Page 163 of My Monster’s Keeper

He rolls his eyes. “Don’t get soft now, Becky. Just cut the head off the snake and be done with it.”

I flex my razor sharp talons and close my eyes momentarily. “You should have known better than to go up against me. You never could win.”

Grant smiles. “That did cross my mind. But world domination was hard to resist.”

I slash out, my nails cut through flesh and muscle easily. Diablos grabs his head and tears it from his body.

He then sets the two pieces on the dead lawn and sets them on fire.

“Asshole.”

“Agreed,” I say softly. I stand there next to my giant friend? Boss? I don’t know what he is. Perhaps ally is the best description of our relationship.

“Hartley is waiting for you.”

Diablos’ eyes widen and then close for a moment in pure relief, so visceral that I feel it like a gut punch. “He’s alive?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“The hotel where you had us stay when-” I don’t get any more words out before he vanishes into thin air.

I rock back on my heels and wait while the guys destroy everyone that shows up. They can’t run, the Siren's magic is holding them in place. And no one is a match for my army.

It’s almost peaceful listening to the screams. Almost.

***

“Okay, we’ve established that anyone who comes through the portals needs to apply for a visa.” Diablos nods and pushes his thick glasses up his nose. “So far, it’s working. I’ve got some really strong, really dumb Shadow and Fae who are willing to stand and protect the portals in exchange for…some things.”

I narrow my eyes. “What things?”

Diablos winces. “Well, they really like having sex with humans, and there’s this human fan club with a fetish focus,” Diablos says delicately.

“You’re paying them in sex?”

Diablos stiffens and scowls. “They didn’t want money or clothes or food.”

“No one is gettinghurt?”

“No.”

“As long as it all stays consensual. I don’t care. Who am I to say anything?” I point out. “Besides, they aren’t wrong. Sex with monsters is next level.”

“ANYWAY!” Diablos growls. “There are quite a few Shadows and Fae hiding on Earth, but they seem content to remain hidden and quiet.

“As long as they stay that way,” I agree. “And don’t cause any trouble.”

“Listen, about this queen stuff-”

“What about it?” I ask defensively.

“Well, you’re still queen. You make the decisions.”

I scowl. “But I’m a no one. I’m just a random woman living in this world.”

“But you are who they chose. They will listen to the human governments to a point, but it’s you who have final say.”