Page 126 of My Monster’s Keeper

Okay, so, yes, I do need to explain that I got carried away losing my virginity to her and married her. Yeah, that’s going to go down well.

Frost, you’re an idiot.

“So, just don’t freak out,” I say in my most soothing voice.

Chapter 37

Becky

Frost is sitting on the other side of Stix for good reason, I haven’t decided if I’ve forgiven him or not. Yet.

Marriage was never on my cards. A magical permanent marriage less so. After the explosion that was my temper snapping, I said some words, which offended him, and it turns out Frost has a hot temper, not cold, and he started yelling back.

By the end, I was so entranced with his long hair floating around and the ivory skin that I couldn’t even muster up the strength to stay angry. I wanted him again. As soon as he let slip that I was his first. I did advance on my poor, confused little princeling and made him mine. Thrice.

Diablos lifts his chin and scowls over the room. The hall is long with elaborate scroll designs on the wall. I think it used to be an old theater, but now it’s a community space. It’s currently packed. I recognise almost no one. But there are five guys who look similar to each other and sport the same attitude of contrived obedience.

“Who are they?” I lean in to ask Wilder on my left.

He follows my gaze and scowls. “The Sirens.”

As one, they lift their gazes, locking in on us. I count to the beat of three before they turn away again.

“They kill anyone and everyone. The only beings they have any allegiance to are themselves. No one can control them, it's why they gave them entire oceans to play in.”

“They didn’t let us play. They imprisoned us.” The voice speaks from just behind me. “Threw us into the oceans between worlds to be guard dogs.”

Stix snorts.

“Something funny, Shadow man?” Another voice asks.

They have pretty voices, and all five have thick auburn hair in varying lengths.

“We have our own guard dog,” Stix says coolly.

A moment later, I feel a dark presence rise out of the shadows. And how can I feel that? I push the question aside.

“You will remove yourselves from my mate,” Puppy growls with glowing eyes.

The two behind me sit back on the chairs, joining their brothers. I don’t know how they crossed the room so fast, but I add space jumping to the list of things I know about them.

A heavy weight leans against my ankle, and when I look down, I find Song with his mouth open, exposing a huge pink mouth in a happy smile.

Puppy blinks. “I told you to stay,” he grumbles unhappily.

“What is that doing here?” A voice behind us hisses. I turn and spot black fur. No way? I lean around Stix and find Pitch staring at the Sirens, her fur on end.

I lean into Stix. “I know you four can bounce around, but I wasn’t aware animals on Earth could do so.”

“Cats are from my world, originally. They have always had the ability to move between worlds. They are born with the knowledge of where everything is and how to get to it. Have you ever seen a cat, and it’s there one minute, gone the next, and just when you convince yourself it wasn’t there, it reappears behind you? That’s cats traversing worlds. It’s why most cultures honor them. We personally keep food and water bowls filled for any that might choose to visit. I believe the Fae may do similar. It’s said that cats used to be guides to lost travellers.” He pauses and looks down at the dog. “Dogs, not so much. The only conclusion I can come to is the cat has decided to help him cross. Dogs here are very much Earth creatures, with no ability to touch our magics. But they have always been honoured companions to the Fae.”

“Help him cross?” I echo, my head doing a horrible little spin.

“Indeed, the cat seems to be quite fond of the dog,” Stix murmurs. “Strange pairing.”

I study the side of Stix’s face, wondering if he’s really as unworried about this as he’s pretending. There’s a bemused tug of a smile on his lips, and then he returns his eyes to the front of the room.

Pitch lets out a low growl, and, out of the corner of my eye, I see all five Sirens lean back in their chairs.