Page 12 of Monsters (Vengeance #3)

Gray

“ F ucking shit, you’ve lost it, woman. You’re insane!”

I grinned as my sword hit Taylor’s with an ease that made it seem I’d been practicing for years.

I turned on the ball of my foot and my metal clanged against his in the early sunrise.

This was what the demon deserved. If he wanted to wake me up at dawn on a fucking Sunday, then I would kick his ass.

It was really fun actually.

“You can admit defeat at any time, honey.” I tossed a careless smile and didn’t allow myself to get distracted by how stunning the man looked outside in this blood red light. He moved with lethal energy that forced me to focus. Yet, I was still winning.

“You aren’t even following rules of combat,” he chuckled as his eyes lit up with fire, “plus, I’ve accomplished my goal.”

“What was your goal?” I frowned as we clashed together again, my eyes drawing to his body. His loose shirt was unbuttoned and showed off his dark tattoos and muscles. Not the time to be distracted, dammit .

“Weapons training. I told you it was important.”

That bastard! I had promised myself I would never do it, simply on principle.

I gasped in indignation and he had me. His arm slipped around me and my sword was knocked nearly ten feet away. His own blade pressed against the length of my back like a metal spine. The cool metal felt good through my loose white tunic and pants.

You couldn’t blame me for the foible. You could blame the fact that I hadn’t had coffee yet. My sword wielding abilities are only so good without the nectar of the gods.

“Tell me this isn’t fun,” he offered a cocky smile as he let my hand rest on his impressive pectorals.

There was a dark shadow that made me wonder exactly what was on his skin.

I frowned as I peeled back his shirt and found his tattoo.

The tattoo that branded him as an Heir Guard.

I frowned knowing that he had never wanted this.

“Hey,” his voice was like a soothing melody, “don’t give me that face, baby girl. Just because I didn’t like the circumstances doesn’t mean I’m not happy I’m here.”

I nodded and sighed. “None of you had a choice, though. I feel like that is unfair. I mean, this is the rest of your lives, not just some regular 9-5.”

He grunted. “Did you have a choice to be a True Heir? No. Some things aren’t a choice. It is just what we are meant to do in this life.”

He was right.

My lips twisted in a wry smile. “You’re sounding awfully wise for someone who hasn’t had coffee yet, Taylor.”

The demon winked and pulled away. “Who says I haven’t?”

“You did not! Tell me that you did not have coffee without me!” I begged as he grabbed my sword and nodded towards the castle. We’d walked a bit far out, so we took out time walking back, enjoying how the land seemed to respond to my every step. It was peaceful.

The morning was bright but it was clear since it had rained last night. A slight, damp mist covered the ground. As we trailed through the higher grasses towards the forested exit, I let my hands trail across it.

“When my father first told me about joining the True Heir Guard,” Taylor began, breaking the silence, “I had been thrilled. Really. I was obsessed with SE as it was and then to also be chosen? To be a protector for the True Heir of the entire kingdom? I was in heaven. Then, when we arrived at the coronation ceremony I couldn’t believe that you were the little thing we were protecting.

It was clear why there were five of us.”

“I was not that little!” I punched his shoulder lightly.

His forehead crinkled in amusement but he moved on. “The branding of the tattoo was difficult but it was amazing to have the ability to practice the full extent of my powers so early on.”

“So, when did you stop liking it?”

“For the longest time, I felt as though we were somewhat pointless honestly. We were too special to interact with the normal SE population but we had no official job besides attempting to find you. We didn’t know if that would ever happen.”

“I’m sorry.” I squeezed his hand after a moment. He shook his head and smiled.

“I just got fed up with it. I was young and stupid, but I’m glad that I made the effort to maintain my status as your guard. I can’t imagine life without you, baby girl.”

“You’re making me blush and shit,” I muttered playfully. He chuckled and pulled me close, his lips pressing to my temple in a warm, affectionate gesture.

After a few moments of walking, he asked a question. “Do you remember meeting us that night?”

I tilted my head meeting his eyes. “What?”

He nodded. “Yep. All of us. I remember it really fucking vividly.”

“Show me!” I stopped him from walking forth. I would take any happy memories from that night to replace the horrible one.

Taylor paused. “You know, I think I may have something better than just showing you. How do you feel about retrieving your memory through our bond?”

“Will I be able to stop it?”

I didn’t want to get to the fucking awful part with King Mario.

After a moment of thought, he swept me up and sat us at the base of a massive tree. The autumn winds brushed past us and as the sun kissed my skin. I closed my eyes as he spoke. “I will watch along with you. Just try to think back to that day.”

Honestly, I wasn’t positive it would work but as I felt his magic wrap around me, I took a deep breath. I could smell and taste the air of the castle before I let the vision in front of me grow to life.

“Your Majesty,” an older voice spoke as I looked away from Mommy and Daddy. “Would the True Heir like to meet her guard?”

“Gray?” My father asked, his eyes sparkling despite his grumpy expression. I offered him a serious look, like the one mommy gave him when making an important decision. I nodded and he signaled towards the children in front of me .

“Hello,” I said softly while looking them over. They were big. Way bigger than me.

“I’m Rhodes,” a boy with blonde hair offered. I could hear Mommy and Daddy talking to someone over our heads, so I stepped closer. His eyes widened as I rose up on my tip toes and frowned.

“What are you doing?” Another boy, taller and with gold eyes, asked bluntly.

“Don’t be rude.” A third, smaller boy with warm brown eyes corrected. Next to him was his quiet duplicate watching me in a way that made me feel funny. It wasn’t a bad feeling. Just different.

“She can handle it,” a kid next to Rhodes spoke, his hair a vibrant red.

“I was searching for ears or a tail,” I admitted. “You’re a cat shifter right?”

The big kid started laughing as the small matching boys frowned at him. “Adyen stop it.”

“It’s a good question if you don’t know shifters,” the quiet twin stated. I flashed him a smile.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Neo,” he answered as his eyes went wide and super dark again.

“What about you?” I asked his twin.

“Athens.”

“I like those names,” I nodded approvingly and looked to the big guy.

“Adyen.” He grinned. “Sorry for laughing, Princess.”

“Queen,” I demanded.

“Yeah, Adyen,” The red head offered a cheeky smile. “Queen.”

“Adyen, you can’t be mean to me,” I stated confidently. “I have to be nice to you and you have to be nice to me. ”

The big guy nodded as his ears turned pink. Someone came to stand next to me and I smiled up at the redhead.

“What’s your name?”

He flashed a dazzling smile. “Taylor.”

I nodded and then a thought occurred to me as I frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Rhodes asked, his voice worried.

“I didn’t even ask if you guys wanted to be my friends. I’m sorry.” I spoke quietly, feeling stupid. No one really wanted to be my friend because I couldn’t leave the castle. I didn’t want my parents forcing friends on me.

“You didn’t have to!” The boy with magic and dark eyes offered a smile. His twin nodded enthusiastically.

“He’s right,” Adyen stated softly. “We want to be your friends.”

“Okay,” I smiled and Taylor squeezed my hand.

“All right!” my mother said, laughed. “Time to go eat, little one.”

I frowned but then looked at all the boys again. “Can we play after eating?”

My mom just offered me a smile and led me away from the boys. I wasn’t positive what the True Heir Guard did but if I got to be friends with them, I’d be happy.

“Holy crap,” I muttered as I looked up at Taylor’s dark eyes. “How did I forget that?”

“Repression of memories,” he sighed, “it was a traumatic night.”

I nodded and placed my head on his chest as the nightmarish memories attempted to invade. I needed a distraction.

“I’m worried,” I murmured. “I’m worried that I have no idea how to handle this coming battle.”

“Well,” he grunted. “The first part we should figure out is how long we have until it does. ”

I nodded and sighed. “What are the chances it won’t be for another year?”

He chuckled, “I thought you wanted to fight Mario.”

“I did,” I paused. “As an individual. This is different, Taylor. I’m supposed to be protecting an entire kingdom.”

His mouth tightened. “You’ve got this baby girl, we’ve got this. You know that no matter what happens you will always have us, right?” I nodded and snuggled closer to him as he kissed the top of my head. His long legs were spread out and I felt the entire beat pattern of his heart under my ear.

After a moment, a sound caused me to look up.

Both of us could hear someone walking and, before long, it turned into several people.

I straightened as Taylor stood next to me, both of us wondering who the fuck was walking all the way out here.

My magic purred happily as if she wasn’t worried.

Honestly, neither was I, but really. Who the fuck was in my training area?

I’m Queen. I get to dictate a small clearing as mine, right?

“Oh, shit,” a soldier laughed as he and three other men stumbled out from the forested area. They didn’t seem drunk but they didn’t seem all that bright.

“What are you doing out here?” Taylor’s voice turned sharp and commanding. Was it wrong that I totally found that hot?