Page 7 of Monsterland Mayhem

“Fires, it feels good to be home,” Catum says as a flurry of vibrant red fireflies swirl around his hand.

I grunt. “This isn’t our home.” But it will be again soon. Thanks to our beautiful little rabbit.

Flames play over Catum’s fingertips, exciting the fireflies dancing around him. His gaze glows with triumph, yet his voice is bored as he says, “I need a pipe.”

I scoff at that. “You always need a pipe. Personally, I would prefer a violet tea.”

“Says the Mad Hatter,” he murmurs.

I roll my eyes. “I hate that nickname.”

“Yet it suits you so well,” he muses.

I hum noncommittally and shift my attention to the rainbowlike horizon. A new day is approaching. A rebirth of sorts. “The kingdom knows.”

“The kingdom knows,” Catum echoes.

“Everyone is going to be hunting her now.” I can’t help the hint of excitement in my voice. I should be concerned. Yet the notion of impending death has my blood heating with expectation.

All that blood.

All those screams.

All for her.

“She’s ours to claim,” my best friend states. “They just don’t know it yet.”

“They will,” I say, smiling. “And soon, she will, too.”

“That she will.” Catum’s voice deepens with the words, his expression bordering on feral. “Let the fun begin.”

My smile grows. “See you in the caves?”

He nods as ash-like tendrils swirl around his legs, his power igniting. “You know just where I’ll be.”

“And you know just where I’m going,” I return.

“Happy hunting, de Hatte.”

“Happy nesting, Pillar,” I tell him as he disappears into a cloud of smoke.

We all have roles in this courting game.

And mine has finally been activated.

I pull out a deck of cards, my fingers instantly shuffling them while avoiding their sharp ends.

The clock starts now.

Tick, tock.

Tick, tock.

Tick… tock.

CHAPTER THREE

AILSA