Page 6 of Exquisite Monster

Varíhopped down onto the bench next to me, not caring that my dress was still damp, and curled up next to my leg.

I told her everything, the moment my father had sold me off to Andaros, findingVarí, the wedding itself, and everything that came after. It took longer than I thought it might, but I stopped speaking when I’d been thrown from the edge by Andaros, thinking I was going to die.

The air seemed too still now. Too silent without the sound of my voice. I stroked my fingers downVarí’sspine, touching the damp golden pouch that held his coin. The one he’d worn to match my now ruined dress.

Gleym blew out a long, slow breath lined with smoke. “Should have known,” she muttered. “Leave them alone for a few centuries and they let everything fall apart.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Nothing. Well done for surviving all of that. I figured human mates hadn’t disappeared, but with your entire species trying to kill us, I doubted I’d ever see a real pairing again.”

“Who are you?”

No expression crossed her face as she studied me. “I told you my name.”

“We both know that your name and who you are can be very different things. I think the story I just told you proved that.”

All she did was stand, jerking her head once more to follow. I picked upVaríand cradled him in the crook of my arm as I did. The dark maze of rooms was too complex for me to follow at the speed she went, and sleep crept up on me like a mist encroaching on my vision.

The room we ended up in was simple. A pile of pillows and fabric that reminded me of Ellemar’s hoard was in the corner, along with other things. It seemed like a storage space, but I wasn’t going tocomplain. No doors filled the infinite stone arches, so I wouldn’t be locked in.

“You may sleep there.”

She turned to go, and I called her back. “You really won’t tell me who you are?”

Tilting her head in that very dragon way, she dragged her gaze down my body and upward once more. “Sleep first. Then we’ll talk.”

She disappeared before I could protest further, and I could no longer hold myself back. SettingVarídown on the pile of pillows, I barely managed to pull off my damp clothes before I collapsed into the giant nest of softness and succumbed to my exhaustion.

CHAPTER FOUR

________

SIRRUS

Iturned to Lena as the humans surged forward, grabbing her face.I love you, mate.

“No.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t.”

Don’t fight them. Stay alive. Whatever you have to. Because we will find you. I promise.

“Sirrus.”

I captured her sob with my kiss, feeling her heart break inside my own. Every bit of willpower I had was spent not letting her feel my devastation.I love you.

Hands grabbed my arms, and the command wouldn’t allow me to fight them. Wouldn’t let me use my power. I still tried though, drawing their attention to me. Keep it on me and not on Lena.

I love you.

A cloth pressed over my nose and mouth, darkness swirling in. My last sight was my mate’s tear-streaked face.

I love you.

Pain jerked me awake, body fighting against the memories that wouldn’t leave me alone. The prodding poke of the metal pole my captors enjoyed using to wake me up was digging into my side. So that was what roused me.

Already, they had my head back, pouring the foul concoction that robbed me of any control down my throat.

“Time for working,” Andaros said. “Not for dreaming.”