Page 9 of Exquisite Monster

We, I said.Wewill find a way.Then, softer.We should have found a way a long time ago.

It was often easier to put your head down and endure when there was no chance of change. The most powerful changes always had a catalyst, and that was Lena. The years of forced servitude and merciless commands had blinded us to how much hope we’d lost. Then, a woman with wine-red hair and the soul of a dragon burst into our world and brought hope and life in with her.

Meeting Lena—touching her that first time and understanding what she was—felt like opening your eyes after a long sleep. She was the flame at the heart of us, pulling us together.

And that flame would never die out, no matter how much fire they forced me to expel.

Youtold her to stay alive because we would find her, Zovai said. His exhaustion and determination could both be heard.We have to stay alive, and we’ll find a way. We always do.

And when we didn’t, we did what we could. But I couldn’t think about failure, so I didn’t push the thoughts to my brothers.

All this time, Andaros had been watching me, waiting for me to respond to his prodding, and visibly growing agitated when I didn’t. He nodded to someone behind me. “Dose him again.”

A human I hadn’t sensed forced my head back, and the nausea struck once more.

I hoped what we could do would be enough.

CHAPTER FIVE

________

KATALENA

They tore Endre out of my hands, his shirt ripping with how hard I tried to keep him with me. Andaros smiled, and suddenly I was falling, and this time there would be no magic to catch me?—

I blinked my eyes open and winced. They were dry and felt like sandpaper. My limbs were stiff, and it hurt to move. Like I’d trained with my dagger for too long, or like my mates had taken me just as hard as I wanted them to.

A shrill chirping sound echoed in the room a second beforeVaríslammed into my chest and began to purr. His scales faded into a calm blue as I watched, where they’d been a bright orange before.

“Hello,” I said, my throat also dry. “What’s wrong?”

“The little one has been beside himself.” Gleym stood at the entrance to the room, leaning on her staff. “Thought I was going to have to drag your human ass back to the water and dump you in.”

I frowned. “How long was I asleep?”

“Time means almost nothing down here, girl. But I would guess around three human days.”

“Three days?”

She shrugged. “Given what you told me, I’m not surprised. What you went through is a lot for the human body. But the small one was worried.”

“His name isVarí.”

Her gaze cut to him, and her soft smile was reluctant. Like he’d charmed her against her will. “I know. He won’t stop recalling how you found it out.”

Varítucked his head up under my chin, still purring. “Sorry I worried you,” I said quietly. Not for the first time, I wished he were still up on the surface. Maybe with Idroal. They would take care of him, and I wouldn’t have to worry that the worst might happen down here and I’d doomed him.

Hunger struck me hard and fast. No wonder, without having eaten for three days. My body clearly needed the rest, and I did feel better, though weak.

“Can you stand?” Gleym asked.

“I think so.”

Scrambling onto my shoulder,Varíhid under my hair, allowing my hands to be free to push me upwards. My legs shook, but held. I was barely dressed in anything. It was warm down here, and humid. I could put the dress back on, but I didn’t want to. It reminded metoo much of what had happened while wearing it. My immense happiness followed by terror and fear.

Gleym nodded to the corner. “Clothing is there. It probably won’t fit, but you can fix it later.”

“Thank you.”