bonded to an incubus is complicated enough.

“Dread,” I hiss, yanking on his arm. “What exactly does that mean? Does it have to do with Ember joining your pack or...”

“That's part of it,” he says as we reach the stairs. He eyes the other monsters and me. Then I'm bundled up in his arms as he bounds up the stairs.

“I'm perfectly capable of walking up and down stairs,” I assure him.

His dark, wavy hair falls around my face as he wraps my legs around his ass and nuzzles his face to mine.

“I'm aware,” he grunts. “You're also extremely breakable. I failed to bring Laithe on this little excursion, so I'm not taking any chances. I may text him once we get settled.”

“I have no idea what that means,” I grumble, trying to pull down the hem of my dress. “I still can't believe you had me meet your mother in what amounts to a club dress.”

Dread chuckles. It's a low, throaty sound that makes my nipples tighten. “My mother is a demon. You have nothing to be self-conscious about.”

I frown at him. His strong jaw has the right amount of stubble to be downright dangerous to my self-control. He also smells freaking delicious. It's not cologne or aftershave. It's his natural scent, and it does wild things to my system.

“I'm mated to Arsyn,” I say, like he doesn't know this. I'm not positive, but I think I'm reminding myself.

“You are.” Dread nods his agreement. “Would you like a drink?” My face must show my confusion, because he continues, “You need to appear to be enjoying my company.”

“A drink sounds lovely,” I snap, stretching my legs and trying to get down.

“I like carrying you.” He flexes the hand he's got planted on my ass. “You're soft and it pleases the hound. I think we should try for pups immediately. Ember needs siblings close in age.”

My jaw falls open, and I blink repeatedly. “Okay, crazy man. I'm definitely going to need more than one drink if you keep talking insanity.”

Dread huffs. “She's almost two. That means she'll be closer to three after you gestate. Most shifters are born in litters. I'm sure she's lonely.”

“Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure we should just order the bottle,” I say, again trying to push myself out of his hold.

As if the incubus wasn't bad enough, apparently the hellhound wants to take the cake for saying crazy things.

“Why is the cranky gargoyle glaring again?” I ask, stretching back against Dread's strong chest. We're seated in the same booth I served them in back when I was working at Venom.

Ryktus watches us in between scanning the club, but every time our eyes meet, I swear his frown deepens.

“He does look like he's constipated, doesn't he?” Arsyn asks, sliding into the booth at our side. “I thought you were putting on a show?” He bumps his shoulder into Dread's.

“Where's Laithe?” I ask, glancing around to see if the vampire is joining us.

“He's around here somewhere.” Arsyn’s long black claws glint in the light as he tips my face to his. “You're absolutely delectable, my sweet mate.”

His long, forked tongue licks over my cheek, and I slap at his chest. “Eww, what the hell, you weirdo?”

“I licked you,” Arsyn muses, smirking. “That's indication number one that you're mine. It's for the assholes who won't get close enough to scent it. Most everyone with half a brain is watching us to see what happens next, and my monster needs them to know you're ours.”

My head tilts as I study him. The black leather jacket makes his broad shoulders seem even more imposing. Then there's the fact his white-blond hair seems to hypnotize my mind as he moves. The only downside is he's a complete and total freaking weirdo.

“I'm pretty sure saying 'I licked it, it's mine' only works with the last piece of dessert.” I laugh.

“Claiming food and delicious little mates.” Arsyn puckers his lips and dramatically kisses my cheek. “Would you like a hit of lust to get this little adventure started?”

“What?”

“Yes,” Dread growls in his low, gravelly tone. “I believe I'm having a bit of performance anxiety.”

My head swivels to look at him over my shoulder.

“Come, dove,” Arsyn says, pulling me into his lap. “Kiss me.”

“I want to know what the hell is going on,” I grumble, slamming my palms into his chest.

“Mmm, I can't explain how hard it makes me that you don't instinctively fear me,” Arsyn says, chuckling. “The hound is an alpha. Their kind require a public claiming of sorts to ensure yours and Ember's acceptance into his pack.”

“You're all being intentionally vague.”

I'm torn.

None of them has done a single thing to hurt me. Nadia and Meena also seem to trust them.

It's all very confusing, because I don't understand all the customs of the supernatural world. Which is exactly how I accidentally mated Arsyn. I do know I'll do whatever needs to be done in order to protect my daughter.

“Then Ember will be part of your pack?” I ask, twisting to face Dread.

“You will. Both of you,” he says, clearing his throat. “We made the formal appeal with my mother, but this town is full of old-timers who will only acknowledge a public ritual.”

“Then, by all means,” I agree. Honestly, what else can I do? I like the idea of Dread as a buffer between Alpha Brayden and Ember.

When Alix first disappeared, Brayden pushed hard for me to join his pack as his human.... I don’t even know. Concubine? His protection in exchange for my body and service to him.

Luckily, I didn't submit to him. It would have given him agency over Ember. I didn't even fully understand that at the time, but now I know enough to be grateful I didn't agree.

Dread is already teaching her how to shift. He spent time cooking us breakfast and spending the day at the park with us. He's putting in the basic foundations for getting to know my daughter.

I'd choose him over Alpha Brayden in any situation. There's also the fact that Dread doesn't set off my creep-meter like Brayden did from the second I met him.

Arsyn pushes his mouth to mine. I'm kneeling over him, but I have to stretch my torso to reach.

The kiss is downright dirty. His huge, clawed hands cup my ass and tease under the hemline of my dress.

His silvery-blue and pink smoke pours out of him, hitting me like I've been dipped in a pool of lust.

“Why exactly did I need to be smacked with lust?” I ask, but it mostly comes out as a moan.

“You're going to want to make all the monsters extremely envious of Dread,” Arsyn says, like that makes any fucking sense. “No alpha mating ritual is complete without a challenge or two.”

I frown. What the hell does that mean? I've heard very few details about how alphas take control of a pack or handle certain disputes. It involves an alpha fight. But why would any of the monsters here fight Dread to keep me from joining his pack?

I guess, maybe, because I'm not a shifter.

Arsyn climbs out of the booth and aims for the dance floor with me in his arms.

This tier of VIP has the half wall of glass that looks out over the lower levels. There aren't a ton of other club goers on this level, but the bottom floor is packed with humans and monsters, alike.

Dread follows us, and something about the tight fit of his jeans or the way that t-shirt is stretched to capacity over his broad chest makes me moan.

“Dread is hot as fuck,” I whisper and groan.

“He is, but that was the lust talking.” Arsyn chuckles.

“And yes, lovely, you said that out loud. Always remember this little tidbit.” He places me on my feet and holds me up with his hands on my hips.

“My powers only intensify your wants and desires. They have no ability to create attraction where there was none.”

My face falls to Arsyn's chest as Dread circles behind us. Apparently, lust works like a jacked-up truth serum.

Arsyn slides his body against mine. “Little do you know. You're in for the ride of your life.” He looks at Dread over my shoulder. “She took my cock when I was in my demon form.”

“Is that right?” Dread growls. His huge hands land on my hips and lower stomach. He grinds against my back.

“I'm still confused,” I murmur, looking up at Dread over my shoulder.

“He's going to fuck you in front of the entire club,” Arsyn says. A wide smile breaks out over his face. “Then we'll see if any idiots wish to challenge him to mate you instead.”

“I said I was open to being watched, but I meant over at The Den. Not in the middle of Venom!” I hiss, slamming my palms into Arsyn's chest. “And what the hell do you mean by mating me instead ?”

“Kiss me, dove,” Arsyn says, but he doesn't wait. He immediately shoves his tongue in my mouth, then smiles against my cheek as we pull back. “Why do you think the hound called me? I'm going to pump this entire club full of so many pheromones, you two won't be the only ones fucking.”

My chest throbs painfully when I consider the fact that I claimed him without understanding what I was doing. It blows my damn mind that he was willing to accept the bond. It makes me feel like I should be honoring our connection rather than screwing Dread.

But I'm not sure how else I can give Ember that layer of safety that being in Dread's pack can offer.

“You're sure you're okay with this?” I ask, tilting my head so I can look into his big black eyes.