Page 23 of Monsters (Vengeance #3)

Neo

“ N eo,” Athens spoke.

I didn’t respond, though. I had nothing to say that would be helpful or positive. In fact, I was far more likely to lose my shit. This was my father’s fault. This was Mario’s fault. This was even my fault. Gray was gone.

They had fucking took her.

The slaughter of the Dark Fae didn’t matter and burning their bodies wasn’t nearly as fun without Gray.

I know. I know. Dark and all, but it was true.

My eyes trailed over our camp as the first night set in.

Who the hell knew how long it would take to get there, or how long she would be in his deranged little castle.

It wasn’t only her, though. It was also Vegas, Gray’s friend.

She was gone and it didn’t make it easy when the commanders of the SE guard and the Red Masques lead team were essentially checked out. This was why we had solid section commanders, so that I could sit here and zone the fuck out.

“This is important.” his voice was sharp. “Come in the tent now. ”

My lips pursed together as I grunted and followed him in. Instantly, my eyes went wide.

“Luna?” I hissed.

Athens grunted and walked towards our… daughter? Yeah, that was weird.

Her eyes were livid and she looked a bit like Gray in that moment. How had she even gotten out of the castle or to our travel camp? I’d seen her what, twelve hours ago and she’d promised to stay home.

“You guys are losing your shit.” She muttered. “So, I decided I’d have to come with.”

“You are ten,” Athens scolded. “A war camp is no place for you.”

She narrowed her eyes but ignored him. “Now, we need to keep it together. I know you are stressed but this is Mom we are talking about. She’s going to be fine. She’s a tough cookie.”

How was this little girl so relaxed?

Her eyes trailed over the two of us and our lack of response. Without another word she stalked from the tent and we both followed.

Yeah, we wouldn’t be getting dad of the year award.

“Luna?” Adyen snarled. She huffed and entered their tent as Rhodes, looking sick and pale, met her gaze with wide eyes.

“I get you both are going through mate withdrawal,” she chided, “but like I just told the twins, you need to pep up. There are people counting on you.”

“What are you doing here?” Rhodes demanded.

She rolled her eyes skyward and muttered something. “Can you listen to what I’m saying?”

“Is grounding her a thing?” Adyen asked authentically.

Luna huffed and turned around to walk out. Now all four of us followed after her and I was really starting to see why dads found sons easier to handle than daughters. This girl was easily walking all over us and the worst part? We were letting her!

Then again, she was also right about what she was saying, so it was hard to argue.

“Luna?” Taylor grunted from the fireplace as she put her hands on her hips.

“Don’t ask me why I’m here,” she huffed, “you five need to go have your little meeting or whatever in order to pep up. We have three or so weeks ahead of us if my calculations were right. Then again, Mom’s maps are so old, but still you guys need to get it together.”

One of Vegas’s men chuckled and I shot him a look, silencing him.

“Come on!” Luna exclaimed and Taylor stood up.

I think all of us were resigned at this point.

“All right, gentlemen.” Rhodes sighed. “Let’s at least go talk. Luna, I want you to go to bed. You can sleep in one of our tents and we will crash on the floor or something.”

She waved us off and sat down at the fire.

Then like the saps we were, we went to have the talk our daughter suggested.

I really needed to read a book on this parenting shit. I think we were doing it wrong.

Luna

“Stubborn bastards,” I muttered.

My head shook, annoyed. Don’t get me wrong I loved my dads, but they were stubborn and grouchy. I had easily snuck in with their bags in my shifted form and they’d been so distracted they didn’t notice. Clearly, Mom and I needed to teach them how to be stealthy.

I smiled thinking about my mom.

It probably sounded silly because I’d really only known her for about two weeks, but I really felt that way. She’d saved me. I was starving and almost died. I had actually gotten distracted by her because I recognized her as our new Queen, then that damn wagon almost hit me.

She had cared and loved for me since then even without knowing I was a shifter. My mage dads had figured it out easily and so had Taylor. Rhodes and Athens somehow hadn’t noticed. I really had no idea how Rhodes missed it since I was freakin’ talking to him!

It was pretty funny that I got to blame them for my swearing. Unfortunately, I had been swearing and exposed to a bunch of stupid adult shit for the past two years. That’s what a crappy orphanage and being homeless gets you. Luckily, a lot of people will take a kitten in for the night.

“You swear a lot,” a voice noted.

My eyes snapped up as the man across the fire offered me a look. His hair was about as bright red as the fire, sort of like Dad T’s.

“You’re one of Vegas’s husbands right?” I perked up because I was actually really bored. I wouldn’t tell them that but war was sort of boring when the actual fighting part was missing.

The man chuckled. “Not yet, but soon.”

I nodded and looked around the camp noting everyone’s down energy.

A massive wolf, larger than myself, walked past me towards the man.

I tilted my head and the movement caused the wolf to look back at me.

I wanted to hiss at him even though I’m sure he was a perfectly fine man.

But he was a wolf! Cats were much better.

I hopped up and walked back through some of the other tents.

The wind was cool and I looked down at the super cool outfit Marabella had dressed me in. Yes, before you ask Esme and Marabella had supported this idea and packed clothes for me into Rhodes stuff. Once again, no idea how he didn’t notice.

My little leather outfit consisted of hunting pants and a velvet jacket with laced up boots. I looked just like my mom. I loved that. Esme had even given me a smaller light weight sword that Dad T had apparently requested for me before they went to fight the other morning.

I was sort of disappointed he hadn’t noticed it on my hip.

It was pretty fabulous.

When I bumped into a form a bit taller than my own, I grunted and scowled. My eyes followed up and up until I was looking at a boy maybe just a bit older than myself.

“Watch where you are going,” I demanded.

The boy scoffed as he stepped back, his scent smelling oddly like a shifter. He was dressed in a military uniform but carrying several shields. Was he a helper of some kind? That was sort of cool actually.

“Who are you to tell me that?” He frowned. His eyes were what Mom would call a vibrant blue and his hair was dark and messy. It was actually really pretty, but most boys didn’t want to hear that.

“Luna,” I stated easily, walking into the light of the camp more. I could not believe my mom had named me Lunatic.

Bitch move, bro.

God she’d feel so bad though if I ever said that.

My original name had been… Gertrude. I know. Ah! It was terrible. I liked Luna much better besides I’d never go tten used to the other because my real father had just called me “girl.”

I noticed the boy was offering me an odd look as his cheeks darkened slightly. I frowned. “What?”

He opened his mouth and closed it immediately. “Nothing, I was just surprised to see a girl here.”

Typical.

I smiled. “Well, here I am. What’s your name?”

He hesitated but then spoke. “Jude.”

I liked that name.

“Well,” I swayed on my tip toes. “Do you want help with those, Jude?”

He tilted his head and it reminded me of a wolf. I didn’t mind it much on him, though. It made me feel safe. I put my arms out and he laid the smallest shield in my arms. I nearly scoffed.

“You smell good,” he stated awkwardly, as if upset.

“Huh?” My forehead wrinkled.

He flushed and started walking away. I followed because I had to know what he meant. Didn’t curiosity kill the cat? Ha! I am so funny.

“I just meant you smell nice. Like a rose or something stupid like that.” He muttered.

“Thank you, Jude.” I said sweetly. “So, what are you doing helping out with all this?”

“My older brother is one of the commanders for the Red Masques. His boss’s wife was one of the women captured.”

Oh!

“Apparently they aren’t married yet,” I stated, remembering enough to know that Edwin was in charge and in love with Vegas. That was what my mom said.

“Huh,” he muttered as he shook his head. “Adults are weird. ”

“Right?” I chuckled as we stored the shields.

A loud laugh made both of us pause as a few soldiers swayed towards their tent. When they caught sight of us I felt my metaphorical fur bristle.

“Ah!” One of them pointed at us, “Look at these two, aren’t they just cute?”

“Come here, boy!” One of them demanded. “We need more ale.”

“I don’t have ale.” Jude sighed.

“Go get some!”

“Stop yelling.” I growled and stepped in front of him. “Go get your own damn ale.”

Silence.

“What the hell did you just say, little bitch?” One man growled, stepping forward. I refused to move. Mom wouldn’t have.

A low rumble behind me made me feel better as Jude wrapped an arm tightly around my shoulder. “Back off, James, my brother is going to be pissed.”

“Your brother is-”

“I am what, James?” A deeper voice asked as a man in his mid-twenties stepped forward.

“Commander Cannon,” The drunks cringed.

“Both of you to Commander Valerio’s tent, now .”

I sighed and leaned back into my friend’s side happily. I looked up at Jude to find him already staring at me. For whatever reason, I felt shy and that was messed up. Women like mom and me didn’t do shy. It was what she always said.

“Jude?” His brother frowned.

“Cannon!” Jude burst into speech. “She was just helping me and then they started with us, she tried to defend me so I couldn’t let him hurt her. ”

Cannon’s lip twitched as he looked away for a moment before speaking. “Girl, what tent are you staying in?”

“With my dads,” I offered a smile.

“And where is that?”

I shrugged. “Wherever Neo, Athens, Rhodes, Taylor, and Adyen are.”

Both boys froze as Jude turned me with wide eyes. “The SE guard heads are your fathers?”

I shrugged and popped my “p” in a hearty “Yep!”

“Maker!” Cannon grunted, “Let’s go you two.”

Jude seemed to make a decision because he clutched my hand and walked ahead of his brother. I smiled at him and the two of us raced ahead of one another but still kept in contact.

“How old are you?” I asked.

“Twelve.” He grinned as if proud. “You?”

“Ten,” I huffed, “but my birthday is in January, so I’m almost eleven.”

When we reached the tent with all the familiar scents of home, Jude ignored his brother’s words of pause and brought me in. Instantly, all five of my dads looked up as Cannon entered behind us.

“Hey, guys.” I chirped and swung Jude’s hand. Cannon began recapping and I noticed Jude didn’t seem afraid in front of my dads. I liked that. He was brave like me.

“Are you done?” I asked Cannon politely.

Athens chuckled as Cannon grunted.

“This is my new friend, Jude,” I squeezed his hand. All my dads looked at him.

He offered a bright smile that I thought was really nice. “It’s good to meet all of you. I’m Cannon’s little brother.”

Silence.

Adyen muttered a curse then and narrowed his eyes at Athens. “I’m blaming you for this. ”

“Me?” Athens scoffed. “Neo is much more the type to do something like that.”

Something like what?

“I so don’t want to deal with this yet.” Taylor groaned. “Don’t we get like forty years first?”

Rhodes just tilted his head and spoke directly to Jude. “Why do you want to be friends with Luna?”

“Rude,” I growled as he chuckled.

“Not as a bad thing little one.” He smirked. “Just want to make sure he knows that you are a Princess. Like, a legitimate one.”

Oh.

“I promise to keep her safe,” Jude spoke clearly as Neo’s grin grew. He didn’t smile much so it was nice.

“Oh, hell.” Taylor muttered.

“Fine,” Rhodes stated softly. “For tonight though, you need some sleep, Luna.”

I nodded and turned back towards Jude. I pulled him into a big hug and the giant picked me up and squeezed me. It was a great hug.

“Tomorrow?” I smiled.

He nodded and looked at my dads. “Thank you.”

Huh? Before I could ask, both boys were gone. I turned back to my dads.

“You know he’s a wolf shifter right?” Adyen hedged.

“Very cool.” I nodded but moved on. “How are we doing with the ‘pep’ train?”

Athens chuckled and looked down. “Well, if we weren’t unified before we are now.”

“That’s good, right?” I yawned.

“Why don’t you shift and get some sleep,” Rhodes suggested.

I shifted in a flash, a warm glow surrounding me before I was tiny again. I meowed and jumped up on Taylor’s lap as he grumbled and placed me on his shoulder. I sighed and after Neo pet my head gently, I fell into a deep sleep.

I wasn’t positive why they were unified now, but I was glad.

Plus, now I had a brand new friend.