Page 41 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

“I ordered food, but when I went to answer the door, two of Brayden's men were there.

Carson appeared a half second later, carrying Ember.

Raisa and her mates left him confined to his room.

I don't know how he got out. I'm also unsure how he knew his brother would be coming for him,” Meena says, setting her mug back on the arm of the chair. “If I had to guess, I’d say they used the pack link. Brayden got close enough to communicate with his brother, or he sent someone else in the pack to do it for him. Hell, for all I know, they may have agreed on an amount of time before Carson allowed himself to be taken. Essentially, he may have been waiting out the days until the timer ran out for them to come for him.”

The front door slams open. Laithe untangles himself from Emerson and leans forward.

Dread stomps inside with Octavia at his side. The sloth demon from the paranormal council is behind them. My hackles immediately rise. There's no reason the council should be here.

“Emerson,” Octavia says, giving her a soft smile. “I'm here in an official capacity.”

My leg shakes wildly where it's crossed over the other.

That doesn't sound good.

Not at all.

Dread comes over, squatting in front of Emerson, and wraps his hand around her head. He pulls her face to his and nuzzles their cheeks together.

“Could you please tell us in your own words what happened when you were leaving The Den tonight?” Octavia asks, looking at Emerson. The question is obviously directed at her.

“Laithe, Arsyn, and I were leaving The Den when we were attacked by wolves led by Alpha Brayden.

His younger brother, Alix—I'm so sorry, his real name is Carson. Carson had Meena and my daughter held captive. Arsyn was doused with holy water and Brayden ripped me away from him and...” Emerson sobs, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Laithe came back from investigating something.

I forgot to mention that part. He went to check something and.

..he came back. Brayden made threats. Ember jumped out of Meena's arms. Then, all I remember is the pain in my throat for a half a second before it all went black.”

“This is all very tedious,” the sloth demon says, sighing loudly. “What are you?”

“A-a vampire,” Emerson says, glancing at Laithe.

“Who is your maker?” the chubby demon asks, yanking on the bottom of his vest and giving Emerson a look that screams get on with it.

“Leifton Iverson,” Laithe says, pushing himself off the couch and glaring at the pudgy man. He gives his original name and the one the council will need to document.

“Who killed the alpha?” the demon asks.

“I did,” Laithe says, crossing his arms over his chest. “He attacked my beloved. I had no choice but to end his life so I could begin the process of turning her.”

“Why isn't she slumbering?” the demon asks, eyeing Emerson carefully.

“You know who my maker was,” Laithe says with a shrug. “Well, before I killed him.”

The demon frowns, glancing at Octavia and back to Emerson.

“She's on probation for sixty days. Like all fledgling vampires, if she murders a human, she will be put down. Out our existence to the humans, and she’ll be put down. That about covers it. I'll file the lineage documents.” With that, he spins and shuffles out the way he came.

Ryktus comes in and closes the door after him.

“Meena, would you . . .” Octavia swirls a hand.

“Of course,” Meena agrees. Magic sparkles through the air as she puts up some kind of ward or blocking spell.

“Carson immediately fled to the council,” Dread says, running his finger over Ember's sleeping nose.

“He said we used him as bait to lure Alpha Brayden to his death, and when the plan went south, you were caught in the crossfire.

He then made some truly monstrous claims about what you'd been turned into...”

Emerson opens her mouth to speak, but Dread kisses the hell out of her. He slides an arm under her rump and lifts her before settling himself on the couch and bringing Emerson to sit on his lap.

Ember huffs at the movement, and Dread gives her some type of chuff in response.

“I'm so glad you're okay,” Octavia says, staring at Emerson. “And I hear congratulations are in order?”

“They are,” Meena agrees.

Octavia squeals, dancing around in some type of highly satisfied grandmother jig.

“I'm sure you're exhausted,” she says. “You all get some rest. Meena, would you like me to give you a ride home?”

Meena nods. “I believe Nadia is still tied up with her own mess,” she says cryptically.

The two women make their way out.

“What happened to Carson?” Laithe asks, like he's planning the wolf's demise.

“He's petitioning to take over for his brother,” Dread says, sighing heavily. “I believe he used us to remove Brayden because he wasn't strong enough.”

“Did he find his mate?” Emerson asks with wide eyes.

“I'm unsure he ever had one,” Dread says ruefully. “In fact, I'm fairly sure he never did. His time will come once things settle down after this inquiry from the council.”

“That's completely unreal,” Emerson says, shaking her head. “I'm totally beat. I need some rest before Ember wakes up.”

“Come along,” Dread says, standing up. “We're all staying close tonight.”

And we do.

The four of us frame Emerson two on each side. Ember sleeps in wolf form on her mother's chest.

We're going to need to set up a full-size nursery if things go to plan. I fall asleep completely smug. We totally knocked up our human, and now she's a fledgling vampire.

It looks like we get to keep her for eternity, after all.