Page 34 of Monsterland Mayhem

Oh, we’ve played.

But not since discovering Ailsa’s existence.

She’s been our only desire for two years. Even mine, despite not seeing her or knowing her in the mortal world. However, Krolic and Catum told me enough about her to pique my interest.

And now that I’ve met her, I have no doubt that she’s meant to be ours.

Our alluring rabbit is the perfect mix of feisty energy and submission.

“So it’s… it’s like my district?” she asks, drawing me back to our conversation about the Tea Village.

“It’s nothing like your home,” Krolic interjects. “This is Monsterland. Everything is going to feel extraordinary to you until you learn more about it.”

“And… going home isn’t an option.” She voices it as a statement, not a question.

However, I nod in confirmation anyway. “This is your home now, Ailsa. You’ve always been destined to come here. We just altered the way you arrived.”

“So you wouldn’t end up in the palace,” Catum adds. “I wasn’t lying about the Crimson King’s intentions—he’ll take you without consent, Ailsa.”

“You all took me here without my consent,” she throws back.

“He meansfuckyou without consent,” I interject. “The Imposter King will cage you until you go into a proper heat, then growl to force your slick, and knot you until you’re carrying his heir.” It’s a graphic depiction of events, but a truthful one.

Alas, she just gapes at me like I’m the monster here, not the one trying to save her from the monster.

“This isn’t a kind place,” I go on. “But it is meant to be yours to rule. The Imposter King won’t see it that way. He’ll parade you around like a glorified pet on a leash. We’ll carry you and bow to you as our queen. Just give us a chance to prove it, Ailsa.”

“I already said I’ll go through the portal,” she mutters, a hint of exasperation in her tone. “I can’t give you anything else. Not… not yet.”

“That’s a fair compromise,” I decide, my mood instantly lifting as a smile tugs at my mouth. “Let me know when you’re ready to compromise on nicknames.”

She shoots me a look that says that’s not going to happen.

Which only improves my mood even more and makes me grin that much wider. “Oh, I like you,” I tell her. “How do you feel aboutkitteninstead ofrabbit?”

She scowls.

“So that’s neither, then?” I sigh. “At least let me call yougorgeous, Ailsa. It’s just a description. An accurate one at that.”

“You’re very…” She trails off like she’s trying to find the right word.

“Mad?” I offer her, smirking. “I get that one a lot.”

“Are you done flirting yet?” Catum asks me. “Because this portal is wasting a lot of energy.”

“You could have tamed it while we discussed options,” I tell him. “But you wanted to impress our intended with your powers. That’s not ameproblem, C. That’s ayouproblem.”

“I’m starting to agree with Ailsa on you being impossible,” he informs me flatly.

“Impossibleis such a permanent term,” I drawl. “I much prefermercurial. Orsurprising. Or evenintriguing.” I waggle my brows at him and then at Ailsa. “Thoughts?”

“Crazy,” she offers. “I think I’ll call youcrazy.”

Amusement warms my insides. “You don’t know the half of it, gorgeous.” I try the nickname primarily to see if she’ll turn me down again.

When she doesn’t, I grin.

“Gorgeous it is, then.”