Page 34 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

They head out, and Dread comes to my side. He's vibrating with tension and glaring at his sister.

“Don't give me that look,” she snaps. “He's practically starving to death. You didn't sit and listen to his damn stomach growl for hours . I'm not going to condone torturing anyone. I thought you were better than that.”

“Raisa,” Laithe says, chuckling, “I think you and your mates should give us a few minutes.”

“Not if you're going to hurt him,” she retorts, glaring at the vampire.

“We need to have a talk, that's all,” I assure her.

“Scream if you need help,” she tells Carson. “Although, if my brother wants you dead, it's highly unlikely any of us could stop him.”

They exit.

I stand, dumbfounded.

I've ached and obsessed, worried and cried over him.

And here he is.

“There's food on the bar,” I say, nodding to the extra pans of food. I don't condone torture, either. If he's hungry, then he should eat.

Dread pulls me flush with his front as Carson staggers toward the bar. Warm, callused hands caress my face as Dread tilts my eyes to his.

“Ember will be very well taken care of by my mom and her mates,” he says, carefully studying my face.

“I know,” I agree.

“You've got a legion at your back now. You decide how this goes.” He bends down, getting very close to my ear.

“Laithe will rip his heart out for you without a second thought.” His warm breath fans over my neck, making me shiver.

“You don't even want to know the misery I'm imagining putting him through.”

“I believe you,” I whisper, kissing his cheek. “But I think we should hear what he has to say and make a plan for how to save his mate and handle Brayden.”

“The plan is simple,” Dread growls. His eyes glow bright with the hound. “I tear the alpha mutt limb from limb, and that pathetic wolf can drag his ass back to his pack and rescue his mate.”

I lean against the counter and roll my eyes. This conversation has gotten us exactly nowhere, mainly because Dread seems to scare the hell out of Carson. My ex is never going to speak freely when he's afraid of being murdered if he says the wrong thing.

I send Laithe a look I pray he can decipher. He gives me a nod and casually demands Dread give me a minute to speak with Carson.

The hellhound isn't pleased, but he does eventually agree, once Ryktus assures him he won't be leaving. Laithe and Dread leave the kitchen as I awkwardly stare at Carson.

I might not have been in love with him, but I did have feelings for him.

More than that, he disappeared without a damn word .

I honestly thought he died and there was no one to tell me. He'd convinced me that he was an only child and that his parents were dead.

I feel like such an idiot when I think about all the tears I shed grieving the loss of a person who never existed.

None of that matters.

Not really.

Not in the grand scheme of things.

I need to know where he stands. What he intends to do once all this is over.

“Say all this works out. Brayden is no longer a threat, and your mate is safe. What do you plan to do?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

Carson's blue eyes stare into mine, and I fight the urge to look away.

I haven't done anything wrong. No matter how shitty I feel that he cheated on his mate with me, that isn't something I should feel guilty about.

Rationally, I know this. It's still impossible to fight the wave of nausea that shudders through my system at the thought.

“I need to speak to Henry,” he says, pushing his empty plate away. “She's beautiful, Em. You've done an amazing job.”

“She is great,” I agree. “She's smart and funny. Spoiled damn rotten at times and so tender and sweet at others. You never checked in on us? Never wondered what she looked like?”

Carson frowns at the kitchen island. “Honestly, I wish she didn't exist. It's a fucked-up thing to say. I get that. I also know I'm responsible for her existence...”

Ryktus growls. It's a terrifying sound. I raise a palm in his direction. He can't interfere right now. I deserve to know where Ember and I stand with this man.

“Once you're free of all this,” I say, trying to force my thoughts to make some kind of sense. “You'll leave and never bother us again?”

I tilt my head, studying the man I used to be wildly attracted to.

Sure, he was always a little rough around the edges.

Sometimes, he was exhausted and needed a shower when he showed up at my place, but I believed he was a mechanic.

It might not be a glamorous job, but it's decent work and a respectable way to make a living.

“I'm in an impossible situation here, Em,” he says, running his hand over his face. “I don't have any answers for you.”

I glance at Ryktus. He looks like he's desperately trying to hold himself back from fucking Carson up. My eyes fall back to my ex.

“You need to hear me when I say this.” I stare him dead in the eyes.

“I can't imagine being put in the situation you were in.

I also think there had to be a better solution, but I won't judge, because I wasn't in your shoes.” I shake my head, staring at the ceiling.

“You fucked me over so hard all to save yourself.

I can handle that. I'm not weak by nature.

It's shitty, but I know life is, in general.

What I won't stand for is letting this bullshit touch Ember any more than it already has.

I will not let you hurt my daughter. I'll murder you with my bare hands before your garbage ever hurts that little girl again.

I'll share her with you if I have to, but what I won't do is let you destroy her the way you did me.”

I aim for the door that leads to the living room and the stairs. Ryktus nods to Dread's sister, telling her to keep an eye on Carson, I’d guess.

I don't stop. I head straight up the stairs to Dread's bedroom.