Page 120 of Monsterland Mayhem

“Never,” he says back to her.

Tav simply shakes his head. “You see what you left me to deal with these last few hundred years?”

“Are you saying my presence is more irritating than Heart’s?” the pink-haired one asks, sounding offended. “Because that hurts, Tav. It really hurts.”

Queen Alice laughs. “I’ve missed you both.”

“Not as much as we’ve missed you,” Tav replies, pulling her into a hug.

Ches joins from the other side, the three of them embracing for a long moment.

“Thank you for hearing my call,” she says to them.

“Thank you for entrusting us with the honor of helping to save Omega kind,” Tav returns.

“He’s disappointed that his efforts didn’t result in the Fates sending him his own Omega,” Ches interjects, earning a snortfrom Tav. “He chose the Silver Pack over his own. That has to earn him some favor, right?”

“Fuck off, Beta.”

Ches grins. “Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you don’t want a reward for picking the right side of the battle?”

“There is no battle,” he grumbles. “Not anymore.”

Ches shrugs. “For now, anyway.”

“The Crimson Pack isn’t what it used to be,” Tav grits out. “Leave it alone, cat.”

There’s clearly a story here. One I’m intrigued to learn more about. Krolic’s expression tells me he feels similarly.

All this time, he assumed Crimson was the Imposter King.

I doubt any of them ever guessed he was actually on their side. But I see a hint of respect in Krolic’s gaze now as he looks at Tav. That same glimmer is echoed in Tav’s eyes as he glances back at Krolic.

“The Fates will honor you both in different ways,” Queen Alice interjects, her voice soothing. “Now let’s stop distracting our future queen.” She gives me a knowing look. “That elixir is already doing its job. You need to run.”

With that profound statement, she waves her hand, creating a portal in thin air, one that she walks through with Ches and Tav at her back.

And then they’re just…gone.

I frown. Her connection with the two men didn’t seem all that romantic. I’m not sure how I recognize that. Maybe because of the way they spoke to each other, or because of how they looked at one another. There was fondness there, but not the same kind of fondness I sense in Krolic’s eyes now as he stares at me.

I meet his gaze, then glance around to find that we’re the only ones in the pond-like fountain.

Catum and Craze stand just out of reach, their expressions expectant.

Everyone else is just…gone.

“Where…?” I trail off, confused by our sudden aloneness.

“Home,” Krolic tells me, making me frown.

“What?”

“You were going to ask where everyone is, and I’m answering simply—home. Which is where we’re going to take you once we catch you.”

“Catch me?” I repeat, a strange warmth seeming to hum to life inside me.

He dips his chin in a single nod. “You need to run, little bunny.”