Page 28 of Monsters (Vengeance #3)

Marabella & Palo

It wasn’t that I wasn’t allowed to be in here.

I was. Except, normally the “help” avoided it because of him .

Who is ‘him’ you ask. Well, he’s the dragon.

That’s not true. He’s a demon, but everyone avoids him because the library is his space and apparently he is mean.

Really mean. I had never met him so my curious eighteen-year-old mind didn’t care about his reputation. I had to see for myself.

I wanted to see him. I was trembling with nerves as I traveled through the massive three-story tall rows of shelves.

While my primary mission was to see him, I was getting distracted.

I couldn’t help it. I had grown up in a massive family and despite being loved, I learned to be quiet.

Quiet and curious. Always flying around to do something on my own.

Except it was lonely and working in the palace wasn’t as glamorous as I imagined. I hadn’t needed this job. My family came from wealth and status. They were known for being scholars and intellectuals. I wanted something different for myself, or at least to be somewhere different.

I wanted to actually help problems not just write about them!

My thoughts had strayed so I was truly shocked when I slammed right into a very hard wall. I cursed in my native tongue and rubbed my head looking at the base of the wall. Except it wasn’t a wall. It was a pair of large leather shoes that set my heart pattering.

The scent of vanilla tickled my nose along with a smoky afterthought. My eyes ran up his body starting from legs encased in dress pants that followed up to a full suit. I figured I should really absorb all of this if I was going to die.

Man, what a sight before I died though!

The man was much larger than myself. His shoulders were nearly twice the size of mine.

I let my eyes finally stray to his face and I gulped at the intensity I saw there.

Except, I couldn’t be scared. The man was beautiful.

His jawline was clear cut. His skin a stark shade that highlighted his crimson hair.

I trembled slightly, my body curling in just a bit, as I fought the urge to fall into his arms. Which was messed up, of course, because I didn’t know him.

A pair of black eyes, fathomless in nature, met mine and my owl perked up and looked at him with interest.

That was bad.

“Sorry,” I squeaked.

Yep. Look at me being brave .

His head tilted like the predator he was. “What are you doing here?”

Oh, his voice was beautiful. It reminded me of a soft, dark song filled with smooth tones and depth. It electrified my skin.

“I wanted to see if you were as scary as everyone said,” I blurted out before turning pink. Did I mention I couldn’t lie? My body trembled slightly under his power which was like red smoke that thickened around us. Except, instead of hurting me it seemed to surround me protectively.

His reaction was not what I expected. The demon’s lip twitched in a millimeter smile as he stepped closer, wrapping a finger around my hair.

Oh shit, I was going to pass out.

“What’s your conclusion?” He whispered, his voice tickling against my skin. I could feel myself falling into him and my heart began fluttering as my hands fell from where I held them against my chest to lay on his. Was I pushing him away or just the opposite?

Was he scary?

I considered his question.

“I think you’re intimidating,” I answered honestly, “but not scary.”

His eyes sparkled. “What’s your name, little lamb?”

“Marabella,” I whispered breathlessly.

He tested my name on his tongue. “So, Marabella, what is the difference between the two of those?”

My toes curled in my slippers as I once again replied. “I don’t think you would hurt me.”

Instead of laughing at me, a softness invaded his eyes and he rubbed a thumb along my jawline thoughtfully. I shook. He spoke quietly as if worried he was scaring me .

“You’re right,” he said softly, almost under his breath, “I wouldn’t hurt you.”

My shaking stopped and I found myself loving his gentle hold. I swallowed and tried to be more bold. “What’s your name?”

“Palo.”

I liked that.

“Well, Palo,” I grinned softly. “It is wonderful to meet you.”

His eyes studied me for a minute before he seemed to remember something, stepping back but keeping his hands on my arms. I waited to see what he would say.

“Do you have any interest in the Earth Realm?”

I tilted my head. What an odd question.

“Well,” I frowned slightly and looked at him. “I’m not sure. I don’t know much about it.”

“Tomorrow,” he stated slowly as his lips pressed into a barely-there smile, “you should come back tomorrow, little lamb, and I can show you some things I’ve been working on.”

“I’d love that,” I smiled softly.

“Then tomorrow,” he said as his lips touched my forehead and the demon disappeared, leaving me feeling like I’d run a marathon. I couldn’t help but smile as I left the library.

Mission accomplished.

See? I was brave.

Palo - The next day

What was I doing?

I shook my head as I watched the library through my open office door. She probably wouldn’t even show up. Why did I even want her to show up ?

She is only the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met in all the realms I’ve traveled.

It really isn’t a big deal. No harm, no foul. Except it was and I couldn’t get over how right she felt pressed against me. I fiddled with my pen and felt everything still as a figure appeared in the door.

“Hey, you.” She offered me the sweetest smile as if I wasn’t an asshole.

“Marabella,” I spoke her name as her cheeks turned pink. With all the comfortability in the world she came and sat right across from me, her hair like golden wheat falling out of her ponytail. There was a candle lit on my desk and her features looked fucking gorgeous in the shadowy light.

“Palo?” she asked softly.

I snapped my eyes back from her glowing complexion to her dark eyes. I sighed, “Sorry, lamb. It’s been a long day.”

Her mouth parted as she frowned. “What happened?”

I considered not saying anything because frankly no one had ever asked. I had documents I could show her and a million other things that would fuel that curiosity in her eyes. Instead I answered and for the first time, I forgot about the work I needed to do.

“See my brother…”

Marabella - 6 months later

“Palo!” I sang out as I walked into the library.

It had been only six months since I’d met my demon and I’d never been happier.

At home, with all those kids, I’d always been forgotten.

Not with Palo though. The man listened to every word I said.

As usual, I walked through the library and went right to his office.

Without knocking I opened the door and paused.

Oh .

Palo looked up from where he sat in his office chair, which wasn’t unusual, and my eyes met hers. She wasn’t usual. Who the heck was this lady? She was sitting on his desk and when the door opened she sneered at me.

“Palo, honey, who is this?” She asked her voice rough. She was beautiful though. They looked right together. They made sense.

I met Palo’s gaze and those eyes filled with something I didn’t understand as he swallowed with difficulty looking at a file that this woman held.

I think I knew what he was going to do before he did.

It didn’t make it hurt less and his reasoning didn’t make me feel better.

I loved how much he cared about knowledge, really, but he chose it over everything.

It didn’t surprise me when he chose it over me as well. She clearly had something he wanted.

“She’s nothing,” he stated, his voice gruff.

My heart stopped and I felt like I was going to pass out.

Nothing.

I’m nothing.

Our friendship? Nothing. Staying up late together every night?

Nothing. What about when he carried me to my chambers because I fell asleep?

Or when we both fell asleep looking over a set of documents and I woke up with his arms around me?

Or when, during the holidays, he bought me this stunning, yet delicate necklace?

Nothing.

Was this one-sided then?

Clearly.

“What is her problem?” The woman scowled because I’d clearly stayed for too long. I met her gray gaze without looking at Palo.

“So sorry to interrupt,” I offered her just in case she was someone important. “He had a message from King Silas and I was sent to inform him that it would be in his chambers.”

“Oh,” the woman nodded. “You work here, then?”

And he’s essentially royalty. Yeah. Sometimes I wish I didn’t work here because then my family’s status might be enough for him. Not that he’d ever admit to that but this woman was pointing out the clear issue.

I licked my lips and offered her a forced smile. “Exactly. Just a worker. Sorry to interrupt.”

The woman nodded and I turned.

“Wait.” His voice gave me pause but I knew it would be bad.

“Please close the door behind you.”

Fuck.

I shut it gently and tears welled in my eyes.

My body shifted without permission and I let my wings expand out, taking me to the ceiling of the library.

I rested my own form in a small corner and tried to sleep.

My clothes slipped from my beak as I used them as a makeshift nest. My chambers weren’t safe anymore, not after I found one of the guards over my bed. So I had been sleeping here.

Palo had made me feel safe.

But now I was nothing to him.

Palo - Minutes later

I listened to Trinity’s voice and compared it to Marabella’s soft cadence. When I heard wings flapping through the library, pain lanced through me.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

“Hey, listen.” She smiled and handed me the file. “I would love to finish this over a drink. Do you have time tonight? ”

“No,” I responded immediately, making her jump. I slipped the file away and Trinity stood up with a scowl.

“You just needed the info, didn’t you?” She snarled.

“Yes.” I sighed. “You knew that.”