Page 161 of My Monster’s Keeper

Whatever he is, he’s ugly.

“You conspired with known enemies of humanity to enslave the Earth,” I say loudly.

Grant giggles, even as he’s forced back down to his knees. “You’re taking this queen bit way too far. It was for figurehead purposes.”

“Hey, you forced me into this! Now suffer my wrath.”

“What are you going to do? Ground me? Paint my nails tangerine?”

“Well, I was going to start with decapitation, but maybe I should think this through. Torture is a finer art I have yet to learn, and I have so many willing beings wanting to teach me.”

Grant cracks his neck and stands up, ignoring the Sirens’ song. I can see the strain it puts on him, though.

“You’re just a middle class, weak ass demon who got his ass handed to him in his own world, so he came here to play the big man with beings weaker than him.”

Grant’s grin widens, his jaw almost separating from the rest of his face. “This is true. It’s fun watching these blood bags die.”

I shake my head. “You lied to me.”

“You were so easy to lie to.”

“You betrayed me.”

“Again, as easy as taking candy from a baby.”

“You sold us out to the Fae and to the Shadows.”

“I did that. The negotiations were a bit rough, but we got there.”

“You tortured me.”

Grant snorts a laugh. “I’ve wanted to, so, so badly for so long. Oh, to see you scream. To taste your despair. It was my reward for all these years of putting up with your incessant whining. The only thing I regret is that those alphas couldn’t rape you and really ruin you.”

I turn to face him and stare at him coldly. “You are despicable. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

Grant smiles. “It was worth it. Watching them die. Knowing that I was sending them to their deaths. Coaxing you into working for a department of men I’d already corrupted. Knowing they’d kill you.”

“What happened there?” I ask because it’s the one thing I haven’t been able to figure out.

“Oh, I felt the presence of your toys. I had to change the plan. I knew they’d keep you alive. But they’d have known what I was straight away. But they think they’ve beenhelping to kill monsters. They never once realised they were covering up our crimes for us. Humans are so easy to manipulate.”

I shake my head. “You had it all figured out.”

“Well, no, I didn’t expect you to spread your whore legs and sleep with them,” Grant spits furiously. “That was not in my plan. You were supposed to see them as monsters, not fuck them.”

I shrug my shoulders. “Guess we both disappointed each other.”

“I guess we did.”

Wilder places a huge hand on my shoulder. “It’s time.”

Stix and Puppy step out onto the roof and watch from above. Frost is standing a little ways away, near the dying garden, and the five Sirens are lined up near the house. They sing louder, and all the humans turn and walk away.

I wonder absently where the Healer is and then decide it doesn’t matter right now.

“Grant of the Fae realm, you have abused, defiled, tortured, and murdered humans for your pleasure-”

“And the pleasure of the world at large,” Grant adds in. “Whoops, sorry, please continue.” He zips his mouth shut and smiles encouragingly at me.