Page 40 of Monsterland Mayhem

This was all too much for one day.

Too exhausting.

Too overwhelming.

Toochaotic.

“We’re shielded,” Master Pillar says with a sigh. “We can speak freely now. Just be mindful that we can still be seen.”

Craze nods, leaning forward. “What happened with the caves?”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

AILSA

I listenas Master Pillar and Krolic fill Craze in, talking aboutminionsand theCrimson Kingand how he sent said minions into the caves earlier than expected.

“There wasn’t time to properly secure the lair,” Krolic goes on. “So we spread various pieces of her clothing throughout the caverns to keep them busy.”

“Once Brandt and the others wake up, though, they’ll say where she really was,” Craze points out.

“We’re counting on that,” Master Pillar drawls around his glowing pipe. “It’ll force Crimson’s minions to scatter, sending them in various directions while we remain here.”

“Plan B it is,” Craze drawls.

“Plan B indeed,” Krolic echoes, lifting his drink. “May we not need to engage plan C.”

“Or D or Z,” Craze murmurs, knocking the contents of his tea back into his throat before fixing his dark eyes on me. “What questions do you have, Ailsa? Because I’m certain there are dozens of them.”

“What are you going to want to know in exchange?” I ask him, unable to hold back the bite of sarcasm in my voice. “My favorite vegetable, perhaps?”

He chuckles. “How about your favorite position?”

I frown. “My favorite position for what?”

He merely smiles. “I guess we’ll determine that together, hmm?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Which makes this even more fun, gorgeous,” he muses. “But go ahead and ask your questions. No games. No requirements. Just… ask.”

I’m tempted to point out that I did just ask him something, and he sidestepped it completely.

But I really don’t care about hispositions. I care a lot more about everything else they were just discussing with their plans and the Crimson King.

“I don’t understand how he took over,” I blurt out. “Or why I should… believe… it.” That last part is more stuttered, my frown deepening with the words.

I… I’m not wrong to question what to believe here.

Yet it feels wrong to do so.

Especially when I see Krolic’s nostrils flare.

“I-I’m sorry,” I say, swallowing. “It’s just?—”

“You don’t need to apologize, Ailsa,” he interjects, catching my chin and keeping my focus on him. “You have every right to question us.”

His thumb traces my lower lip, his gaze intense.