Page 117 of Exquisite Monster

My mates had their beasts. Some called them monsters, but it was simply part of them. It may not have been my choice, but I was a monster now too, and it was simply part of me.

If he was going to die either way, the least I could do was make it quick.

“Varí,” I said, reaching into the bag. “Niodaes.”

I palmed the dart he handed me. It all happened in a blink, and the guard sneered. “You chose them. You sided with the dragons. Anyone who sides with the dragons is a traitor. And you’ll die like one.”

He moved to slice Dalas’s throat, and I threw.

The blade never broke skin, but the dart did.

Dark eyes went wide with shock and fear, dart buried in his throat. Blood poured from the wound. He wouldn’t survive it. But the poison took him first. When he collapsed to the ground, I knew he would never rise.

Dalas was on Isaelle in a moment, kissing her like it meant he could breathe once more. I knew the feeling.

Slowly, I crossed the distance and crouched, carefully retrieving my dart from the man’s throat and cleaning it on his tunic. I would need to reapply the poison when I could.

The horror I’d felt the first time didn’t come. I thought I would feel more, but I didn’t. And I wasn’t sorry.

In the same way, I realized, that Endre wasn’t sorry for ending Pelbas’s life. And Sirrus wasn’t sorry for clipping Yrre and Soza’s wings. If this soldier had succeeded, he wouldn’t have mourned his actions.

Something deep settled inside me. I feltwholein a way I hadn’t before. I’d claimed the monster and chosen it, but still resisted. But in an instant I felt us merge.

There was nothing but relief.

I would mourn every life I took, but I would do it later. When this was over and I had time to grieve. Now? It was no different from being trapped at the center of the world. I would do what I had to in order to return to them. To protect them. Protect the hope of the life we wanted.

Nothing else mattered.

“He said there were more guards on the way. We need to leave.”

Dalas and Isaelle broke apart, breathing hard. They stared at each other for a breath before nodding. And we moved. All the way back up through the halls toward the roof.

“STOP.”

One look told me a guard had found us. Another told me he wasn’t alone. Dalas gripped Isaelle’s hand. “Run.”

No more hiding. Shouts and clashing armor followed us, growing louder as our pursuers gained.

We crashed onto the roof and raced up the stairs. Belleo wasalready there waiting. Isaelle had the stones. She needed to get out. Dalas was next, and the guards were climbing the last set of stairs.

Zovai landed on the stone with so much force it cracked,roaringat the guards. I didn’t look back. Even when I felt the heat of flames behind me and heard screams of fear, and Zovai’s nausea from expelling fire. I sat between his shoulders and held on as we launched into the sky and dodged the arrows hurling upward.

Well done, Sirrus said.

Then, softer, Endre’s voice appeared just for me.We do what we can, Lena.

My grandmother was right. I gripped her necklace where it lay beneath my clothes. We all did what we could. But the thing she never told me was that it wasn’t always enough.

Sometimes you had to do what was necessary.

“No,” I said out loud, knowing he flew close enough to hear me. “We will do what is needed.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

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KATALENA